AdTech Woman Power, Episode 6: Samantha Dascher, SVP at Jun Group, on Her Path to AdTech

Polina Smoliar

"I’d walk into conferences where, for every 20, 50, or even 100 men, there might be one woman."

In Episode 6 of AdTech Woman Power by Blasto, we sit down with Samantha Dascher, Senior Vice President at Jun Group, to talk about her career journey, the challenges facing programmatic advertising, and how women can claim their space in the industry.

At Blasto, we believe in breaking barriers, amplifying voices, and fostering a more inclusive ad tech ecosystem. That’s why we launched AdTech Woman Power, a series dedicated to highlighting female leaders who are driving innovation and shaping the future of programmatic advertising.

In previous episodes, we’ve featured:

Episode 1: Featuring Marta Grgurović, Content and SEO Writer at TargetVideo. In this episode, Marta reflects on her growth from a tiny marketing team to becoming a key player in programmatic advertising.
Episode 2: With Corina Tutunaru, Senior Business Manager at Rakuten Viber. Corina discusses how she navigated challenges and carved her career path in the messaging app space, emphasizing the importance of being bold, trusting your voice.
Episode 3: Featuring Helen Mussard, CMO of IAB Europe. Helen talks about her career transition from diverse industries to leading in AdTech, focusing on IAB Europe’s mission to promote diversity in programmatic advertising.

Now, in Episode 6, Samantha takes us through her inspiring journey.

From Business School to Programmatic

Q1: How did you enter programmatic advertising, and what skills have you developed over the years?

Samantha: My entry into ad tech—and eventually programmatic advertising—was a bit of a happy accident. I majored in Management and Business and graduated at the tail end of the Recession. It was a challenging time, with hiring freezes and budget cuts. Through a neighbor’s connection, I landed my first role as a sales planning coordinator, which introduced me to the advertising world.

From there, I transitioned into business development and publisher development, working with publishers to integrate video players onto their sites. At the time, our business wasn’t considered programmatic, but it laid the groundwork for what would later become a key part of programmatic operations.

Over the years, I’ve worked closely with publishers on both the supply and demand sides. Today at Jun Group, we help publishers reach and grow their audiences through a combination of high-touch service and automation, giving them the flexibility to run fully managed service campaigns or take a self-serve approach.

Q2: Describe one challenging situation that contributed most to your professional growth.

Samantha: A few years ago, some of our publisher partners who were launching podcasts asked us for help with audience growth and marketing. We had zero experience in podcasting, but I said, “Send us an example, and we’ll test it out.”

What started as a small test quickly turned into something much bigger. Word spread, and soon we were working with individual creators, audio networks, and platforms. We conducted over 300 client meetings in nine months to understand pain points and develop a scalable product tailored to podcast creators of all sizes. It was a massive challenge, but incredibly rewarding.

Today, that product is a major focus at Jun Group, and as podcasting continues to grow, it’s exciting to see how we’re shaping the next frontier.

Q3: As a Senior Vice President at Jun Group, what are some of the biggest challenges in programmatic advertising today?

Samantha: Privacy regulation is one of the biggest hurdles. With GDPR and evolving laws, consumers have more control over their data, which is great for privacy but challenging for programmatic advertising. Without third-party cookies and personal identifiers, targeting becomes more complex.

To adapt, we’re focused on ID-less targeting, using contextual strategies and AI-driven audience modeling to maintain effectiveness while staying compliant.

Another issue is transparency in the supply chain. Many publishers—especially smaller ones—struggle with DSPs refusing to bid on inventory due to pricing, forcing them to lower their rates. This devalues their inventory and impacts their revenue.

Finally, fragmentation across channels adds complexity. Programmatic is no longer just about web ads—it spans CTV, audio, DOOH, and more, making measurement and optimization a constant challenge. To succeed, advertisers and publishers need better alignment and greater transparency.

Q4: What sparked your interest in programmatic advertising, and who were your biggest mentors?

Samantha: I entered the industry just as programmatic was taking off. It was exciting, but also uncertain—many worried automation would replace jobs. What I’ve seen instead is massive growth and innovation. Programmatic created entirely new roles and opportunities, and it keeps evolving.

I’ve been in ad tech for 15 years, and I’ve had incredible mentors. At Jun Group, our CEO, Mishel Alon, has been instrumental in shaping my approach to leadership and innovation. Earlier in my career, I learned from colleagues on both the supply and demand sides, which gave me a well-rounded perspective.

Q5: What advice do you have for aspiring women leaders in ad tech?

Samantha: When I started, the industry was overwhelmingly male-dominated. But that also meant the few women in the room became each other’s biggest supporters. Over time, I built a strong network—now, my crew includes the Ladies of AdTech (LOATs), a group of women who share advice, opportunities, and support.

For women entering ad tech, my advice is simple:

Demand your seat at the table. The industry is making progress, but leadership gaps remain. Be assertive.
Build your network. Connect with mentors and peers who can support and guide you.
Ask questions. Some of the best lessons I’ve learned came from asking people about their career paths or challenges.
Show up as your authentic self. I wear my favorite heels to big presentations or rock thematic nail art to conferences—it’s my version of a “suit of armor.” You don’t need to fit a mold to succeed.

Sisterhood and support make all the difference.

We’re committed to driving change in programmatic advertising and elevating the voices of women leaders. Through AdTech Woman Power, we spotlight the game-changers shaping our industry, one conversation at a time.