With 2 decades of experience in advertising and technology, Seema Patel is a seasoned media executive with extensive expertise in launching new businesses and supporting multi-platform solutions. She has been the driving force of many new, innovative product rollouts throughout her career and is one of the leading experts in addressable and advanced advertising. Seema has a proven track record in leading high-profile initiatives by bridging strategy with efficient execution to drive scale and revenue growth.
In her current role at Univision, Seema leads a team responsible for developing the critical proprietary data assets that drive advanced media. Her team is responsible for the product build-out of Univision’s proprietary HH graph and manages commercial relationships with external partners to activate and implement new capabilities in cross-platform advanced advertising.
In her previous role at ViacomCBS, Seema served as the business lead with MVPD partners, technology partners, and internal stakeholders to onboard new addressable inventory sources, broadening the company’s vast portfolio of data-driven assets. She facilitated strategic initiatives, business development, and platform implementation. During her tenure, ViacomCBS built the largest Addressable TV footprint in the country spanning across broadcast and cable in the areas of live linear, VOD, & OTT platforms.
Seema was also a key stakeholder in the launch of DIRECTV’s Addressable Advertising platform, playing a critical role in the design, pricing, and rollout of the first-to-market STB Addressable Advertising product. She created system solutions and business processes that were unique to the marketplace and ultimately, ended up becoming the benchmark for others in the industry to emulate. Her technology platform design transformed targetable television and drove double-digit, topline revenue growth for the business. She also spearheaded the launch of D2 Media Sales, which was the industry’s first live linear addressable platform for the political marketplace. Additionally, Seema took a lead role in defining systems strategy & operations for a combined ad sales organization during the AT&T/DIRECTV integration. She led the effort to create system solutions & streamline processes to support a $2B+ business.
Seema is a co-founder of TechBae, a networking organization dedicated to advancing equality by creating meaningful connections and developing opportunities for under-represented women across all levels within the ad tech & media landscape. She is passionate about creating a community to create kinship and foster mentoring for junior rising stars in the industry. Founded in 2018, TechBae’s community is comprised of women from over 50+ organizations spanning across programmers, MVPDs, & technology organizations.
Most recently in 2021, Seema was appointed Board Member of Marketing Edge as well as Committee Member of The NATAS Technology & Engineering Committee.
Marketing Edge is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, coaching, and job placement to a diverse set of future leaders allowing critical exposure for those who have less access. The organization’s mission closely aligns with Seema’s commitment to advocate for diversity within marketing and media ecosystems. Marketing Edge’s commitment to shaping future marketing leaders by connecting academia, students, and corporations is critical to providing young people with entry points into the workforce at the earliest career stages.
The National Academy of Television and Arts & Science (NATAS) was founded in 1955. The NATAS Technology & Engineering committee awards Emmys for outstanding achievement in television technology & engineering. Awards are given to individuals or organizations for pioneering developments, standardization, and/or innovation in television engineering.