illuminaries
Sep 10, 2022

illuminaries Ep 1: Vision for a vibrant advertising future

seraj author photo
Author Seraj Bharwani, Chief Strategy Officer

What is illuminaries

Advertising is grabbing attention – from consumers, advocacy groups, regulators, and of course the press & media. It is hated, tolerated, and loved depending on when, where, how and from whom it is delivered. Media & Advertising professionals have a vested interest in making sure that advertising in all its varied forms has a vibrant future. And we want that future to be defined by the new generation of media practitioners!

Hosted by illumin CSO Seraj Bharwani, Illuminaries is a roundtable discussion that calls upon the rising stars of the media business to imagine things not as they are, but as they should be. Tune in as the leaders of today shape the ideas of tomorrow through an unfiltered exchange that challenges convention and redefines what is possible. 

Episode description

In our first episode of illuminaries, Guest Speakers Albert Thompson of Walter Isaacson, and Hyun Lee-Miller of Good Apple, join our CSO, Seraj Bharwani, in discussing the ‘Vision for a Vibrant Future of Advertising’.

illuminaries episode 1

About the guests

Albert Thompson, Managing Director – Digital, Walter Isaacson

While carrying the “ethos” of a Marketing Technologist, Albert has always possessed a firm understanding of how technology has continued to transform the discipline of Marketing while disrupting today’s conventional consumer engagement models. Over the past 20+ years his communications experience ranges from African American, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian American, Arab American, Indian, Boomers, Millennials, Urban, GM to International.

His work involves Digital Marketing for Lexus, AMAZON, NYPD, Medline, State Fair, Spalding, HBO, MCD, LA Sparks, Game Show Network, Verizon Wireless, Unilever, Ford Division, Lincoln Mercury, Burger King, Colgate, HSBC, Time Warner Cable, Home Depot, AstraZeneca, US Marines, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, and Hyatt Resorts.

He is currently the Managing Director, Digital Innovation at Walton Isaacson. Previously he served as the Director, Interactive Services for UniWorld Group and Director of New Media and Technology at Prime Access where he introduced the Digital capabilities for both multicultural agencies.

Albert has participated in numerous speaking engagements for Meltwater Social, MediaPost, Digiday, ThinkLA, AdAge, PUBMATIC, CYNOPSIS, Adweek, VAB and the ANA. This type of industry prowess resulted in him being named one of ADWEEK’s 2022 Media Allstars.  Albert is also the host of The Transient Identiti podcast which chronicles the Voice of the Consumer.

Hyun Lee-Miller, VP Media, Good Apple Digital

A 15-year industry veteran, Hyun oversees Good Apple’s media team and nurtures the growth of new disciplines within the company. Before starting at Good Apple, Hyun accumulated over a decade of experience in media across various verticals including pharmaceutical, travel, entertainment, financial and e-commerce.

Hyun is passionate about tying media to real business outcomes and has helped her clients develop award-winning multi-channel media strategies to drive successful launches for blockbuster brands as well as bring education to rare disease brands. When she’s not building strategic media recommendations for her clients, she’s playing with her kids, trying new TikTok recipes and working on her flying crow.

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