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17: Google it: Smarter marketing with AI: Insights from Sean Downey, president of Americas & Global Partners at Google

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Manage episode 505628350 series 1021391
Content provided by Deloitte Digital and Alan B. Hart. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Deloitte Digital and Alan B. Hart or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Sean Downey is the president of Americas & Global Partners at Google, overseeing the company’s expansive advertising business, including Google Search and YouTube. With a background rooted in the earliest days of digital marketing startups and leadership roles at DoubleClick and Google, Sean draws on leadership lessons learned from his father, particularly the importance of creating a workplace where everyone feels they are contributing to something greater than themselves. He emphasizes authenticity, empathy, and continuous learning as core leadership values.

As part of our Cannes Lions content series, Alan and Sean connect at the International Festival of Creativity to discuss AI’s impact on marketing. Sean explains how Google integrates AI and automation into its advertising platforms to help marketers achieve better results while protecting consumer privacy. He notes that marketers today have to be more efficient than ever and highlights how AI-powered tools help them work smarter and adapt to rapidly changing consumer behaviors. Sean also stresses the importance of first-party data, privacy-safe solutions, strong change management, and a growth mindset for teams navigating technological shifts.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The ways Google balances consumer privacy with marketing performance

Why change management and a growth mindset are essential as technology evolves

Strategies Google uses to empower brands and agencies to confidently adopt and leverage AI-powered tools

Key quotes:

“Brands can get caught in the trap of thinking they know exactly who their customer is. When in reality, they're looking for people that they didn't know existed, that are incremental to their business.” - Sean Downey, president of Americas & global partners at Google

“Everyone knows when they walk to the doors in my building that they contribute to something greater than that. And that powers innovation, that powers customer orientation, and most importantly, it empowers growth personally and professionally.” - Sean Downey, president of Americas & global partners at Google

Key highlights:

[00:30] Introduction

[01:15] Work-life balance

[02:45] Sean’s path to Google

[04:20] A North Carolina connection

[05:10] The scope of Google’s advertising business

[07:15] Balancing privacy with marketing effectiveness

[09:25] Three tips for brands

[10:45] How AI is influencing Google products

[14:00] Empowering product adoption for brands and agencies

[20:20] Sean's leadership principles

[23:50] An experience that defines you: Learning from the most challenging times

[26:45] Advice to your younger self: Be honest with yourself

[27:35] A topic marketers need to learn more about: Change management

[29:10] Subcultures and trends to follow: What makes people resonate

[31:10] Largest opportunity to marketers today: The pace of ideas

Resources mentioned:

Sean Downey

Google

YouTube

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

Follow the podcast:

Listen on Apple Podcasts  

Listen on Amazon Music

Listen on Audible

Listen on iHeart Radio

Listen on Spotify  

Connect with Sean Downey and Google

Sean Downey on LinkedIn

Google on LinkedIn

Google on Instagram

Google on YouTube

Connect with Alan Hart and Deloitte Digital:   

Alan Hart on X

Alan Hart on LinkedIn

Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn

Deloitte Digital on Instagram

Deloitte Digital on YouTube

Deloitte Digital on Threads   

  continue reading

24 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 505628350 series 1021391
Content provided by Deloitte Digital and Alan B. Hart. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Deloitte Digital and Alan B. Hart or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Sean Downey is the president of Americas & Global Partners at Google, overseeing the company’s expansive advertising business, including Google Search and YouTube. With a background rooted in the earliest days of digital marketing startups and leadership roles at DoubleClick and Google, Sean draws on leadership lessons learned from his father, particularly the importance of creating a workplace where everyone feels they are contributing to something greater than themselves. He emphasizes authenticity, empathy, and continuous learning as core leadership values.

As part of our Cannes Lions content series, Alan and Sean connect at the International Festival of Creativity to discuss AI’s impact on marketing. Sean explains how Google integrates AI and automation into its advertising platforms to help marketers achieve better results while protecting consumer privacy. He notes that marketers today have to be more efficient than ever and highlights how AI-powered tools help them work smarter and adapt to rapidly changing consumer behaviors. Sean also stresses the importance of first-party data, privacy-safe solutions, strong change management, and a growth mindset for teams navigating technological shifts.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The ways Google balances consumer privacy with marketing performance

Why change management and a growth mindset are essential as technology evolves

Strategies Google uses to empower brands and agencies to confidently adopt and leverage AI-powered tools

Key quotes:

“Brands can get caught in the trap of thinking they know exactly who their customer is. When in reality, they're looking for people that they didn't know existed, that are incremental to their business.” - Sean Downey, president of Americas & global partners at Google

“Everyone knows when they walk to the doors in my building that they contribute to something greater than that. And that powers innovation, that powers customer orientation, and most importantly, it empowers growth personally and professionally.” - Sean Downey, president of Americas & global partners at Google

Key highlights:

[00:30] Introduction

[01:15] Work-life balance

[02:45] Sean’s path to Google

[04:20] A North Carolina connection

[05:10] The scope of Google’s advertising business

[07:15] Balancing privacy with marketing effectiveness

[09:25] Three tips for brands

[10:45] How AI is influencing Google products

[14:00] Empowering product adoption for brands and agencies

[20:20] Sean's leadership principles

[23:50] An experience that defines you: Learning from the most challenging times

[26:45] Advice to your younger self: Be honest with yourself

[27:35] A topic marketers need to learn more about: Change management

[29:10] Subcultures and trends to follow: What makes people resonate

[31:10] Largest opportunity to marketers today: The pace of ideas

Resources mentioned:

Sean Downey

Google

YouTube

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

Follow the podcast:

Listen on Apple Podcasts  

Listen on Amazon Music

Listen on Audible

Listen on iHeart Radio

Listen on Spotify  

Connect with Sean Downey and Google

Sean Downey on LinkedIn

Google on LinkedIn

Google on Instagram

Google on YouTube

Connect with Alan Hart and Deloitte Digital:   

Alan Hart on X

Alan Hart on LinkedIn

Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn

Deloitte Digital on Instagram

Deloitte Digital on YouTube

Deloitte Digital on Threads   

  continue reading

24 episodes

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