Espen Sundve’s Post

Gotta love a good boomerang! 🪃 I’m happy to be back in the martech space now that I’ve joined Postscript as their new Program Manager of Digital Customer Success. Over the last 60 days, I’ve been busy ramping up at the new gig, observing and absorbing everything I possibly can about the business including how we operate, the solutions we sell, and our competitive differentiation in the market. It’s been awesome meeting my new teammates throughout North America, and even more, reuniting with familiar faces from my earlier in my career. I’m very much looking forward to what’s ahead as I roll up my sleeves and continue to build out Postscript’s scaled CS motion including developing, managing, and measuring digital programs across the post-sales customer journey. After reflecting on my time here thus far, I’m happy to share a few key observations: 1️⃣ It’s fun to be part of a culture of winning Wrapping up BFCM weekend, we crushed our goals with a 90% YoY increase in SMS volume and a staggering 230% YoY growth in SMS-attributed revenue for our customers. A new record high made possible by the level of preparedness and dedication of the entire business. As crazy and fast paced as it felt, joining the company weeks before BFCM couldn't have been any more exciting! 2️⃣ Our product is ahead of the curve Our PDE team just gets it. They continuously listen to product feedback to truly understand what it is that the customers want. Our handful of product releases each month go to show how agile our team is in delivering real value to help drive success for our customers. It’s such a comfort knowing how competitively positioned we remain as a business. 3️⃣ This truly is the #1 team in ecomm The type of talent that is brought onto this team is incredible. Surrounding myself with people who work hard and care deeply about the challenges they’re solving for the business and our customers is important. Though, what gets me excited to show up is knowing people aren’t trying to fit into a mold; authenticity and individuality is celebrated here, and it’s actually what helps us all to learn and work better together. As I look to the next 2 months and beyond, I'm eager to gain more experiences and begin to drive even greater impact for the business as a whole!

AN ANNOUNCEMENT 12 YEARS IN THE MAKING: We're thrilled to unveil our new holding company, the COOL company! 🎉 This rebrand represents our commitment to innovation, growth, and delivering a better experience for everyone. At the COOL company, we're not just redefining our identity; we're shaping the future of adtech. Dive deeper into this transformation, and see what this means for Insticator and our other subsidiaries, by checking out our official press release here: #OKO #theCOOLcompany #COOLFactor #Rebranding #Adtech

Wow, 1 Month Already?! Yep, that seems about right. Exactly a month ago, I stepped into my new role at Creatively Squared, and here’s what I can say about the experience so far: 1️⃣ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬—𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Starting fresh, I quickly realized brands often know 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 they want but struggle with the 𝘩𝘰𝘸. Our job? Listen, dig deep, and guide them to get the most out of creator production. It’s like being a creative doctor, diagnosing and prescribing the best strategy forward. 2️⃣ 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲. Creators are giving our customers speed, authenticity, and content that’s more relatable—and tends to perform better than what they’ve produced before. It’s faster, more flexible, and more human. Plus, who doesn’t love working with passionate creatives? 3️⃣ 𝐀𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡. It’s not just about switching up formats or platforms. Working with creators means embracing different styles, vibes, and authenticity. Honestly, I love what our creators bring back to us. Their creativity is amazing. 4️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝. From briefings to production, finding ways to simplify processes without sacrificing quality has been a big focus. Less back-and-forth, more creative magic. And honestly, the 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 has been a massive part of how great this first month has been. 🙌 It’s not just about having great people (which they are!). It’s about how much they care—whether it’s helping me navigate the ins and outs, collaborating on ideas, or supporting each other. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to learn from and build with. In such a fast-paced environment, I’m not sure what’s next, but for now, I’m soaking in the wins of this first month (and sneaking in a celebratory coffee ☕).

AN ANNOUNCEMENT 12 YEARS IN THE MAKING: We're thrilled to unveil our new holding company, the COOL company! 🎉 This rebrand represents our commitment to innovation, growth, and delivering a better experience for everyone. At the COOL company, we're not just redefining our identity; we're shaping the future of adtech. Dive deeper into this transformation, and see what this means for Insticator and our other subsidiaries, by checking out our official press release here: #Insticator #theCOOLcompany #COOLFactor #Rebranding #Adtech

The end of an era marks the beginning of a new one. 🔄 I am excited 😊 and nervous 😬 to be part of this transition of two new companies and have strong optimism 🌟 about driving our strategy and goals forward. Schibsted Media will continue to champion strong journalism 📰, pushing the boundaries of news with technological innovation 💡. The new Marketplaces will focus on connecting consumers 🤝 with trusted online platforms through innovation, empowering people in their daily lives 💪. Here’s to new beginnings 🥂 and writing our names in the history books 📚 #schibsted #careers #jobs #media #technology #marketplaces"

Reflecting on these past few months @ RapTV 2 words come to mind… Challenging & Electrifying 💪 ⚡ It’s not my first rodeo but getting back in an early stage saddle has been quite the adjustment.. a journey of personal and professional growth. From day one, I've been blown away by every team member's sheer passion and dedication. We’re creating a culture that celebrates creativity, innovation, obsession over audience, and truth-seeking behavior. It was certainly an adjustment getting used to true, direct communication and feedback (à la One Minute Manager) and transitioning back to a builder mentality of problem-solving with limited resources. During the interview process I was told this position would be like parachuting in with no reinforcements and at times it has felt that way. But like Steve Rogers, I’d gladly jump with no chute for this cause. Our network of 45m+ is becoming the home for next-gen superfans in music & culture. While we’re a juggernaut on the B2C side with our social audiences we’re still establishing ourselves as a premium publisher in the B2B ad marketplace and educating the importance of social-first initiatives to engage this audience. I’m excited for the future. We’ll continue to obsess over our audience, always putting them first, and shaping the future of social-first entertainment. 🚀 #CompanyCulture #Innovation #FutureOfMedia #TeamSpirit

17 years in the ad tech industry has taught me a lot—some lessons the hard way, others by watching the landscape evolve around me. Here are five takeaways that have shaped my journey: 1. Innovation Over Imitation: It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. But true progress comes from pushing boundaries, not following them. Find your own path and innovate where it matters. 2. Data is King, But Context is Queen: We all know data drives decisions, but without the right context, data can lead you astray. Always consider the bigger picture and how each piece of information fits into your overall strategy. 3. Adapt or Get Left Behind: The pace of change in ad tech is relentless. If you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind. Stay curious, stay informed, and be ready to pivot when necessary. 4. Trust is the New Currency: In an era of increasing privacy concerns, transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Build trust with your audience by being open, honest, and ethical in your approach. 5. The Team is Everything: No matter how great your idea, it’s the people you surround yourself with who will make or break it. Invest in a team that shares your vision and complements your strengths. The ad tech industry is a wild ride, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that persistence and a willingness to learn will take you far. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career? Let’s share and grow together.

Exciting day at JAMPACKED AGENCY with two new additions to the team! 🥹 I’m thrilled to welcome Isabelle Lakin as our new Content Marketing Coordinator and Jess McNair as our very first intern! To kick off their journey with us, we held our signature “Team Day,” where new starters get a warm introduction to our culture and vision. Here’s how the day went: 1. Introductions: (everyone’s favourite….) 2. Story Time: I like to share a memorable, hilarious and slightly chaotic story from Erin C.’s first day when I made possibly the worst first impression as a boss. It’s a funny reminder of how our team steps up for each other and perfectly sums up our supportive culture. 3. State of the Business: A transparent look at where we are, what we’re working on, and our vision for the future. 4. Roles & Responsibilities: Breaking down our team structure and each person’s unique role. 5. Business Blueprint Map: An overview of our strategy, including our visionary goals, purpose statement, core values, and our current focus pillars — consistency, deepening, and innovation. 6. A biiiiig feed at Jimmy’s Falafel (tradition at this point). An exciting journey ahead! 💙🍒

Setting clear goals is crucial, and my recent target was to improve our team's engagement by 30% within three months. Sounds straightforward, right? But we quickly faced challenges. The content we thought would resonate didn’t perform as expected, and it felt frustrating. We realized we needed to shift our strategy. Instead of guessing what our audience wanted, we started actively engaging with them – running polls, asking for feedback, and diving into the analytics to see what they actually liked. This not only provided insights but also made our audience feel valued. By the end of the quarter, we achieved an impressive 35% engagement increase! Clearly, listening to our audience and being flexible were game-changers. What I've learned from this experience: setting a goal is just the start. Stay adaptable and keep the lines of communication open with your audience. You might just discover what truly works for you. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow! 🙌

I look forward to seeing how the two businesses develop and whether this will be a signal and blueprint for other countries and markets. #schibsted #tiniustrust #media #society #value