Meet Salman Hyder, Senior Programmatic Executive at GroupM
Salman describes himself as an avid learner and a go-getter. He started his career in healthcare and then moved to banking before finally finding his happy place in the programmatic advertising industry. Working in multiple industries and regions has allowed him to bring different pers- pectives to work.
Salman joined GroupM almost 20 months ago and has since worked on clients ranging from FMCG, pharma, and sportswear to gaming and confectionary. He’s responsible for ensuring ads are shown on the most impactful channels to the right users at the right time. For the most part, he focuses on ways to reduce media wastage while meeting the client’s KPIs by leveraging data, analytics, and automation at scale.
Why did you join this industry?
I was always fascinated by the idea of making a meaningful impact through my work and this is what brought me to this industry. The fact that it is constantly evolving allows me to always be on my toes and come up with new ideas, which is very intriguing.
How did you land your first job?
I am extremely curious and a constant learner. I always knew I wanted to be a digital marketer. I did some Google certifications prior to doing interviews, which gave me an edge over other candidates and helped me land my first job.
Who do you look up to?
I draw inspiration from people who started off with nothing but made an impact through their work against all odds. One example is Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google. Personally, my mother has always been a huge source of motivation.
What’s the best advice you have received so far?
The best advice I received so far was from my teacher in college who said, “Never be afraid to take risks as fear has killed more dreams than failure ever will.” It has stuck with me since then in more ways than I’d imagined.
What’s the best advice you have given so far?
The best advice I always give people is to follow your dreams and intuition. No matter how many obstacles we face, we should never give up on things that drive us and give us a sense of purpose in life. Also, never miss an opportunity to give back to society when it’s needed the most.
How do you feel about the stigma sometimes associated with Millennials and Gen Z?
I feel both generations are unique in their own ways and there will always be stigma, along with a lot of misconceptions. Having said that, it’s important to embrace our differences and work together to make this world a more inclusive and a better place to live.
What do you think you specifically bring to the organization you work for?
In a nutshell, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise from different verticals, which allows us to add immense value to our clients in their marketing efforts. Additionally, I combine data and technology to take decisions that help in meeting business objectives.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned at work?
To not be afraid of making mistakes and always push harder. There will be numerous challenges along the path but if we believe in our abilities, then nothing can stop us from being the best version of ourselves.
What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
I get to work with some of the best people in the industry on some of the world’s biggest brands. There’s never a dull moment as each day poses a new challenge.
What’s the most frustrating thing about your job?
To be honest, there isn’t anything that frustrates me about this job; I love what I do. However, there are always challenges that we face in any- thing we do. Having the right mindset is the key.
If not this, what would you be doing?
I always wanted to be a food traveler and an entrepreneur.
Would you start your own venture in the future?
Absolutely. I always dreamt of being an entrepreneur and I might consider it in the future when the right opportunity presents itself.
