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Sonal Patel
Board Member, SaaS, Tech, Cloud, Programmatic AI & Disruptive Technology growth, Digital Transformation Data and Analytics experience and has over 18 years of Sales and management experience in Asia/APAC
Professional Background
Sonal Patel is an accomplished professional with over two decades of experience in high-growth disruptive technologies, specializing in e-commerce, digital gaming, marketing, telecommunications, social media, cloud solutions, and mobile advertising. Throughout her impressive career, she has harnessed the power of real-time data to build scalable optimizations across various sectors. Her journey in the dynamic world of digital marketing has equipped her with a unique skill set that combines strategic vision and hands-on execution.
One of her notable roles was as a Strategist Director at Yahoo!, where she was instrumental in the evolution of the international display digital platform. In this capacity, Sonal utilized her keen analytical skills to create scalable data insights and implement audience data profiling using tools like Tableau. Her dedication and expertise helped shape Yahoo! into a formidable player in the digital advertising landscape.
In addition to her strategic prowess, Sonal has a wealth of experience executing market entry strategies and fostering customer engagement. Her innovative approach resulted in the development and launch of the Yahoo SEA Ad Network, making significant strides in advertising within the Asia-Pacific region. During this time, she had the opportunity to evangelize the future of advertising in Asia, positioning the Yahoo SEA Ad Network as the first ad exchange to enter the market in APAC while establishing a new office for Right Media Exchange in Singapore.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, Sonal ventured into the startup ecosystem by co-founding an agency in Vietnam, where she also built her own consultancy company. Her passion for innovation extends to mentoring early-stage startups, offering guidance and support to emerging businesses with high growth potential.
Sonal's experience extends beyond Yahoo! as she managed South East Asia and India for Google's DoubleClick Sales organization. She has also been involved with Buddy Media, which was acquired by Salesforce.com, leading as an Enterprise Sales representative for Marketing Cloud and other SaaS products in the Asia-Pacific region. Her path continued with mopub, a company acquired by Twitter, where she excelled in programmatic mobile business development.
Education and Achievements
Sonal's educational background includes a degree in Law (LLB) from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This academic foundation underpins her analytical skills and strategic thinking, which have been pivotal throughout her illustrious career.
In addition to her extensive work experience, Sonal has played vital roles in several organizations, holding senior positions such as Vice President APAC at Quantcast, Managing Director APAC at both Quantcast and AppNexus, and President of Programmatic Services & Product for Asia Pacific at dentsu international. Her leadership in the digital advertising realm has established her as a figure of influence, advocating for the growth and advancement of advertising technology.
Sonal has also contributed to the industry as a board member and chair at IAB Southeast Asia and India, where she has lent her expertise to further the interests of the digital advertising community. These opportunities have allowed her to shape industry standards and promote responsible advertising practices across the region.
Notable Achievements
Sonal Patel's notable achievements include:
- Transforming the digital landscape through her strategic leadership at Yahoo!, Google, and other major tech companies.
- Successfully launching the Yahoo SEA Ad Network, the first of its kind in the APAC region, which made significant advancements in advertising technology.
- Spearheading business development across multiple well-known companies, including her strategic roles at Twitter, Salesforce, and other major organizations in the tech field.
- Co-founding a successful agency in Vietnam and providing consulting services to startups, thereby contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
- Passionately mentoring young entrepreneurs and advocating for female entrepreneurship, demonstrating her commitment to developing talent and empowering others in the workforce.
- Obtaining her ACC certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), which enhances her skills in coaching and mentoring across various levels of the talent force.
Sonal Patel's career exemplifies her dedication to pushing the boundaries of digital marketing and technology. With her wealth of experience and continuous drive for innovation, she has cemented her place as a leader in the fields of digital strategy, advertising technology, and entrepreneurial mentorship.
