Hannah Weiss
Senior Analyst, Addressable Audience Research, Disney Advertising Sales
Welcome to The Point, EDO’s guest series where we’ll talk with people who represent the future of the TV advertising industry about what’s happening in the industry today and where it’s headed.
From their insights and experiences to advice for others looking to jump into the field, there’s a lot to cover – so let’s get right to the point!
Today we’re chatting with Hannah Weiss, Senior Analyst, Addressable Audience Research at Disney Advertising Sales.
Welcome, Hannah!
What is the most exciting part of your work/role?
Getting to talk about TV and our favorite shows in almost every meeting and still have it be relevant to the work we do. It’s fun to connect with my colleagues by sharing what I’m watching and getting to hear what they recommend.
What’s the most challenging part of your work/role?
The most challenging part is how quickly everything in the media landscape can change. Working in an ever-changing industry, we often are trying to find answers to problems that don’t exist yet. It can be challenging at times to think so far in the future and out of the box, but it’s really rewarding at the same time.
What do you see for the future of the industry? What is going to be an important trend or conversation?
One trend that I think that we will continue to see is more personalized ads across platforms. We see them on digital, streaming platforms and social media now, and I think we will see more of that on linear as well.
Thanks for sharing these insights on the industry, Hannah. It’s great to learn from your experiences and think about what’s coming next!
I’d love to hear more about your career and your advice for others looking to work in TV advertising – especially on the network side.
What advice do you have for someone looking to work in this industry?
If you’re looking to work in this industry, I’d definitely recommend brushing up on your Microsoft Excel skills. Being in a role where I’m handling large data sets, it’s helpful to be able to sort the data and solve the answer as quickly as possible, while still maintaining the integrity of the numbers. I also think having public speaking and presentation skills are really helpful. It makes me feel more confident presenting to my colleagues and outside peers.
What qualities will help someone succeed in this industry or in a role like yours?
Flexibility and collaboration – working in a constantly evolving environment, you need to be flexible and able to pivot to a new project or task. Collaboration is key for me. I lean on my colleagues for their expertise and opinions all the time. Most days, our work really does feel like a team sport.
Have you had any lightbulb moments in your career?
I’m not sure if this is considered a lightbulb, but during the pandemic, I often looked for ways to break up my day so I wasn’t cooped up in my apartment. Like a lot of us, I would go for walks. Sometimes it’s 15 minutes and other days it’s an hour. I learned that by taking time for myself, I was able to think clearer and solve problems that I wasn’t able to if I hadn’t taken the time to move around and get a change of scenery.
What’s the biggest professional obstacle you’ve overcome?
My biggest obstacle professionally was learning to speak up in meetings. Starting out, I used to be really nervous to speak up. I didn’t want to ask or say the wrong thing. By building up my confidence, I learned that my voice and opinions have value, and discussions and ideas become better when more people contribute.
Last question – is there a motto you live by?
“Why not me,” it’s from Mindy Kaling’s book with the same title. It encompasses how I feel about achieving my goals, both professionally and personally.
Before you go…
Go-to comfort food? Chips and Cheez-its – salty snacks are my favorite!
Top 3 Musical Artists? Elton John, The Chicks, Kacey Musgraves
Favorite TV show? I can’t just pick one, but my top shows are The Mindy Project and Real Housewives of Potomac, New Jersey, and Salt Lake City
What’s something you love to nerd out about? Alabama Football and college football playoff rankings/scenarios
Favorite hobby? Reading, my goal is 52 books for 2021 and I’m already on book 27
Cake or Pie? Both!
Thanks for joining us, Hannah. We wish you all the best!