LEGENDS OF ADTECH

Episode 10: The Alchemist

Leila Seith-Hassan, Chief Data Officer at Digitas UK


Welcome to Legends of Adtech: the podcast where we go beyond the buzzwords and straight to the people at the coalface of the adtech industry. Every two weeks, we sit down with the industry’s boldest thinkers, pioneers, and disruptors, to find out how they’re rewriting the game. This is their story.


In the first Legends of Adtech episode of 2026, Julia Linehan is joined by Leila Seith-Hassan, Chief Data Officer at Digitas UK, a global data leader turning raw numbers into meaningful impact.


From her early career in Australia to senior leadership roles across the US, Europe and the UK, Leila shares how data, creativity and responsibility intersect in modern advertising. This honest conversation explores ethical AI, diversity in STEM, and why data should enable creativity rather than replace it.


Leila also unpacks the backlash around AI-generated advertising, explains why “lazy” use of AI is the real threat to creativity, and shares why representation in data, technology and leadership roles is critical to building fair, effective systems for the future.

About Leila Seith-Hassan

Leila is the Chief Data Officer at Digitas. Her career has spanned several continents, including Australia, the USA, Europe, and currently the UK. She brings extensive experience from roles with multinational corporations such as American Express, Nestlé, GSK, and IBM, in addition to various market-based organisations.


Beyond her technological and leadership accomplishments, Leila is a staunch advocate for ethical AI and diversity in STEM fields. Recognised as a thought leader, she significantly influences the dialogue around AI ethics, impacting cultural, business, and societal norms. Her accolades include being named a BIMA 100 Champion for Change and a DATA IQ Top 100. Leila also chairs the Data & Marketing Association’s Marketing Ethics committee and serves on their AI committee, driving forward the ethical use of data and AI in marketing.

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