In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Nexxen solutions analyst Stephan Coothoopermal.
Time in current role/time at the company:
I’ve had the pleasure of working in Nexxen’s Solutions team for four years – the first two years with Amobee and the most recent two years when we rebranded as Nexxen.
How long have you been in the industry?
I’ve been in the industry for four years, starting my career at Amobee right after graduating.
How did you get here?
I started as an intern at Amobee during my final year of university. My then-manager, Dillen Alahendra (now at Microsoft), took a chance on me as someone completely new to the industry. He introduced me to the world of adtech, mentored me through the learning curve and ultimately helped me land a permanent position within the Solutions team.
Was this always the plan?
Not at all, but I’m very happy with the way things turned out. I couldn’t be more pleased with the position I’m currently in as every day brings opportunities to learn new things. I’m also surrounded by colleagues who push me to grow, challenge me to think differently, and inspire me to constantly improve.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have been exposed to many individuals who have shaped me both professionally and personally. Early on, I worked under Max Rivera (now at Channel Factory), who played a big role in my development – teaching me the ropes, how to position myself in the industry and sharing life lessons I’ll always carry with me.
Today, I’m extremely grateful to be working under Jay Kim, Senior Director, Analytics and Platform Solutions at Nexxen. Jay has given me the freedom to explore and express myself through my work while helping me refine my skills like workload management, project collaboration and problem solving. His mentorship has been invaluable in navigating daily challenges and creating methods for success.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
The constant learning. Whether it’s exploring emerging technologies, testing new tools, or digging into data that challenges your assumptions, there’s always something new. In my daily work on platforms like Nexxen Discovery, I might begin with one expectation of what the data will show, but after analysing real-time insights, my view can shift entirely.
Another exciting aspect of my role is that I get to be hands-on with innovation. Recently, I’ve had the chance to test some of Nexxen’s newest releases, including nexAI and our expanded ACR dataset.
NexAI has been incredible to explore. Seeing its outputs firsthand, understanding how it can transform workflows, and even providing feedback on improvements has been a rewarding experience. Similarly, working with ACR data has opened fresh opportunities to understand audiences and measure impact in ways we couldn’t before. Having access to these kinds of solutions keeps the role dynamic and exciting.
And the biggest challenge?
Keeping up. The industry evolves so fast that staying ahead requires constant upskilling, research, and adaptability.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’d be honoured if my career followed a similar path to my mentors, Jay and Max. They’ve demonstrated what true leadership looks like and have shown me what it means to guide and support a team effectively.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
My team – Both leadership and my colleagues across different departments. The daily collaboration, shared ideas and deep discussions on emerging trends keeps me motivated. Together, we set ambitious goals that we all work towards as a team.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I love jumping out of my comfort zone and taking on new hobbies that may challenge both my fears and interests. Even if I’m not particularly excited about it at first, I find value in the experience. It often teaches me something unexpected about myself and sometimes even sparks lifelong habits.
In five years' time I'll be:
Leading innovative projects with my team, driving new projects and initiatives that bring fresh, industry-changing ideas to life.
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