Ep #16 Walking the halls and pushing big rocks up the hill

Robbert van der Pluijm, Head of Marketing on building a career in adtech and playing the long game

Author

Mita Mandawker
April 10, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

From teaching social studies to leading marketing in ad-tech startups, Robbert's journey is nothing short of inspiring. With 10+ years in the industry, Robbert van der Pluijm shares insights on navigating the complexities of ad tech, why long tenures matter, and the secrets to a successful marketing career like pushing "big rocks up the hill, walking the halls and more".

Whether you're an early career marketer or a seasoned marketer, Robbert's advice offers invaluable insights into navigating your career and making an impact.

  • (00:00) Intro

  • (02:44) Robbert’s early life and transition from education to marketing

  • (10:22) Robbert’s experience at Bibblio and the evolution of his role

  • (23:52) Strategies for successful events on a budget

  • (30:52) Robbert’s move to Permutive and his evolving responsibilities

  • (34:56) Pushing big rocks up the hill

  • (46:09) How marketing in adtech works

  • (01:00:03) Adtech marketing team structures

  • (01:07:27) Benefits and challenges of long tenures at startups

  • (01:12:28) Advice for evaluating career opportunities

  • (01:17:32) Hiring practices and advice for job seekers

  • (01:24:09) Key career takeaways for marketers: “Walking the halls”

You can find the full episode transcript below.

[Episode Transcript] Walking the halls, pushing big rocks up the hill and playing the long game_Robbert van der Pluijm.pdf433.92 KB • PDF File