Jessica Carlin

About

I'm an independent consultant and operator with 15+ years across media, AdTech, and creative industries, working at the intersection of marketing operations, business systems, and digital transformation. My career has spanned both sides of the table. I've led transformation engagements at The Economist Group, NBCUniversal, and EIT Culture & Creativity — running stakeholder interviews, capability assessments, tech stack evaluations, and implementation roadmaps across complex, multi-stakeholder organisations. I also co-founded Screen Moguls, an Innovate UK-backed AdTech startup, which gave me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by startups and small businesses. Most recently, I run Jessica Carlin Consulting, a systems and operations practice focused on helping founders and small teams build businesses that don't depend on them personally to hold together. I also co-host Early Adoptr, a podcast and consulting brand helping founders and operators make practical use of AI. - Systems and operations diagnosis, identifying what's actually broken, not just what looks broken - Tech stack audit and integration, assessing what you have, what connects, and what needs to change - Process documentation and systematisation — getting critical knowledge out of people's heads and into repeatable workflows - Marketing operations — from campaign infrastructure to data and attribution - Digital transformation with implementation accountability — strategic roadmap plus hands-on delivery - AI and automation assessment - Stakeholder interviews and capability assessments for structured diagnostic work across complex organisations

Experience

• Principal Consultant · Jessica Carlin Consulting03-01-2025

  Independent consultancy providing digital transformation advisory services for creative and media organisations, focusing on operational resilience, cross-functional integration, and emerging technology adoption. Led a two-phase marketing transformation engagement for EIT Culture & Creativity (major EU-funded body, 50+ staff): Phase 1 comprised a comprehensive 6-week capability audition across communications, technology, and operational processes. Currently leading Phase 2 implementation across three parallel tracks: operational quick wins; foundation building (AI policy development, AI knowledge hub, style guides, approval workflow redesign); and technology stack evaluation and implementation. Led comprehensive transformation audit for The Economist Group across growth marketing and creative operations, interviewing 20+ team members across 5 business units to assess current systems and identify optimisation opportunities for sustainable growth. Delivered cross-functional technology integration through successful implementations and data migration across creative teams, addressing skills gaps and innovation capacity challenges faced by creative organisations adapting to digital-first operations. Developed strategic AI implementation roadmap focusing on operational efficiency, cross-functional collaboration, and future-proofing creative workflows, supporting organisations navigating the intersection of creativity and emerging technology.

• Creator & Co-Host · Early Adoptr05-01-2025

  Creator and co-host of Early Adoptr, an educational podcast aimed at simplifying AI and emerging technology adoption for SMEs and startups, available across all major podcast platforms, including YouTube. Produced 50+ episodes reaching thousands of listeners, covering topics from LLMs to prompt engineering to AI in the creative industries to synthetic data, all aimed at building practical knowledge to address the gap between complex emerging technologies and SMEs. • Built strategic industry partnerships through podcast platform, securing AI workshop delivery for Cineworld Cinemas and Disney, and panels for innovation in cinemas at the UK Cinema Association conference, demonstrating ability to scale market opportunities and bridge technology with creative applications

• Partner · Atonik03-01-2025

  Strategic advisory role within media and entertainment consultancy, providing expertise on the intersection of content, commerce, and technology for industry clients and business development opportunities, with an emphasis on marketing and technology. • Developed "So This Happened..." a newsletter at the cross-section of content, commerce and technology, identifying trend development and strategic implications for entertainment, media, and tech sectors Advised on strategic projects including new media & entertainment conference development, comprehensive RFI for a major UK broadcaster measurement initiative, and global growth strategy for global news platform.

• Director, Marketing & Partnerships · Pickaxe Foundry2021 – 02-01-2025

  Led all aspects of marketing & partnership strategy for the digital transformation firm, with a mission to build and implement marketing & partnership strategy. Manages large-scale projects to improve internal and client marketing operations and build partnership opportunities, supporting innovation implementation across media sector. • Delivered transformative partnership strategy managing relationships with 10+ tech vendors including securing Airtable Partner Program launch, featured Peacock case study with Braze & mParticle, and ITV-Amplitude campaign, demonstrating cross-sector collaboration capabilities within the creative industry. Led operational efficiency transformation with Peacock, implementing a tracking platform review, and delivering improved marketing operations efficiency praised by client leadership. Developed and implemented a new marketing strategy that delivered outstanding growth in marketing effectiveness, resulting in speaking appearances at industry events including IBC, the Peacock MarTech Summit, a 2x finalist nomination for the Digiday Technology Awards and silver at The Drum Awards, as well as a 50% increase in content creation YOY.

• Co-founder / CMO / CCO · Screen Moguls2018 – 12-01-2021

  Led the Innovate UK grant-winning data and AdTech startup, including developing and overseeing the commercial and marketing functions. Oversaw data initiatives and marketing campaigns for film studios, media agencies, and cinema chains. Enhanced Screen Moguls’ presence and marketing technology by building strategic partnerships, including a pioneering partnership to make Screen Moguls one of the first companies globally to integrate TikTok’s API. • Developed and ran innovative data campaigns with Universal that delivered a ~16% audience uplift and ~£37k incremental revenue across 4 titles, with a 29% audience uplift and £117k incremental box office revenue for Downton Abbey. Transformed the business by creating an innovative AdTech solution that both simplified multi-channel social media marketing for independent cinemas and SMEs.

• Marketing Manager, EMEA · RealD2012 – 12-01-2017

  Oversaw marketing strategy, delivery, and execution for all B2B and B2C initiatives across 20+ EMEA territories, with a goal to increase revenues by driving consumer demand and ticket sales for premium 3D cinema. Led a globally dispersed marketing, partnerships and PR team. Executed promotional activities and content partnerships for 40+ 3D movies per year, including iconic franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars.

Education

• University of St AndrewsMA, History

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