Ogury’s Spotlight Series | Michelle Kim

On paper, Michelle Kim is Ogury’s Vice President of Sales for the West Coast. But her story extends far beyond what her resume can convey. Through Ogury’s Spotlight Series, we’re exploring the unique passions and perspectives that shape our team members in their professional and personal lives.

Can you give us a quick overview of your career path?

I got my start as a media buyer at Dailey, a small LA agency under IPG. That role gave me great exposure to both offline and digital planning, working with brands across CPG, auto, and entertainment.

Eventually, I jumped into the adtech world at Collective—one of the early companies really pushing audience targeting. That’s where I got into digital sales and started digging into the tech side of the business.

Then came an eight-year chapter at Tremor Video, where I helped build our West Coast presence and worked on early innovations like Automatic Content Recognition, now an industry standard. I focused on vertical growth and connecting storytelling to performance — a defining part of my career.

What excites you about the company and its mission?

I love building. Whether it’s a team, a strategy, or a go-to-market approach, I thrive when I get to create something from the ground up.

What Ogury is doing around privacy-first advertising is not just innovative—it’s necessary. And across the company, there’s this energy and ambition that feels really aligned. We’re all pushing toward the same goals, and you can feel the momentum.

You’ve led impressive growth on the West Coast for Ogury—what’s your approach to building successful, high-performing teams?

I focus on hiring smart, kind people who genuinely care about doing good work. Once that foundation is in place, it’s all about creating a culture where people feel trusted and supported, but also challenged.

I try to lead with transparency and make space for regular, honest conversations around growth, not just metrics, but real development. When everyone is aligned and focused on creating value, that’s when great things happen.

What’s a piece of advice you wish more women in adtech heard early on?

Find people who are already living the kind of life you want in 5–10 years—professionally and personally—and spend time around them.

It’s not just about mentorship. It’s about exposure to new ways of thinking and leading. Being around the right people can shift your perspective, sharpen your instincts, and expand what you believe is possible for yourself.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

I can’t sing to save my life, but with a shot of liquid courage, I’ll give “Since You’ve Been Gone” my best effort… and by the end of the night, I usually end up singing “Hotel California.” It’s all about the fun, not the vocals!

And finally, what’s your persona?

First and always—I’m a mom. Outside of that, I’m really into health and wellness, fashion and beauty, and I try to live sustainably. I drive an EV and do my best to make eco-conscious choices.

I love to travel, catch live music, hit the movies, and I have a soft spot for reality TV. It’s all about balance and finding joy in the mix.

The roles we play at work are just one facet of ourselves. Michelle’s story is a testament to the rich and dynamic personalities that make up Ogury and reflect our organizational values. Stay tuned for more stories as we continue highlighting the incredible individuals who contribute to Ogury’s success and culture.