Even though we see more women stepping into leadership roles today, the path to significant success remains full of challenges and fewer opportunities. Yet, amidst this landscape, Puja Bhola Rios stands out as a beacon of inspiration, defying the odds and making her mark in a highly competitive industry. As the President and Chief Operating Officer of Kevel, Puja Bhola Rios not only ascended to the pinnacle of her profession but is also leading the charge in revolutionizing retail media technology.
Under her visionary leadership, Kevel is transforming the digital advertising space for retailers, offering a powerful platform that allows it to harness its own advertising networks. This innovation is not just reshaping how retailers engage with consumers but is also setting new benchmarks in the industry. Puja’s journey and her contributions at Kevel are a testament to her exceptional leadership and commitment to breaking barriers in the corporate world.
Puja’s Leadership Journey
Puja Bhola Rios stands at the helm of Kevel as its President and Chief Operating Officer, steering the company through the competitive currents of retail media technology. Her journey is marked by a series of transformative leadership roles and significant accomplishments. Before joining Kevel, Puja served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Frame.io, where she orchestrated an impressive leap to over $100 million in annual recurring revenue, culminating in a monumental acquisition by Adobe. This remarkable achievement was built on a solid foundation laid during her earlier career.
At the age of 19, her career narrative began with a foundational seven years at Xerox, where she honed her strategic acumen, followed by a prolific 13-year stint at CareerBuilder. There, she not only excelled as the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Sales and Customer Success but also championed gender diversity by founding CareerBuildHER, an empowering women’s alliance. Known for her dynamic leadership and compelling presence as a speaker, Puja is a fervent advocate for empowerment and growth, a passion she encapsulated in her best-selling book, “Get It Together.” Her story is one of vision, resilience, and a relentless drive to inspire and lead.
Kevel: Pioneering Retail Media Excellence
Kevel stands as a leader in the world of retail media, offering a comprehensive SaaS platform that empowers businesses to build and optimize their own retail media networks. With its state-of-the-art retail media cloud, Kevel provides an unparalleled solution for ad serving that effectively maximizes clients’ share of advertisers’ budgets. Founded 13 years ago by the visionary James Avery, Kevel has grown into a powerhouse in the industry, known for its innovative approach and commitment to helping clients achieve substantial revenue growth.
Company’s Core Values
| Improve the Digital World | Exceed Customer Expectations | Build Trust | |
| Achieve Excellence | Champion Diversity | Innovate Continuously | Promote Transparency |
Drawn by the brilliance and integrity of James Avery, Puja Bhola Rios joined Kevel after an impressive tenure at Frame.io, where she witnessed significant growth in a short span. Her decision was cemented by the clear vision she saw for Kevel’s future. Starting from a modest $20 million in annual recurring revenue, she envisions propelling Kevel to the $100 million mark, mirroring her previous success. Kevel’s unique blend of innovative technology and strategic leadership positions it as a frontrunner in the retail media space, poised for continued growth and success.
Role, Responsibilities, and Leadership Philosophy
At Kevel, Puja Bhola Rios holds a crucial role, overseeing a diverse range of functions that include sales, marketing, customer success, customer support, solution architecture, finance, legal, and operations. Her broad purview allows her to effectively manage everything outside of product development and human resources, ensuring that each department operates smoothly and in alignment with the company’s overarching goals. By coordinating these critical areas, Puja plays a significant part in driving Kevel’s growth and success, making sure every facet of the business contributes to its progress.
Furthermore, her leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in the principles of hope and clarity. She believes in fostering a work culture where every member of the team feels inspired and has a precise understanding of their daily responsibilities. This approach not only aligns the team with Kevel’s ambitious goals but also instills a shared sense of purpose and direction. Under her guidance, the team is motivated and united, working cohesively to achieve success and navigate the challenges of the fast-paced ad tech industry.
Navigating Challenges & Overcoming Hurdles
What does it take to lead a company in the booming field of retail media and ad tech? For Puja, it means navigating a thriving market where external challenges are relatively minimal. With the company’s strong financial stewardship and an exceptional board, the primary hurdles are internal. Puja has been instrumental in organizing the company, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and identifying areas of excellence since she joined six months ago. This internal restructuring has been crucial for setting Kevel up for sustainable growth and success.
On a day-to-day basis, Puja Bhola Rios encounters the ongoing challenge of change management, which requires continuous attention and improvement. Leading a dynamic team in an ever-changing industry, she works tirelessly to keep everyone aligned and motivated toward the company’s goals. The task of maintaining engagement and agility within the team is demanding, yet essential. Despite these complexities, Puja has successfully navigated the company through these internal challenges, ensuring a steady path toward achieving Kevel’s ambitious objectives.
The Driving Force Behind Innovation
A company’s true strength lies in its people—those who build, run, and propel it forward with passion and expertise. At Kevel, this ethos is embodied in a team that is as diverse as it is dynamic, creating a unique blend of talent that drives the company’s success. The Chief Financial Officer, with two successful exits under their belt, adds a layer of financial prowess that is crucial for strategic growth. The CEO, a visionary who founded Kevel, provides a steady hand and innovative spirit that keeps the company at the forefront of retail media technology.
Puja Bhola Rios brings her seasoned head of sales from a previous venture, ensuring a continuity of excellence and leadership. The head of marketing oversees a stellar team known for their creativity and effectiveness, while the sales team, fueled by a relentless drive to succeed, continuously pushes the boundaries of what is achievable. This rich tapestry of backgrounds and skills fosters a culture of adaptability and innovation, essential for navigating the complexities of a fully remote operation. Kevel’s approach to remote work, characterized by clear communication and regular updates, ensures that each team member remains aligned with the company’s goals and mission.
Building Success Through People
At Kevel, identifying and developing talent goes beyond mere recognition of potential—it’s about actively nurturing and empowering each individual. Puja’s leadership is characterized by a commitment to personal and professional growth for her team members. Regular performance reviews and career development sessions are integral to this process, offering clear pathways for advancement and skill enhancement.
This strategic focus ensures that every team member understands their role and has the tools and support they need to excel and grow within the organization. The remote work environment, far from being a hindrance, has become a catalyst for fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. By investing in its people, Kevel not only cultivates a team that is highly skilled and motivated but also builds a resilient foundation for long-term success and innovation in the competitive world of retail media technology.
Charting a Bold Future with Innovation and Growth
Kevel is setting a clear and ambitious course for the future, aiming to significantly increase its annual recurring revenue (ARR) from $24 million to $100 million within the next two and a half to three years. This growth plan is anchored by a strategic emphasis on product development. By the end of the year, the company plans to launch the next iteration of its flagship product, Retail Media in a Box, which will empower customers by providing seamless payment solutions and integrating new demand channels to enhance ad revenue generation.
In the short term, Kevel’s focus is on refining and expanding this product to better meet the needs of its clients, ensuring a robust and adaptable solution that fosters customer success. Looking further ahead, the company’s long-term vision includes continuously innovating its suite of products and services to maintain a competitive edge in the retail media technology sector. Puja Bhola Rios is prepared to give her best to make this vision a reality, ensuring Kevel’s place as an industry leader.
Get It Together!
Achieving success in both personal and professional realms starts with the decision to get it together, and Puja has embodied this philosophy throughout her career. This belief is the cornerstone of her Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Get It Together, which has inspired countless readers to pursue growth in both areas of their lives. The book is a practical and inspiring guide, filled with actionable insights and relatable stories from Puja’s own leadership journey. It serves as a powerful resource for anyone looking to transform their life, embrace change, and achieve their highest potential. Through this work, Puja shares her commitment to empowering others to take control of their destiny and thrive in all aspects of life.
Approach to Work-Life Balance
Puja Bhola Rios approaches work-life balance not as a fixed state but as a journey of managing highs and lows. During pivotal times like the exit at Frame.io, she devoted months to intense work, often with long days stretching over the past six months. She credits her 21-year marriage to an exceptional husband for their daily communication, which helps them plan for and handle upcoming demands effectively. They adjust their focus between work and family needs, ensuring they meet the most pressing requirements at any given time.
Maintaining this equilibrium is crucial to Puja. It’s about recognizing the immediate priorities, whether it’s advancing professionally or nurturing personal relationships. By understanding and managing these fluctuations, she ensures both aspects of her life thrive. This approach not only supports her career but also underscores the importance of family and personal well-being in achieving long-term success.
Clarity and Determination: Advice for Emerging Entrepreneurs
Starting out, many budding entrepreneurs and leaders often feel overwhelmed and uncertain, wondering how to navigate the complex world of business. Yet, it is their determination and willingness to learn that propels them forward. Puja, with her wealth of experience, highlights the crucial importance of mastering profit and loss (P&L) dynamics as a foundation for leadership success. Understanding how financials work, from profit margins to budget impacts, is not just a skill but a necessity. Puja advises that integrating a solid grasp of P&L with a clear leadership vision can transform initial uncertainty into confident decision-making and sustained growth. For those aiming for executive positions, this knowledge equips them to lead effectively and drive their organizations toward success.
