Humans of Digital – Paula Festas on Growth Through Clarity and Connection

Humans of Digital spotlights the people shaping Canada’s digital advertising industry, celebrating their expertise, insights, and personal stories.

Paula Festas

Job Title:
SVP North America Sales

Social:

Company:

At illumin, I lead strategic sales and partnerships, helping brands harness data-driven advertising journeys with clear attribution to drive measurable impact and smarter consumer engagement. 

What’s one project, campaign, or achievement you’re most proud of in your career so far?

One of my proudest achievements was leading Postmedia’s transformation from a traditional print media company to a digital and programmatic-first organization. I spearheaded the shift in strategy, built new revenue models, and empowered teams to embrace data and automation—culminating in my appointment as Postmedia’s first female Chief Revenue Officer. 

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was to lead with clarity and conviction—especially during times of transformation. It taught me that people don’t just follow strategy, they follow belief. 

What excites you most about the future of digital advertising in Canada?

What excites me most about the future of digital advertising in Canada is the convergence of innovation and accountability. We’re entering an era where AI-powered attribution, privacy-first personalization, and retail media are reshaping how we connect with consumers—more intelligently and more responsibly. Canada’s unique regulatory environment and diverse media landscape create the perfect conditions for building a more transparent, inclusive, and performance-driven ecosystem. It’s not just about reaching audiences anymore—it’s about proving impact, respecting data, and driving real business outcomes with integrity 

In your view, what’s the biggest opportunity for our industry right now — and what’s the biggest challenge?

The biggest opportunity in our industry right now is the ability to harness advanced attribution and incrementality measurement to truly understand what’s driving performance across the consumer journey. With better visibility into what works—and what doesn’t—we can optimize investments with precision. The biggest challenge, however, is aligning fragmented data sources and overcoming legacy measurement models that fail to capture the full impact of omnichannel campaigns. Bridging that gap is where the real transformation lies. 

Getting Human

Coffee, Tea, or Something Stronger?
Coffee

Creative boost go-to?
Spotify playlist: ChillHouse; Podcast: Magic Lessons (Elizabeth Gilbert)

If your career were a movie, what would the title be?
Breaking Barriers: “A Journey of Firsts” 


Complete the sentence – “The future of digital advertising in Canada is…”

…precision-driven, powered by smarter attribution and incrementality models that finally give marketers the clarity to invest with confidence and measure what truly moves the needle. 

Paula champions clear storytelling, practical measurement, and teams that learn fast. With smarter use of data and AI, and stronger collaboration through IAB Canada, she sees room to build reach and trust at the same time. Her focus – help partners perform today and be ready for what’s next.

Ready to lean in? Read more Humans of Digital stories and join IAB Canada to get involved in our committees, working groups, and cross-industry initiatives.