What does it take to genuinely reinvent yourself in the world of advertising, and to do it in a way that’s valuable?
This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Harry Kargman, founder and CEO of Kargo, for a reflection on 23 years of building through constant change in advertising.
From mobile and the open web to social, CTV, and now AI-powered media buying, he explains why good timing starts with knowing which market signals actually matter, and how Kargo built a culture that expects reinvention.
Harry also gives us an inside look at why its new platform, Karlo, is designed to make sophisticated media buying more accessible to mid-market brands.
About the guest:
Harry Kargman is the founder and CEO of Kargo, an advertising technology company founded in 2003. The business began with a focus on mobile and has evolved across the open web, social platforms, connected TV, and retail media as consumer attention and advertising infrastructure have changed.
Kargo’s approach has consistently centered on pairing exclusive creative formats with distribution across major publishers and platforms. Harry is now extending that foundation through Karlo, an AI-powered media buying platform designed to help more Mid-market and smaller brands plan, launch, and manage campaigns across multiple channels.
Key Takeaways:
[04:09] When Identity Gets Harder, Context Still Matters — Kargo has traditionally plugged into outside data providers rather than trying to own every audience graph itself. But Harry sees a growing opportunity in contextual targeting as privacy changes make individual users harder to identify at the exact moment an ad is served. The content someone is watching or reading can still provide a strong signal, giving marketers another way to reach relevant audiences without relying entirely on identity-based targeting.
[07:14] Don’t Chase the Trend. Define the Trigger. — Harry was openly against entering CTV while Netflix, Disney and Amazon remained largely ad-free. His trigger was specific. Why? Because if Netflix introduced advertising, the market had fundamentally changed. When that happened, Kargo moved immediately. Three years later, Harry says its previously nonexistent CTV business is expected to generate roughly $100 million this year. The lesson for marketers is less about CTV itself and more about separating a concrete market signal from industry excitement.
[11:06] Make Reinvention Part of the Culture — A strategic pivot only works if the organization is willing to move with it. Harry acknowledges that people naturally resist change, which is why Kargo repeatedly tells the stories of the pivots that kept the company alive. Even the artwork in its office carries the message “pivot, pivot, pivot.” Over time, successful reinvention becomes part of the company’s identity, making the next change easier to understand and act on.
[20:14] AI Could Lower the Barrier to Sophisticated Media Buying — Karlo is Kargo’s attempt to turn decades of media relationships and technical integrations into a simpler, conversational experience. Users can add assets, brand guidelines, audience information, and media plans, then chat with the platform as it helps plan and launch campaigns. Harry sees that simplicity as a way to bring capabilities previously delivered through white-glove service to mid-market brands and agencies that have historically lacked the same access.
[32:14] Big Pivots Are Built From Small Progress — Harry credits Kargo’s longevity to three things: accepting that the first attempt will rarely be perfect, being willing to pivot when the market changes, and maintaining the belief that there is a way forward. But he also insists on visible incremental progress. His analogy is construction: a building does not appear in a day, but enough bricks laid consistently can create something substantial over time.
