Women in AdTech Forum 2026: Beyond Representation to Real Power

On March 16th, Apptrove and Adgully teamed up to host the Women in AdTech Forum 2026. This wasn’t your typical corporate event where people just talk about diversity to check a box. Instead, it was a refreshingly honest gathering of leaders from across the marketing and tech world who wanted to talk about the things that actually matter: who holds the money, who makes the rules, and who has the power.

The theme, “Beyond Representation: Power, Capital, and Control,” really set the mood. The goal was to stop patting ourselves on the back for just being in the room and start asking what happens when women actually run the show.

Starting the Adtech event

The forum opened with an address by Anchal Siwag, Director – Customer Success at Apptrove, who welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of shifting from visibility to influence.

She emphasized that while the industry has made progress in representation, real change happens only when women are involved in strategic decisions, revenue ownership, and product direction.

This set the foundation for a day filled with meaningful discussions, real experiences, and actionable insights.

Why Affiliate Marketing is a Big Deal

The first keynote came from Parul Tarang Bhargava of vCommission. She broke down why affiliate marketing is no longer just a “side project” for brands. In today’s messy digital world, affiliates are the engines driving real growth and measurable results. Her message was simple: if a brand isn’t taking affiliates seriously, they’re leaving a massive opportunity for scalable growth on the table.

Fixing the Way We Do Sales

Asmita Kapoor, of Adsflourish, had the most relatable story of the day in her discussion about sales and its intense pressure and aggressive sales goals. Asmita also discussed that there’s no need to become a shark in order to be successful and achieve your goal, stating that there are other methods to achieve success while maintaining a connection with your team members. Teams that focus on creating a culture of empathy and good communication will end up obtaining better, more sustainable results without burning out.

Advice is Good, but Advocacy is Better

A standout panel discussion focused on the difference between mentorship and sponsorship. We often hear that women need mentors, but the panel pointed out a major flaw: women are being “advised” to death but aren’t being given actual opportunities.

  • The Gap: Mentors give you tips; sponsors give you jobs.
  • The Power of Sponsorship: Real career jumps happen when someone speaks up for you when you aren’t in the room.
  • The Fix: Companies need to build systems that encourage leaders to actively pull women up into leadership roles.

Using AI Without Losing Your Soul

Roopali Sharma from Havas Media India led a fascinating talk on the rise of AI. While it’s tempting to let robots handle everything, she reminded us that data can be misleading without a human brain to interpret it.

“AI is a tool, not a replacement for common sense.”

The future isn’t about choosing between machines or people; it’s about using AI to sharpen our human intuition and stay accountable for the decisions we make.

Follow the Money

Neha Kulwal from Mitgo APAC asked the toughest question of the day: Who actually controls the budget? She pointed out that many women have impressive titles but no real “check-writing” power.

  • Influence vs. Authority: Having a voice is nice, but owning the P&L (Profit and Loss) is what changes things.
  • The Bottom Line: If you aren’t the one deciding where the money goes, you aren’t truly in control of the outcome.

Do Women Handle Risk Differently?

To wrap things up, Akansha Tiwari from Apptrove led a chat about risk and decision-making. The panel debated whether women approach big bets differently. The general consensus? Women often look at long-term stability and see compliance as a strength rather than a hurdle. Ultimately, having a mix of perspectives leads to smarter, more balanced risks that help a business survive in the long run.

The Big Takeaway

What made this forum special was its refusal to play nice with surface-level slogans. The focus stayed on:

  • Getting access to investment and capital.
  • Owning the revenue streams.
  • Shaping the actual technology of the future.

It’s clear that representation is just the first step. The real work begins when we change who makes the decisions and who controls the resources.

Final Thoughts

The Women in AdTech Forum 2026 felt like a turning point. It challenged everyone to look past the numbers and ask: Are women actually leading the conversations? Do they have the financial power to back their ideas? Are they the ones building the future of the industry?

The event proved that the future of AdTech won’t just be built on better algorithms—it will be built by diverse leaders who bring a mix of data, gut instinct, and real-life experience to the table. It’s time to move from talking about change to actually making it happen.

What was the Women in AdTech Forum 2026 about?

The Women in AdTech Forum 2026 focused on moving beyond representation to discuss real power in AdTech, including decision-making, budgets, and leadership roles.

What key AdTech topics were discussed at the event?

The forum covered key AdTech topics like AI in marketing, affiliate growth, budget control, risk management, and mentorship vs sponsorship.

What role does AI play in AdTech discussions today?

AI in AdTech is used for campaign optimization and analytics, but the event highlighted the importance of balancing automation with human decision-making.



from Apptrove https://apptrove.com/women-in-adtech-forum-2026/
via Apptrove

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