MarTech360 Interview with Anastasia-Nikita Bansal, Chief Executive Officer at TeqBlaze

“My advice is not to fixate on competitors. Stay aware, but constant comparison can hold you back. Real growth comes from focusing on your own direction, grounded in your team’s strengths, your experiences, and the needs of your clients. By following your own insights and goals, you can maintain independence and grow in a way that truly fits your brand.”

As the CEO of TeqBlaze, you’ve successfully led the company through significant growth and rebranding. How do you balance fostering innovation in a rapidly evolving ad tech landscape?

Balancing innovation in such a fast-paced ad tech world is all about staying client-focused and leveraging teamwork. At TeqBlaze, we’re not just chasing trends but laser-focused on creating custom solutions that address real client needs. By understanding their challenges, we can deliver innovations that make a genuine difference, and we’re committed to this client-centric approach.

Team collaboration is at the heart of this process. When our tech and business teams come together to share ideas, we can turn creative concepts into practical solutions that work. It’s amazing to see how the best ideas can come to life when everyone contributes.

And, of course, keeping innovation front and center is key. We’re always keeping a close eye on the latest trends in ad tech and investing in our R&D team to stay ahead of the curve. By staying agile and committed to testing new ideas, we can quickly bring fresh solutions to market, which helps us remain competitive in this rapidly evolving industry.

Being named one of the Top Women in Media & Ad Tech 2024 is a significant achievement. How has this recognition influenced your leadership approach at TeqBlaze, and how do you plan to use this platform to further drive innovation and empower more women in the ad tech industry?

Being named one of the Top Women in Media & Ad Tech for 2024 really means a lot, especially since it’s from such an incredible community of women. It’s inspiring to be part of a group making real change in the industry.

This recognition motivates me even more to connect with and support other women in ad tech. I’m excited to use this platform to share experiences and help each other grow—we’re so much stronger when we’re in it together.

I’m also passionate about getting more women into ad tech and helping them succeed. It’s all about creating spaces for collaboration, playing to our strengths, and building a more inclusive industry.

Niki, can you tell us about your professional background and your current role at TeqBlaze. Also tell us how TeqBlaze differentiates itself from other companies in the same space?

I got my start in AdTech about seven years ago as a project manager, working closely with tech teams. It’s crazy to think that just six years ago, TeqBlaze was really just separate products like SSP and DSP, without a unified direction. My role was all about bringing those pieces together into a single, cohesive business unit, simplifying things for clients and making our work more efficient.

Now, as CEO, I’m focused on the big picture—driving our strategy, overseeing product development, and keeping us agile in an industry that never stops evolving. I work closely with our R&D team to make sure our tech isn’t just solving today’s problems but is designed to help our clients grow and adapt over time.

What sets TeqBlaze apart is our commitment to custom solutions. We tailor everything we do to fit each client’s needs instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach. Plus, we’re dedicated to innovation, always investing in R&D to stay ahead of industry changes. And it’s not just about delivering tech—we’re right there with our clients, offering hands-on support and strategic advice to ensure they get the most out of our products.

Also Read: MarTech360 Interview with Suzanna Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer at esbconnect

How do Teqblaze’s custom AdTech solutions, including their white-label DSP and SSP, help businesses quickly enter the programmatic advertising space? What key features or integrations optimize ad performance, targeting, and efficiency while ensuring brand control and adaptability in fast-evolving digital environments?

We’re focused on getting businesses into programmatic advertising quickly and smoothly. Our white-label DSP and SSP solutions are built to be fully customizable and can be up and running in just 2-3 weeks—no long setup periods.

Our platforms also have practical tools, like machine learning for intelligent ad delivery, dynamic pricing adjustments, and flexible A/B testing, so clients can experiment and make changes independently. This gives them control to adapt their platforms as needed, rather than being stuck with rigid systems.

Customization is key for us. Each client can shape the platform, from branding to specific features, to fit their needs. And they’re not on their own—every client works with a dedicated account manager and has direct access to our tech team to tailor the platform to their goals.

We also ensure to regularly review performance and suggest adjustments to maintain efficiency in a constantly evolving landscape. This ongoing support is designed to keep everything running smoothly and to provide our clients with a sense of security.

How does Teqblaze ensure seamless integration of its programmatic advertising tools, such as real-time bidding (RTB) and audience segmentation, with existing business infrastructures? What kind of support or customization do they provide to help clients overcome challenges related to data privacy, scalability, and ad fraud in the digital advertising landscape?

TeqBlaze offers a white-label model with a standalone infrastructure for each client. This means all bitstream data and RTB auctions are stored and managed separately for complete ownership and control. This setup allows us to deliver unlimited customization and seamless integrations, adapting our tools to fit each client’s existing systems.

Our infrastructure is specifically designed to scale horizontally, so as our clients’ needs grow, we can expand their platforms to keep pace—whether it’s enhancing RTB functionality, expanding audience segmentation, or integrating new tools. This scalability ensures our product can evolve and stay relevant in the long term.

We’re a product-focused company, constantly researching and keeping up with industry trends. We aim to deliver a solution that isn’t just scalable but market-ready. Our approach includes unlimited customization options to ensure the platform remains flexible as our clients’ needs evolve.

We’re fully committed to data privacy. TeqBlaze is a member of organizations like the IAB Tech Lab and adheres to GDPR and other data privacy standards. We also offer pre-built integrations with traffic scanning tools to tackle issues like ad fraud, ensuring our clients a safer and more secure digital advertising experience.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance despite the demanding responsibilities of a CEO? Can you share specific strategies or practices that help you manage personal well-being alongside professional commitments?

I work efficiently, focusing on completing tasks to make room for what matters personally. Since I live in Portugal, I surf every Sunday morning – a ritual that helps me start the week feeling refreshed.

I also minimize my social media use (LinkedIn is the only one I regularly check), which really cuts down on distractions. For me, having hobbies isn’t just nice; it’s essential. It’s those activities outside of work that keep things balanced and keep me grounded.

What is the biggest problem you or your team is solving this year?

Our biggest challenge this year is scaling up. As our client base grows, we’re committed to maintaining the same high product quality and service standards. We need to expand in a way that ensures each client continues to receive the level of experience they expect, even as we take on more.

What advice do you have for other leaders who are looking to drive growth for their brand?

For leaders looking to drive growth, my advice is not to fixate on competitors. Stay aware, but constant comparison can hold you back. Real growth comes from focusing on your own direction, grounded in your team’s strengths, your experiences, and the needs of your clients. By following your own insights and goals, you can maintain independence and grow in a way that truly fits your brand.

Is there anything that you’re currently reading, or any favorite books, that you would recommend?

I’d recommend “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer. It’s especially relevant for me and my team right now, as it explores how cultural differences impact communication and collaboration – a must-read for working effectively with diverse teams.

Thanks Nikita!