Meet Hillary Fischer, Senior Sales Director and July’s Brains Behind Our Brand employee spotlight. Since joining Cognitiv in October 2024, Hillary has brought energy, experience, and a genuine passion for relationship-building to our sales organization. With nearly two decades in adtech, she thrives in the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of sales, whether she is traveling to meet clients in another city or connecting over coffee back home. Hillary’s ability to build lasting partnerships and her commitment to authenticity make her an asset to the team.‍

Everyone Answers:

• Pronouns: She/Her
• Role: Senior Sales Director
• Team: Sales
• How Long Have You Been at Cognitiv: Since October 2024!

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Inside The Office

What does a typical day in your role look like?

There’s really no such thing as a typical day in sales, which is exactly what I love about it. Some days I’m up early catching a flight to Minneapolis, running to client meetings, taking clients to a baseball game or dinner, checking emails back at the hotel, FaceTiming my kids, and doing it all again the next day.

If I’m local, I might be prospecting in the morning, jumping on client calls, grabbing coffee meetings, maybe even squeezing in nails with a client. No two days are the same. It’s really up to you to build your schedule and bring the kind of energy that keeps both you and your clients engaged and excited.

What do you love most about your role?

I genuinely love the relationships I get to build. I’ve been in this industry for almost 20 years—it’s incredible to see how people I met 15 years ago have grown, and some are now running entire teams.

Getting to reconnect with old colleagues and continuously meet new people is something I really value. I could honestly talk to a brick wall. I love learning about people, their personal lives, their work, their stories, and then watching their careers and lives evolve. That human connection is by far my favorite part of the job.

What's one thing you think will change in adtech in the next 5 years?

I’ve seen so much change already in the last five years, and I think we’ll continue to refine how we use data. My hope is that marketers will lean more into thoughtful, strategic approaches, moving away from spray-and-pray tactics and toward using data and AI to drive long-term value and net new conversions.

I want to see our industry go beyond just optimizing for CTRs and instead focus on efficiency and meaningful outcomes. AI has already had a huge impact, and I think it’ll continue helping clients make smarter, more impactful decisions with their ad dollars.

What advice would you give to someone joining #TeamCognitiv?

Be your authentic self from day one. Talk to everyone, don’t be shy.

The House competitions here have been such a great way to meet people across departments and offices. Building genuine connections really matters. At the end of the day, we’re one team working toward the same goal: success. Being open, real, and collaborative is the best way to get there, no matter what your role is.

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Outside The Office

Is there a quote or piece of advice that has stuck with you throughout your career?

Be a sponge. There are no dumb questions, especially when you’re new to a role, a company, or an industry.

When I started in adtech, I didn’t know anything. I literally had to write down ad sizes on my first day. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t assume people know what you’re doing or that you have the right answer. Over-communicate, ask questions, take notes, and talk to people.

Also, don’t walk into a role thinking, “I’ve done this before, I’ve got it.” There’s always more to learn. I once did yoga teacher training, and they said there’s no such thing as a yoga expert, even if you’ve taught for 20 years. That’s true in life and work. Stay humble, be open to feedback, and always look for ways to grow.

If you were not in your current role, what would your dream job be?

Closet organizer. I love a good Roy G. Biv moment.

Organizing closets, drawers, spaces, it’s one of my favorite things to do. Honestly, my kids have even gotten compliments from teachers about how organized they are, and I’m like, yep, that’s 100% my influence. I love creating a space for everything and bringing order through color and structure.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

It might sound cheesy, but I truly love spending time with my family.

Next week we’re going to Rhode Island where my whole family lives. We’ll go to the beach, hang by the pool, and it’s those moments I cherish. Sharing places and experiences I love with my kids is incredibly special. I won’t pretend Sunday night at 6 PM with kids is always magical, but seeing the world through their eyes is pretty great.

What's a skill or hobby you've learned recently?

Since moving to the suburbs, I’ve gotten really into gardening. I’m deep into gardening TikTok, always trying to figure out how to keep my hydrangeas blooming year after year.

I’ve grown all kinds of tomatoes, and my basil plant last year was seriously farmer’s-market worthy. Gardening is definitely a long game, but it’s so satisfying to see the progress over time, the layering, the textures, the colors. It brings me so much joy. I’ve fully embraced my suburban mom era!

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Rapid-Fire Questions

• Coffee or tea? Coffee, all day.
• Morning person or night owl? Morning.
• Favorite vacation spot? Realistically? Rhode Island. But if I could go back anywhere in a heartbeat—Bali.
• Favorite book or movie? Father of the Bride. I could watch it over and over. Steve Martin and Martin Short are just hilarious.

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"Hillary is so much fun to work with and brings so much knowledge to our team. We're amazed at how tuned into the industry she is and how she always has a contact that she can connect us with. I've learned so much from her and I know that I can always go to her for support." — Erin Longo, Senior SDR

"In less than a year with Cognitiv, Hillary has contributed to 64% YoY growth with one of our top partners, helped open up regions like Minneapolis, and is setting the stage to break through with big brands. She's a pleasure to have on the team - her enthusiasm, drive, and genuine care for colleagues and clients shine through daily. Hillary is trustworthy, dependable, and a strong communicator with a true growth mindset that will help catapult us to the next level. I'm grateful she's part of our Central team and can't wait to see how she continues to succeed in 2H 2025 and beyond." — Amy Hudec, RVP, Sales, Central

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