Episode 59: Advance Women

In our electrifying first-ever live show from the Possible conference in Miami, Stefanie connects with the powerhouse trio behind Advance Women — Hollis Guerra, Priti Powell, and Sophia Westrich. These trailblazing leaders reveal the bold vision and passion that transformed their frustrations into a movement reshaping women’s professional support networks in AdTech. They share game-changing approaches to mentorship, strategies for shattering industry norms, and how they juggle running successful companies while building a community already making waves. It’s a dynamic, inspiring dialogue about breaking barriers and creating transformative change in an industry ready for revolution!

Advance Women: Advance Women advocates for women at every level and in every field who are passionate about pushing boundaries, driving growth, and amplifying their voices. We unite women and allies committed to authenticity, resilience, and positivity, creating an inclusive space for advancing careers, reentering the workforce, or exploring new industries. Guided by core values—curiosity, authenticity, encouragement, collaboration, and initiative—we’ve built a supportive network that emboldens each member. At Advance Women, we foster community, strengthen self-advocacy, and champion diverse voices. Together, we close gaps, lift each other up, and shape a future where women across industries are seen, heard, and respected as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

Hollis Guerra: Hollis Guerra, President of Purpose Worldwide, brings over 18 years of strategic communications expertise to her role leading the agency's AdTech growth and operational excellence. A seasoned collaborator who has worked with 60+ companies including The Trade Desk, PubMatic, and Verizon, Hollis channels her passion for mentorship and women’s advancement as Co-founder of Advance Women, an organization advocating for women pushing boundaries across all fields. When not crafting differentiation strategies for purpose-driven brands or fostering innovation with co-founders, this NC State graduate can be found running marathons, skiing, or traveling with her husband and two children.

Priti Powell: Priti is a transformational leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and team empowerment. Her 20+ year career spans government, defense, consulting, and AdTech, where she’s driven revenue growth and led teams at PubMatic, OpenWeb, and The Trade Desk. She’s shared insights on mentorship with SheRunsIt and revenue strategy with AdMonsters and AdExchanger. Now CRO at Assertive Yield, Priti continues to focus on innovation, solving client problems, and team collaboration. Beyond corporate impact, her passions lie in mentorship and community-building. In 2024, she co-founded Advance Women, a 250+ member community empowering women in AdTech and amplifying female voices. Her leadership is rooted in authenticity, empowerment, and impact—whether transforming companies, championing inclusion, or fostering communities. Priti earned her BA in Communications, Political Science, and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sophia Westrich: Sophia Westrich is a dynamic force in tech, currently leading data analytics and strategy at Decide Technologies while co-founding Advance Women and Camp TLA to amplify underrepresented voices. A Division I All-American with expertise in Mathematics and Computer Science, she’s transformed personal challenges—from workplace harassment to navigating motherhood—into fuel for building supportive professional structures for women. Her leadership includes scaling two AdTech startups to eight-figure revenues, orchestrating multiple acquisitions, and founding SoNoLo Consulting to help startups scale. Beyond work, Sophia advises Mellow Kids, mentors entrepreneurs at Washington University, and brings her characteristic determination to her roles as moth