Getting to know you: Neil Joyce

What do You Currently Do?
I am the Managing Director, EMEA for Signal, the global leader in real-time, cross-channel marketing technology. Brands and digital agencies rely on Signal’s technology to transform data into insights and engage with customers across the web, mobile devices and beyond. It is my job to leverage Signal’s existing client and partner relationships whilst and driving the sales and business development efforts across the region.

I joined at a very exciting time. Signal is setting the global standard for cross-channel data operations by collecting, matching, and activating data across channels and devices to give marketers a unified view of each customer’s journey. Signal’s data foundation is helping marketers and agencies around the world understand the holistic customer journey and optimize their total marketing spend across web, mobile, advertising, email and other channels.”

What is your inspiration in business?
I am driven by highly complex business problems and identifying solutions through data and technology. Having grown up with data and studied marketing, the key problems haven’t really changed the solutions have just become more complex. Part of my role is to help demystify this and prove that data-driven marketing and customer engagement can provide the outcomes required. This is what motivates me.

Who Do You Admire?
I have a lasting admiration for anybody who has the courage to take risks and continually try new things.

Looking Back, Would You Have Done Things Differently?
I would have been more single-minded during my early years in direct marketing. However, I am firm believer that making mistakes helps to build character and you will eventually find the right path.

What Defines Your Way of Doing Business?
Continually challenging existing paradigms. Having the courage to evaluate and test new things and supporting my team throughout. At Signal we are developing technology to make data driven customer engagement scalable, i.e everywhere, anytime , across all channels and devices. I am part of a team that is ensuring the digital economy can develop and keep growing for years to come.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
When I was just starting out a friend of mine gave me some great advice, “It’s not what you do it’s what you achieve, hard sweat is one thing, but delivering real outcomes is doing it in a smart way”. I still believe in this. I would add that the digital ecosystem is tough and anyone coming into this area needs to be prepared for hard work ahead. Don’t forget to have some fun along the way though.