Julia Howard

Head of Bumble Inc.’s (NASDAQ: BMBL) global advertising organization, directly managing Sales, Ads Product Management, and Ad Operations. Defines the commercial strategy and go-to-market approach for Bumble’s advertising solutions, partnering cross-functionally to drive sustainable revenue growth, operational excellence, and product-market fit — all while upholding Bumble’s brand values and premium user experience. Alongside leadership responsibilities, continues to drive revenue directly through key client partnerships and strategic initiatives.

Built and led Bumble Inc.’s advertising strategy across its portfolio — spanning in-app placements, cross-channel brand campaigns, and programmatic integrations — to drive monetization and partner impact. Partnered with the C-Suite on forecasting and long-range planning while managing a growing sales team and continuing to drive revenue directly, combining strategic oversight with hands-on execution to scale the business globally.

Served as Bumble’s first go-to-market seller, responsible for developing the company’s initial advertising strategy, GTM approach, and client acquisition framework. Established partnerships with leading global brands (Netflix, Burberry, Adidas, BMW, United Airlines, Paramount+, etc.), driving early adoption of Bumble’s in-app ad products and laying the foundation for long-term commercial growth. Partnered cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, and Legal to define ad formats, pricing, and positioning for launch — ultimately transforming Bumble’s ads business from concept to a multimillion-dollar revenue stream.

Partnered in building and leading TikTok’s Global Business Solutions (advertising) fashion/apparel vertical during the platform’s early phase, bringing on brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and J.Crew. Developed scalable go-to-market frameworks and high-impact, culturally resonant campaigns that positioned TikTok as a key player in fashion marketing — while managing a multi-million-dollar book of business and helping define the company’s early commercial strategy for the category.

Consulted with media organizations, content creators, and enterprise clients across entertainment, fitness, education, and corporate verticals to implement OTT, livestream, and video monetization strategies. Developed digital initiatives to drive subscriber retention and revenue growth while advising clients on long-term content blueprints. Managed the full sales cycle — from prospecting and product demonstrations to negotiation and close — and maintained strong performance through Vimeo’s public spin-off from IAC (NASDAQ: VMEO) in 2021.

Exceeded annual quotas in consecutive years — achieving 148% of 2020 target and 108% of 2019 target. In 2020, closed 30 new business deals (17 self-sourced) with an average 35-day sales cycle, including one of the two largest deals in the Americas Inside Sales team (Mayweather Boxing + Fitness). Consistently ranked among top performers in revenue attainment and deal volume, leading to promotion.

Built Vimeo’s outbound new business strategy from the ground up, while also managing inbound opportunities, as one of the company’s first sales development leads. Created and executed prospecting frameworks to identify and engage prospective pipeline, establishing the foundation for Vimeo’s early growth across OTT, Livestream, and Enterprise products.

Drove new business growth for Meltwater’s SaaS media intelligence platform, overseeing the full sales cycle from prospecting and pitching to negotiation and close. Secured new clients across diverse industries (such as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Pacific World Corporation, Switchback Brewing, and Real Good Foods) by building trusted relationships and delivering tailored solutions aligned with each organization’s business goals.

Supported the Boston Celtics’ communications and media operations, managing internal communications, daily press coverage, and game day logistics — including creating media packages for NBA officials, coordinating Media Day, facilitating pre- and post-game press access, overseeing locker room interviews and quote distribution, and supporting high-profile team events.

Supported teams across marketing, sales, and customer success, gaining a strong understanding of the business and foundational B2B marketing skills. Focused primarily on supporting HubSpot’s People Team, helping build and execute culture programming that enhanced the daily employee experience. Lead internal engagement initiatives by managing vendor relationships, negotiating partnerships, and creating unique experiences that brought HubSpot’s culture to life.

Youngest woman ever to compete on CBS’s reality television show Survivor (Season 32: Kaôh Rōng), placing 7th out of 18 contestants and lasting 29 of 39 days. The experience sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling, resilience, and human connection — values that have shaped my career and leadership style.

Represented Bacardi at events across the market, engaging directly with consumers and key influencers to build brand awareness and drive affinity for a globally recognized beverage brand. Executed interactive themed activations at local events, retail locations, restaurants, and bars, helping increase visibility and customer engagement within priority markets.

Graduated early with cum laude honors Minor: Journalism Liberal Arts Concentration: Women, Gender and Sexualities Studies

Negotiation Mastery is an 8-week program from Harvard Business School. Negotiation Mastery prepares students to close deals that might otherwise be dead-locked, maximize value creation in agreements, and resolve differences before they escalate into costly conflicts. The program provides both an analytical toolkit and interpersonal techniques for dealing effectively with different bargaining styles and tactics.