Making room for bold ideas
Pinterest’s ad products were effective, but innovation often took a backseat to execution. I saw an opportunity to change that. I wanted to push beyond incremental improvements and create a structured way to explore bold new ad experiences. The challenge was clear: how could I carve out space for future-focused thinking without disrupting ongoing priorities?
A quarterly innovation sprint
I led the creation of the Pinterest World’s Fair, a recurring initiative designed to drive innovation at scale. Each quarter, I identified a key theme—such as Next-Gen Shopping Ads or Interactive Campaign Reporting—based on emerging trends and business needs.
To ensure meaningful outcomes, I structured the workshop format to move teams rapidly from concept to prototype. Designers, researchers, engineers, and product managers collaborated in real time, while user research provided critical insights. Rather than letting ideas remain theoretical, I ensured that high-potential concepts were refined, validated, and positioned for production.
From concept to reality
The World’s Fair directly influenced Pinterest’s ad roadmap. Several concepts moved into production, shaping how advertisers engage with users. One example was Objective-Based Campaigns, which evolved beyond traditional advertising performance metrics to better align with business goals. Another, Shopping Pins, introduced a more seamless way for users to discover and interact with branded content, enhancing both engagement and conversion.
By leading this initiative, I set a new standard for structured innovation at Pinterest, ensuring teams had the space, strategy, and executive alignment needed to turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
Key takeaways & lasting impact
This initiative reinforced key lessons: innovation needs dedicated time, cross-functional collaboration fuels stronger solutions, and rapid prototyping accelerates decision-making. The World’s Fair didn’t just create new ad experiences—it established a scalable model for product innovation that continues to shape Pinterest’s advertising ecosystem today.