Stephanie Donovan
Stephanie Donovan is a seasoned business leader and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas, with more than 25 years of experience in the audio and digital media industries. Over the course of her career, she built a strong reputation in business development, revenue management, and strategic sales leadership, culminating in executive roles including Chief Revenue Officer at Triton Digital. In that capacity, she led global revenue operations across more than 80 countries, driving consistent year-over-year growth while managing international teams, cultivating high-value partnerships, and shaping go-to-market strategies in the evolving digital audio landscape. Throughout her corporate journey, Stephanie demonstrated a unique ability to blend data-driven strategy with people-centered leadership. She successfully led large, cross-functional teams, fostered long-term client relationships with C-suite executives, and consistently exceeded sales and performance targets in competitive and rapidly changing markets. Known for her adaptability and global perspective, she played a key role in expanding ad technology in digital audio worldwide while mentoring emerging leaders and contributing as a speaker and panelist at industry events. Transitioning from corporate executive to entrepreneur, Stephanie co-founded and now serves as Chief Executive Officer of Texas Wellness Collective, a health and wellness practice focused on mental health, nutrition, and holistic care. Driven by a passion to expand access to counseling and normalize self-care as an essential part of healthcare, she combines her business acumen with a purpose-driven mission to serve her community. Alongside her professional achievements, she is deeply committed to mentorship, leadership development, and empowering others, particularly women, to grow and succeed in their careers.
• Certified in Programmatic Training
• HIPAA Awareness Training Certificate
• Edge Academy Certified: Marketing Foundations
• University of Houston-Clear Lake - BA
• Texas A&M University
• Mentoring and Inspiring Women (MIW)
• Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)
• Samaritan's Purse
• Wounded Warriors
• Partners In Hope
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first to God and then to the mentors who gave me opportunities to learn, grow, and take risks. I’ve been fortunate to advance in a competitive, male-dominated industry by earning respect through hard work, integrity, and strong partnerships, not because of my gender, but because of my performance and leadership. Today, as the founder of a woman-owned business, those experiences equip me to navigate new responsibilities and challenges with confidence, resilience, and purpose.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to “do not be afraid to fail because innovation requires it." Learning that failing is part of growing is hard to accept; but when you fail, fail fast, correct and don't make the same mistake twice. I was fortunate to have leaders who gave me opportunities, challenges, and the freedom to take risks, knowing it might not work out; but they emphasized learning quickly and adjusting. That guidance shaped how I lead: I encourage my teams to be bold, take calculated risks, and explore new frontiers. In fast-moving, technology-driven industries, this approach, grounded in responsibility and thoughtful guardrails, has been invaluable.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is simple: be READY -- Researched, Early, Articulate, Driven and, most importantly, be You. Don’t be afraid to reach out, ask for that business, advice, or even just ten minutes of someone’s time, because opportunities come to those who take the initiative. Equally important is being prepared and punctual; know who you’re speaking with, come with thoughtful questions, and respect others’ time. These qualities can set you apart, regardless of experience or education, and open doors throughout your career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my role as CEO and small business owner is growing a start-up business under profitability pressures, and in the corporate roles I've held, the latest challenges related to anticipating the impact, growth and fads of the rapidly evolving ad tech sector. Those challenges sharpened my focus and allowed me to appreciate the significant opportunities, such as the growth of digital audio, especially with podcasts popularity and leveraging leadership experiences gained to step outside a worldwide headquartered business and launch a health and wellness service.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are my faith, empathy, respect, and a strong commitment to community service and fostering authentic connections where women support one another. These principles shape how I lead, collaborate, and engage with those in my work, my community and my family and friends.
