“Looking back at Taboola India over the past six years, I’m most proud of how we’ve evolved as a team that works with a shared sense of purpose, driven by empathy, respect, and a collective commitment to Taboola’s success.” Meet Jay Sharma, Head of Professional Services and a member of Taboola India’s board of directors. I sat down with Jay to learn about his six-year journey at Taboola, discovering it’s been about much more than just expanding operations or boosting numbers. It’s about his deep belief in individual growth and driving a culture where clarity and a shared vision have led to collective success.
How has leading and being a part of Taboola India’s growth journey over the past six years shaped your perspective on leadership?
Being a leader at Taboola India has changed how I see leadership, both at work and personally. It’s not just about getting results but helping people grow, expanding our reach, and building resilience. My biggest lesson has been empowering the team and giving them room to learn and innovate quickly. Leadership is a long game, demanding foresight, consistency, clarity, and care. Seeing people grow and thrive is what has shaped me most.
My perspective is deeply rooted in personal experience. Born with Polio, I’ve always been self-driven, learning early on that you must operate differently and work incredibly hard to achieve big things. This instilled a constant drive to learn and push boundaries. (I even taught myself to drive when no one else would because of my disability!) This mindset aligns perfectly with my leadership philosophy: ‘Enable, don’t control.’ In our fast-paced environment, lasting success comes from giving people clear goals, context, and trust. My role now is setting direction, clearing obstacles, and creating a safe space where people feel confident to speak up and experiment, which, to me, is what good leadership is all about.
What’s one thing you’re most proud of during your six years at Taboola?
As a leader of the India Professional Services team, I’m proud to say that we seek opportunity, test, learn, and fail fast, and if we can scale, we’ll scale! Our global support for sales development, ad operations, and technical support means it’s crucial that everyone understands their role and feels their work matters. For example, our team identified a gap with smaller publishers, which led to launching the ‘Optimise Sales Engine’ pilot. This initiative generated millions in new revenue and saw many small publishers grow into higher tiers, directly boosting advertiser success.
Ultimately, people grow when they know what they’re working toward and believe they’re part of something significant. I’m proud to have seen team members evolve from individual roles into leadership positions, some now directors of major verticals. My goal has always been to create an environment where people feel safe speaking up, sharing honest feedback, taking smart risks, and stretching outside their comfort zones. I’ve been deeply committed to instilling a mindset and culture that encourages boldness and learning from every outcome.
How has your time at Taboola influenced your life outside the office?
Our collaborative culture has taught me to face uncertainty with confidence. I’ve become much more resilient and focused on solutions in my personal life, whether dealing with setbacks or supporting loved ones. Instead of just reacting to problems, I’ve learned to pause, think, and find a way forward—a mindset I’ve definitely brought home.
Also, the diverse and supportive people I’ve worked with here have reminded me of how important empathy and listening are. As a leader, I’ve learned to understand different viewpoints and communicate with intention. That’s carried over into my personal relationships, making me more present, patient, and thoughtful in connecting with others.
What advice would you offer someone thinking about joining Taboola India?
Come with a builder’s mindset and a bias for action! Taboola is a place where the canvas is often blank, and that’s the beauty of it. You won’t just be following instructions; you’ll be shaping how things work, challenging the status quo, and leaving your mark. If you’re naturally curious, driven by impact, and see ambiguity as an opportunity, come to Taboola to realize your potential.
Jay’s key takeaways:
- View ambiguity as an opportunity, not a roadblock.
- Working together, listening, and building trust is what drives collective success.
- Take time to listen, understand different perspectives, and communicate with intent.
What fact would surprise people about you? I love to sing old-time Indie Bollywood songs and enjoy making people laugh through my singing.
Jay’s six years at Taboola highlight how dedication to purpose and people creates real growth (and not just from a business perspective). He’s seen Taboola India expand from a handful of people to nearly 180 today, and by driving a culture where people feel seen, heard, and valued, Taboola India has morphed into an environment where people can take ownership and talented people can truly thrive.
To learn more about why we are consistently ranked as a great place to work, check out the Taboola Life blog. Visit our careers page and realize your potential with #TaboolaLife.
