From Engineer to C-Suite: John Morris’s Inspiring Journey in Digital Audio
Since launching Hiring For Good, Suzanne and I have had the opportunity to speak with dozens of incredible leaders on the pod. Every conversation has brought unique value and insights, to us and to our audience. Sometimes our guest is an executive we are meeting for the first time when they sit down in the studio. On a few occasions we’ve interviewed good friends whom we’ve known for years. This episode is special for me, as our guest this week is not only my closest friend and the person I most respect and admire; he is also my husband. I have been a primary witness to the evolution of his career and his development as a business leader. It’s an honor to share John’s story today.
In this episode, John Morris discusses his incredible journey through the digital audio and ad tech landscape—a journey that has seen him evolve from a hands-on, entry level software engineer to a visionary C-suite leader. John’s story is a masterclass in perseverance, innovation, and leadership in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
John began his career testing software at Abacast, a small start-up in Vancouver Washington, where his technical prowess and passion for innovation quickly set him apart. His ability to blend technical insight with strategic thinking was evident early on, laying the groundwork for his future leadership roles. By the time the company was acquired by WideOrbit in 2014, John was serving as CTO and Co-President. The acquisition was a pivotal moment in John’s career, not only elevating his professional profile but also providing him with an expanded platform to drive industry change.
At WideOrbit, John was recognized as a gifted organizational and technical leader, spearheading innovation and expanding capabilities on multiple fronts. In 2021, he joined Audacy as the SVP and General Manager of AmperWave—a strategic move that came on the heels of Audacy’s acquisition of WideOrbit’s digital business. At Audacy, Morris was instrumental in integrating advanced technologies and streamlining operations, reinforcing his reputation as a leader who can merge technological innovation with practical business acumen.
Since our studio interview, John was named the new Chief Product Officer at SoundStack, where he’s charged with bolstering the company’s capabilities in podcast and streaming delivery, programmatic advertising, and measurement. SoundStack, an audio-as-a-service company, is at the forefront of delivering independent solutions that empower publishers and elevate the entire digital audio market.
Throughout his career, John has consistently demonstrated that technical expertise, relentless innovation, and hands-on leadership can shape and continuously redefine an industry. His evolution—from his early engineering days at Abacast, through strategic roles at WideOrbit and Audacy, to his current leadership position at SoundStack— is inspiring and admirable. However, I believe the most valuable takeaway from John’s story and success- and one I hope was conveyed in this interview- is his belief that kindness, integrity, and respect are strengths in business, and the foundation of his approach to leadership.
John’s Bio
A visionary who thrives on challenging norms and embracing the power of technology. John Morris believes in crafting solutions that set the pace in the digital landscape. With more than 20 years of experience building high performance teams and products, John is an engaged leader who excels in all aspects of product leadership and the software development lifecycle, with a hands-on, pragmatic approach to execution and value creation.