Hosted by Doug Broadman ’05, senior director of Netflix's advertising sales for the U.S. and Canada, the visit provided College of Arts and Sciences students with firsthand insight into the streaming giant’s recent launch of Netflix with Ads.
On March 24, a group of 30 participants in the Stags in the City program were given the exclusive opportunity to learn about advertising initiatives at Netflix. The students' day began with an early train ride from campus to New York City's Grand Central Station, followed by check-in at the company's Flatiron District offices.
Upon arrival, students were greeted by the Netflix team and taken to the seventh floor, where they met Doug Broadman '05. He presented on Netflix’s advertising strategies, shedding light on the company’s evolving business model and the role of ad-supported streaming in the competitive entertainment landscape.
For Justin Sabogal ’25, a standout moment was learning about the “Netflix Effect” — the way Netflix energizes its fans with content that extends beyond the screen and shapes popular culture. He said Broadman illustrated the concept by noting that the iconic song "Running Up That Hill," originally released in 1985, topped the charts 37 years later when it was featured on the popular Netflix show Stranger Things.
During the Q&A session, students asked Broadman about industry trends, career advice, and the future of digital advertising. One key takeaway for Sabogal was how quickly Netflix shifted to an ad-supported model. “For the longest time, Netflix operated solely on a subscription-based model and was against ads,” he noted. “It was surprising to learn that discussions about introducing ads started around November 2021 and the change happened relatively fast.”
The discussion with Broadman, which also compared Netflix to competitors like YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ in the advertising space, left a lasting impression on Sabogal, who has a dual major in business analytics and film, television, and media arts. “Doug shared his journey of starting at an agency, a role that I had previously considered,” Sabogal said. “Hearing about his experience and the benefits of beginning a career in that field inspired me to consider it as a potential starting point for my own career.”
The visit concluded with a networking session with Netflix employees over lunch. As an alumnus, Broadman made sure to stress the importance of networking and mentorship to the students as they prepare to begin their careers. "Fairfield helped to shape so much of my life and career while I was at the University and beyond," he said. “I love being able to stay connected to the University and provide students with guidance, support, and learnings I’ve had in my own career. One of the greatest aspects of Fairfield is the community and the connectivity across generations — I’m just happy to be able to continue that.”
For students interested in future industry visits, the College of Arts and Sciences encourages reaching out to CASCareers@fairfield.edu for upcoming opportunities.
