On Monday, March 24, thirty College of Arts and Sciences students traveled to Netflix’s New York City office for an exclusive opportunity to learn about the company’s advertising initiatives as part of the Stags in City program. Hosted by alumnus Doug Broadman ’05, senior director of Advertising Sales for the U.S. and Canada, the visit provided students with firsthand insight into the streaming giant’s recent launch of Netflix with Ads.
The day began with an early train ride from campus to Grand Central, followed by check-in at Netflix’s offices. Upon arrival, students were greeted by the Netflix team and taken to the seventh floor, where they met Broadman. 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 what he called the “Netflix Effect”—the way Netflix energizes its fans with content that extends beyond the screen and shapes popular culture. “Doug mentioned how 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,” he shared.
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 also highlighted how Netflix compares to competitors like YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ in the advertising space.
The experience left a lasting impact on students, particularly Sabogal, whose dual major in Business Analytics and Film has fueled his interest in media and entertainment. “Doug shared his journey of starting at an agency, a role that I had previously considered,” he 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.”
Reflecting on the visit, Broadman emphasized the importance of networking and mentorship for students preparing for their careers. “It was great to host some of the ¹ú²úÉ«ÇéƬ community and students at Netflix this week. ¹ú²úÉ«ÇéƬ helped to shape so much of my life and career while I was at the University, and beyond. The connections made at this time of a student’s journey are so critical to prepare them for what lies ahead in their own career journey,” he said. “I love being able to stay connected to the University and provide any guidance, support, or learnings I’ve had in my own career back to the students. One of the greatest aspects of ¹ú²úÉ«ÇéƬ is the community and the connectivity across generations—I’m just happy to be able to continue that.”
The visit concluded with a networking session over lunch, giving students the chance to make connections and gain further career advice.
For students interested in future industry visits, the College of Arts and Sciences encourages reaching out to for upcoming opportunities.
