By Roland Sars, CEO of Media Distillery
It’s always exciting to welcome new talent into the team at Media Distillery, and as CEO it’s great to get the perspective of our new recruits as an indicator of whether we’re on the right track as a company. So, I recently sat down with Alba Vega Mulet who joined us in August 2024 as the new Product Owner for our award-winning Topic Distillery and our brand new product Preview Distillery. I’m delighted to say that her passion for both products and our company culture is a perfect fit.
Alba’s journey to Media Distillery is anything but ordinary. A native of Spain, she brings a wealth of experience from previous roles with major media players like MTV and Viacom, as well as innovative companies like WaterBear and Insight TV. But what’s even more remarkable is her adventurous spirit – she once spent eight months hiking from Mexico to Canada!
Reflecting on her decision to join Media Distillery, Alba told me that she was looking for a product she truly believed in before making her next career move. "For me, when the right product comes along, that’s where I want to go because I think that supporting the ownership of a product means you have to believe in it. It’s fundamental to be proud of what you’re doing and to believe in the product you bring out there."
When she found the Product Owner role for Topic Distillery, she knew it was the right fit. “I couldn’t believe it! The combination of Topic Distillery’s innovation and how established it already was...you don’t often find AI and machine learning tools being used as practical problem-solving solutions, but here, it’s our whole identity.”
Alba hit the ground running at Media Distillery. Within her first month, she not only got to know the intricacies of Topic Distillery but also had the chance to attend IBC 2024. There, in our home city of Amsterdam, she experienced the thrill of picking up multiple awards for the product, including two CSI awards and a BaM award.
Picking up BAM Award
“Starting a new role is always exciting, but to be part of a company that’s already winning awards for the product I’m managing—it was incredible,” Alba said with her trademark broad smile. "IBC was a fantastic experience. The awards for Topic Distillery were such a great validation of the team's hard work and the product’s value in the industry. And then, of course, the launch of Preview Distillery happened right there at IBC too. It’s been an amazing ride so far.”
Topic Distillery is revolutionizing the way broadcasters and media companies extract and analyze data from live video streams to improve content recommendations and audience engagement. Alba is thrilled to be at the helm of such an innovative product.
“Topic Distillery is a great product because it solves real problems for our customers,” Alba explained. “The way we use AI and machine learning isn’t just about creating something new for the sake of it. It’s about making things easier, better, and faster for the people who use our technology. That’s what excites me—seeing how much we can help our clients and being part of a team that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
But her role doesn’t stop there. With the recent launch of Preview Distillery, Alba sees even more potential for growth and innovation. “Preview Distillery is going to take us to the next level. It allows us to automate the creation of preview clips from video content, something that’s been too challenging and time-consuming for broadcasters to do manually. And the best part is, it’s powered by all the experience and technology we’ve developed with our other products including Topic Distillery.”
One of the things that struck Alba the most about Media Distillery is our company culture. As she explained, “It’s been just a couple of months, but I already feel like I’ve been here for much longer—in a good way. The team is incredibly knowledgeable and open to sharing their expertise. Everyone is transparent, and there’s a real sense of collaboration. I’ve worked in a lot of different environments, but this is something special.”
Alba highlighted how easy it’s been to integrate into the team, despite the technical nature of the products. “Everyone takes the time to explain things, and they’re genuinely interested in helping each other succeed. That’s refreshing, especially in such a fast-moving industry.”
At Media Distillery, we’ve always believed that our people are our greatest asset, and it’s fantastic to hear Alba’s perspective on that. She added,
“From day one, I’ve felt welcomed, and the learning I’ve done in such a short time is incredible. I’m excited about what the future holds, both for me personally and for the company.”
As Product Owner, Alba is responsible for guiding Topic Distillery and Preview Distillery into the future. With her leadership, I’m confident these products will continue to evolve and meet the needs of our clients in even more innovative ways.
“We’re constantly improving, and that’s what makes Media Distillery so dynamic,” Alba said. “The work we’re doing on Preview Distillery is already having a ripple effect on our other products. It’s exciting to think about where we can go from here.”
You can learn more about careers with Media Distillery on our jobs page. If you’d like to talk to Alba and the team about Topic Distillery or Preview Distillery, why not book a meeting.
October 18, 2024
