Constantly on the move, Mark Douglas says he fields the same question at the beginning of every call: Where are you?
As founder and CEO of MNTN—the world’s first Connected TV (CTV) advertising platform optimized for direct-response marketing goals—Douglas has applied his nearly 20 years of product development experience at companies like Oracle, eHarmony, and Magnite to create a self-serve technology that combines the precision of digital with the impact of television. With streaming service subscription revenues overtaking those of traditional TV in 2024 for the first time and CTV ad spend forecast to grow 15.8% to $33.35 billion this year (and to nearly $47 billion in 2028), surpassing traditional TV ad spending, the company seems primely positioned for the next phase of the streaming revolution.
Douglas travels between one-third and one-half of every month between work and personal trips—an aggressive schedule made more manageable by the fact that he pilots his own jet on domestic ones. And no matter where he roams, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule and having a couple chocolate chip cookies on hand is key.
He spoke with Fortune about Saudi Arabia’s surprising charms, sampling street food in Bangkok, and the virtues of a great backpack.
The transcript below has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken?
I’ve had a few, including Thailand and the Maldives, but the most unexpected was Saudi Arabia. I went to AlUla last December for Christmas, which was my third trip to the country in 12 months. It feels like you’re living in the movie Dune—the landscapes are just unbelievable. The people are also really nice; it’s such a departure from what most Americans in particular understand Saudi Arabia to be. The country has already changed so much after opening for tourism relatively recently and continues to change rapidly. I stayed at Our Habitas AlUla, a luxury desert resort in the Ashar Valley, which I highly recommend. The photos on the website don’t look real.
If you could go anywhere in the world you haven’t yet been, where would it be, and why?
Iceland is at the top of my list. I want to see glaciers for the first time. I imagine it’s probably a little like going into space, with lots of otherworldly landscapes that have a real effect on you. I’m also a pilot—I fly my own jet—so I’d love to fly there and see it from that perspective upon arriving, before experiencing it on the ground.
What’s your favorite meal you’ve had while traveling?
The street food in Bangkok. Don’t even bother to book a restaurant, because you’ll end up trying every street food you find on the way and you’ll probably never make it there. Authentic Thai food has so much flavor, but is also very light. I like to take cooking classes wherever I travel, and I took a really cool one in Thailand. We used so many spices—a pinch of this, that, and something else—and you get this incredible flavor.
As for restaurants, my current favorite is bōm in New York City. It’s a unique, progressive Korean tasting menu that offers all these terrific flavors without being heavy, and it’s amazing.
Do you have any favorite travel hacks?
I maintain my sleep schedule by adapting to the time at my destination before I leave. That way I never get jet lagged. So I work backwards; for example, if I’m landing in London in the morning local time then I’ll sleep on the plane, but I won’t if I’m landing there in the evening because I want to make sure I’ll get a normal night’s sleep when I arrive.
What three things do you never travel without?
I never go anywhere without my Peak Design laptop backpack—it’s my equivalent of a handbag and contains my whole life. Peak Design started as a camera accessories company before expanding into camera and travel bags, so it has great pockets and makes it easy to compartmentalize and carry a lot of stuff.
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I always have a couple chocolate chip cookies with me. I like Whole Foods Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk. They’re a great snack, especially when the in-flight meal selection is underwhelming, and they last a few days.
If I’m checking a bag, I always travel with a little pocket knife—a gentleman’s knife—that I find more useful than you’d expect, especially if my girlfriend needs to open something or can’t open the lock on her bag.
Do you have any hard and fast travel rules?
I’m definitely Team Carry-On, but my girlfriend is Team Checked Bag. So if I’m traveling alone, I always carry on.
I only fly nonstop unless there’s literally no other option. I’ll fly any airline, and I’m a member of all of their loyalty programs, but I’m not loyal to any of them. It’s nonstop flights over everything.
What’s the most important life lesson you’ve learned from travel?
Getaways are incredibly valuable. During all the stressful moments in my life, I’ve been able to find a way to work from someplace else, and it’s been hugely beneficial. While it may not be an option for everyone, a night in a hotel room or even at a friend’s house can really help to clear your head.
Are there any lessons from your own travel experiences that you’ve applied to your work at MNTN?
We have a three-day weekend every month of the year—for months that don’t already have a holiday, we create one called Mountain Day for everyone at the company. As a result, a lot of employees end up traveling together for the long weekend, which has been totally unexpected but incredible in helping to foster team building as well as new friendships.
