Spotify Podcast Pioneer Sets Sail

Sahar Elhabashi, the driving force behind Spotify's podcast revolution, announced her departure from the company in December 2024. After six years at the helm, she will leave at the end of 2024, but not before shaping the course of the podcast industry. Elhabashi has been instrumental in transforming Spotify's podcast game, propelling the platform from a mere 10 million listeners to an astonishing 150 million today. Her tenure has been marked by significant growth, innovation, and a willingness to shake things up.One of her most notable achievements is the pivot away from exclusive deals with top podcasters, a strategy she adopted after realizing that these deals were underperforming. Elhabashi's fresh approach has allowed popular shows to reach a broader audience, driven by a desire for podcast creators to be on multiple platforms and maximize their reach. As Spotify's podcast boss, Elhabashi led a major overhaul of the podcast division, overseeing layoffs and implementing changes to get the business back on track. Her efforts have yielded promising results, with podcasts on track to reach full-year profitability in 2024. The Q1 numbers are certainly encouraging, with podcast ad revenue growing faster than music, thanks to a significant increase in impressions sold across both original and licensed podcasts and the Spotify Audience Network.