Analyst.
Trailblazer.
Market Mover.
Visionary tech researcher at the forefront of multiple digital marketing trends. Founder and chief analyst at Sonata Insights.
Providing research and thought leadership about:
Artificial Intelligence / Generative AI
Social Media Marketing
Digital Advertising
Digital Media
Hi! I’m Debbie.
Over my nearly two decades as an analyst, I have led the industry conversation about the business of social media. During my time at eMarketer (now Insider Intelligence), annual US social media ad spending grew more than 55X—a direct result of my detailed, insightful research.
I also played a pioneering role in the evolution of digital marketing, chronicling its growth from interactive TV to the earliest days of internet advertising and the rise of Web 1.0 as a journalist for Ad Age and The Industry Standard.
As founder and chief analyst of Sonata Insights, I provide custom research and advisory services to marketers, agencies, AI startups and the VC community, focusing on social media and AI.
I have been featured thousands of times in the media, including more than 40 TV appearances. I also regularly share my insights in webinars, podcasts and public speaking.
In case you’re wondering, my middle name is Finnish and it’s pronounced AH’-ho.
What Execs Are Saying About Debra Aho Williamson
“What makes Debbie stand out and so respected is a unique combination of seeking the truth but doing so in a straightforward and thorough way, and how she is so great at combining deep analysis with a passion for the field and work. This has made me follow, learn and be changed by her perspectives and points of view”
— Rishad Tobaccowala, author, speaker and former global chief strategist and growth officer, Publicis Groupe
“Debbie's analysis is so thoughtful, I learn just about every time we have the opportunity to collaborate. She knows more about Meta (Facebook, Instagram) than just about anyone outside the company, but her social media acumen extends to Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. She's also so great in a media interview, which you may know already from seeing her on Bloomberg and elsewhere.”
— Jeremy Goldman, senior director, Insider Intelligence
“It’s very hard if not impossible to overstate what a magnificent job you did not only for eMarketer, but for all the marketing executives literally around the world who have come to rely on your experience, your expertise, and perhaps most important your judgement. Cool headed insightful and actionable intelligence. You have truly done us all a great service.”