In Conversation with Vik Gupta, VP, GM Monetization

In this interview, we sat down with Vik Gupta, our new VP, GM Monetization for an exclusive Life at Pinterest welcome interview. Get to know Vik, learn about his experience joining the team, gain insight into his early days at the company, and discover why Pinterest's Monetization team might be your next career move.

Your role unifies the entire Monetization org that spans Data Science, Engineering, Programmatic, and Product. What was it about this particular opportunity, and Pinterest specifically, that made this the right move for you?

In general, the positivity of the platform drew me to the company. I’ve always been a fan of Pinterest, and I don’t think of it as a social media product. I view it as something warmer, healthier and more positive. My wife is a Pinterest power user; she is a fine artist and has been using it every day for close to a decade. 

Speaking about the role leading Monetization, I've worked in online advertising for most of the last 20 years. There’s a lot of successful platforms out there, but few of them have really nailed down the awareness, consideration and inspiration in accordance. Pinterest is one of the few that has gotten it right – both because of consumer products and the way ads are delivered on all the different surfaces. 

Even before joining, I felt that Pinterest had discovery and inspiration down pat, and that’s what advertisers are looking for, getting their brand out there and sharing the value of their products. That’s a very special place to be in the ads ecosystem and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. 

Monetization at Pinterest sits at a really unique intersection — it's not just about ads, it's about connecting people with the ideas they’re dreaming of. How do you think about that distinction, and how does it shape your vision for the org?

We have to always start from the perspective that ads are part of the content experience. If we do it right, the ads create new value and joy for our Pinterest users. Last night, I was on another social platform, and I came across a beautiful ad. I messaged one of my colleagues and said, “We need to get this ad on Pinterest.” Sure enough, we have that ad on our platform. That type of discovery moment, one that pulls you in, is what I’m really excited about.

I feel very lucky that I’ve gotten to see how technology has grown from its early days. I always feel the most energized when I can work on the product and the technology part of the problem. 

On a personal note, what also gets me excited is the people. I consider it a privilege to work with teams and help them grow. I find that part really fulfilling. This role is a unique nexus of all of the things I love to do. 

For someone who might be considering a role within your org, what would you want them to know about why right now is such an exciting time to join?

The company is growing. We have 631 million monthly active users, and the biggest brands in the world are engaged with our platform. If you’re looking for the enjoyment of working at scale, we have that. 

We’re a large enough organization that we can be really ambitious, do big things and change the world. However, we’re also small enough that it’s very personal and everyone has a strong voice. 

The problems we’re solving are fun. We have to create value for users and our advertisers. It’s a delicate dance of supporting both of those populations that makes it an interesting, evergreen problem. 

Pinterest is an international brand, but our monetization business is in its early days outside of the US and Canada. There’s a great opportunity to build a global product which is always challenging and fun in all different ways. 

You're coming into this opportunity with a fresh set of eyes. What's something you've seen in your first weeks that has genuinely impressed or energized you?

I was drawn to the product, but the humans who create the product are remarkable. The positive energy and humanity of our platform also shows up in our workplace. 

I’m impressed and grateful to work in a company where everyone is really cool. Our team is driven by doing the right thing and working hard. They’re also very thoughtful, and there's a lot of intention that goes into making decisions. We have a strong culture of respect at the company and that aligns closely with my personal values. 

The problems we have are challenging ones: building an ads stack that works well for our users. At the same time, AI provides a unique opportunity for anyone to come in and tackle this really interesting and hard problem in new ways. If you want to be working with AI in 2026, Pinterest ads is a great place to be doing it. 

We have to ask…how are you currently using Pinterest to find inspiration? 

Last year, my wife and I decided to remodel our backyard, and Pinterest was our go-to. We put together all of our ideas on the platform, including new plants, a hot tube and an outdoor kitchen. It was an amazing way to organize and get inspired by ideas on my feed. That was a fun experience. 

More recently, my son had grown out of his basketball shoes, and he’s a bit of a sneakerhead. I said, “Why don’t you use Pinterest to figure out what you want to get next?” He had so much fun putting together a board and sharing it with me, which led to his new pair of shoes.