Grace Kao

It’s been a transformative year for Spotify. Among other shifts, the audio company reoriented its podcasting strategy, conducted three rounds of layoffs, raised the price of a subscription and unveiled its audiobook offering in the U.S. For Grace Kao, head of global business marketing, the shifts have only made her remit more critical. Spotify has for years led the podcasting industry, and it hopes to chart a similar course in the audiobooks space—with both arenas ripe for advertising growth.