We recently published our annual list of the Top Women Driving Growth in Out-of-Home (OOH) for 2025. Today, we are highlighting Tangela Walton, VP Sales Atlanta, Clear Channel Outdoor.
Tangela Walton brings over two decades of experience in media and advertising sales in out-of-home, digital and print solutions. Currently serving as the Vice President of Sales with Clear Channel Outdoor in Atlanta, Georgia, Tangela leads the sales team in driving revenue growth, developing strategic partnerships and delivering innovative marketing solutions to clients.
Throughout her career she has successfully led high-performing teams, managed multimillion-dollar advertising portfolios and built long-term partnerships with key stakeholders. Her leadership spans roles from VP of Sales to Local and Digital Sales Manager with Clear Channel Outdoor, Advertising Director for the Gwinnett Daily Post and Multi-Division Sales Leader with Cox Newspapers and The Atlanta Journal Constitution, where she spearheaded high-impact sales strategies across diverse advertising verticals, including retail, real estate, recruitment and automotive.
Tangela is passionate about empowering sales teams and delivering exceptional client solutions. She is committed to driving innovation and maximizing revenue potential in today’s evolving media landscape.
In late 2008, Tangela accepted a buyout from Cox Newspapers/The Atlanta Journal (AJC). She decided to take a year off to decide what she wanted to next with her life and spend more dedicated time with her then 4-year-old son.
“This was a pivotal time, leaving a career and industry that I was passionate about at that time,” Tangela said.
A former colleague at the AJC who had moved on to the world of OOH advertising reached out to her regarding opportunities with Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO).
“Billboards had never really been on my radar, or an area I had considered,” Tangela said. “However, I’m glad I took him up on the opportunity in late 2010.
Driving Growth in OOH: A Solid and Motivated Sales Team
Driving growth, in Tangela’s experience starts with building and developing a solid and motivated sales team, which is one of her strengths.
“However, to drive growth today, we must shift and expand our thinking about media, and the role OOH plays,” Tangela said. “We are no longer just about location. Today, when we talk about growth opportunities and increasing our share, we must leverage all our assets and be able to have conversations with our clients around data and how they are using it to plan effective and successful campaigns.”
“However, to drive growth today, we must shift and expand our thinking about media, and the role OOH plays,” Tangela said. “We are no longer just about location. Today, when we talk about growth opportunities and increasing our share, we must leverage all our assets and be able to have conversations with our clients around data and how they are using it to plan effective and successful campaigns.”
Some of her greatest successes have come from working with local clients across a variety of verticals. These clients were not OOH users. She built OOH plans with them that helped them achieve their business objectives and expand their brands.
Be an Ally and a Mentor
The OOH industry is still a male-dominated industry, but since joining in late 2010, Tangela has seen progress in this area- though there is still work to be done.
Many of the challenges women face in the workplace, such as gender pay gaps, promotional opportunities, and work-life balance are not unique to the OOH industry.
“Some ways I think we can help to move the needle are by making it a point to be an ally to the women already in the industry and share the great things happening in this industry with those looking to get started,” Tangela said.
She recommends volunteering to be a mentor and that we recognize and recommend other talented candidates. To women in the industry, she says before joining any organization should research and proactively ask about the organization’s efforts and commitments to address these challenges, including specific examples.
As more companies embrace the value of having women in the workplace and as women continue to move into more executive and decision-making roles, Tangela thinks we will see the tide turn with more women in positions of leadership.
“It’s not happening at a rapid pace, but it is happening. I see more progress on the horizon and a bright future for women in this industry,” Tangela said. “We must continue to boast about the growing areas of opportunity and be willing to mentor and advocate for strong candidates.
“It’s not happening at a rapid pace, but it is happening. I see more progress on the horizon and a bright future for women in this industry,” Tangela said. “We must continue to boast about the growing areas of opportunity and be willing to mentor and advocate for strong candidates.
In her own career, having both internal and external mentors (formal and informal), along with a solid peer group, have been invaluable.
“It is important to have a mentor and a champion who can help you navigate the unspoken, support you, and motivate you throughout your career,” Tangela said.
She’s also had the opportunity to attend executive leadership programs, and has been encouraged to always look for ways to stay relevant, keep growing, and expand her knowledge of the rapidly evolving media landscape.
OOH’s Future is Bright
Tangela says the outlook for OOH is bright.
“We have successfully navigated some of the disruptions that other more traditional media formats have faced by continuing to be innovative, embracing new technologies, and staying relevant,” Tangela said.
“We have successfully navigated some of the disruptions that other more traditional media formats have faced by continuing to be innovative, embracing new technologies, and staying relevant,” Tangela said.
More specifically, the industry is learning and understanding how clients use data in their marketing efforts. She says we also must continue to hone our insights on how OOH delivers conversions and look for ways to strength partnerships, and educate local prospects on all the medium has to offer.
“We must continue to strive to be on the forefront of such conversations, be consultative, and continue to offer an experience that is not easy to turn off or block,” Tangela said.