Leisl Lillicrap.
In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Vistar Media's senior account manager Leisl Lillicrap.
Time in current role/time at the company
Just over 1 year.
How long have you been in the industry?
8 years.
How did you get here?
After spending 7 years in a programmatic role at a media agency in Sunny QLD, I made the shift to AdTech last year while also deciding to move my life down to Melbourne, which has both been an amazing and enjoyable challenge.
Was this always the plan?
Yes and no. I always saw myself making the move into a programmatic AdTech role, though I never had a clear path mapped out for myself. It felt like a natural progression in my career.
By the time I was ready for my next role, I found myself looking at opportunities outside of Brisbane, which was never something I’d considered before. The more I looked into it, the more exciting the idea became, so I jumped at the opportunity to explore a new city and the various media roles it had to offer.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
My partner. He is the best person to debrief the day with, especially as he has also worked in the media industry for most of his career. He is incredibly supportive through the highs and lows, and knows exactly what to say even if it’s sometimes not what I want to hear.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
How small it is! Even across markets, you seem to always be crossing paths with the same people, and that you’re never alone in the experiences you’re having.
And the biggest challenge?
How small it is!
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’ve never been one to look or plan too far ahead, but having been in this role at Vistar for over a year now, I really admire my manager, Henry Fisher. It’s been inspiring to see the way he’s able to balance being a senior leader in a very fast-paced, high performing business with a team across three markets, while also still prioritising his home and family life, and personal interests.
He’s also always checking in on the team to ensure they’re doing the same, so wherever I end up, I’m just hoping to be a leader that can have this same effect.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Feel free to cringe at this because I am, but I’m at my calmest and most clear-headed state when I’m running or doing some form of exercise. Whether it’s a work or personal scenario, I need to be outside or putting myself through some sort of physical challenge to create the headspace to think through all the possible outcomes and ways to approach a task.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I like to pretend I’m not a picky eater but anyone that’s spent one hour with me will know that I have a phobia of a lot of food textures and a long list of foods I won’t touch; don’t even talk about egg yolk near me.
In five years' time I'll be
Back up on a QLD beach somewhere.
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