Our Young Guns profile takes a weekly look at some of the buzzing young talent across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Last week we spoke to Allure Media's head of ShopStyle Australia, Verity Beard.
This week we head to Sydney to meet Havas Media business development manager Amelia Priday.
How long have you been in the industry?
Five years.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Coming up to one and a half years in Sydney. I spent four years in Dubai.
What were you doing before this job and how did you get this gig?
Before moving to Sydney I was working at Havas Media in Dubai looking after the Middle East region. I knew I wanted to move to Australia and stay with Havas, so I was lucky enough to connect with Mike (our awesome CEO who thankfully had just set up our Sydney office) whilst he was in the UAE judging the Dubai Lynx Awards. After some drinks, dinner and sight-seeing, my move to Down Under was pretty much sorted.
Define your job in one word:
Diverse.
What were your real and cliché expectations of working in the industry? How does the reality match up?
Having worked in-house and publishing previously I thought the 'agency world' was big egos, big departments, big teams and that there wouldn't be much culture. I was of course completely wrong and at Havas we're so lucky to have such an awesome culture that is testament to the people we hire and those that hire us.
How would you describe what the company does and what your role involves?
We see ourselves as the modern challenger agency in Australia that brings together media strategy, data and content services. As part of the most agile and fastest growing global media network means we globally resourced but also locally ambitious.
My role within the business is to manage all the new business and marketing across the agency whether that's pitches, awards, events, global coordination, branding and much more.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
The dynamism and the people.
Any major hard learnings in the job so far?
Learning to juggle a lot at once.
If you had to switch over to another department, which would it be and why?
I am pretty lucky that I can dip into most departments on a daily basis so I'd probably stay where I am. It's awesome to pop over and sit with the creative or PR teams for five minutes and pick their brains.
What's exciting you about the industry right now?
Collaboration, especially within our village model, and seeing how different disciplines are coming together more and more. I think the more we work together the better results we'll have for our clients.
What concerns you about the industry and its future?
Increasing its diversity to make sure we have a range of different talents, experiences and perspectives that are so fundamental to our business and staying relevant.
Who's your right hand person/who guides you day to day?
Our legendary management team. They know who they are.
And your almighty mentor that you hope to dethrone?
I couldn't possibly say.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in 2020 and how do you plan on getting there?
Change in our industry is constant but it also keep things exciting. So I would say still at Havas, still learning and still challenging the everyday.
What is the elephant in the room? The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be.
Getting people into the media industry and changing the out-dated perception of 'buying agencies.' Whilst we promote brands every day we haven't done a great job outside of our trade circuit to show how we've changed, what we actually do and how we are relevant in today's world - ultimately to attract the next talent generation out there.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Personally for me it's chatting with friends over dinner with good food and wine. Hearing other people's thoughts outside of our everyday world and just taking some time out can do wonders.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I'm a massive James Bond fan/obsessive. I've probably watched the box set a hundred times and know all the lines.
Favourite advert is:
Tough one. I have lots. For comic value I would have to go for a John Smith's ad featuring Peter Kay in a diving competition. Pure British genius and gets me every time.
What’s your personal motto?
No pain, no gain - if you put in the hard yards you'll see results.
I got into advertising because:
I studied History of Art at University - the oldest form of advertising in the world.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
In the kitchen and hitting up Jamie Oliver for a job.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
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