Our Industry Profile takes a look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
This week we speak to Canstar group manager, marketing Simone Davison.
Time in current role:
13 months.
How would you describe what the company does?
Canstar is Australia’s biggest financial comparison site. We help consumers make better financial decisions.
What do you do day-to-day?
I lead the marketing team and (hopefully) inspire and motivate them to deliver on our customer goals and business objectives via design, email marketing, brand marketing and performance marketing.
Define your job in one word:
Rewarding.
I got into marketing because:
The variety it offers and the broad scope of the discipline. No two days are the same and that’s what I love.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
As Canstar goes through rapid growth one of my biggest challenges is ensuring we've got the right mix of skills and experience in the marketing team to help the business scale and grow.
What’s the biggest industry-wide challenge you’d like to see tackled?
I’d love to see the agency/client divide close. Things have definitely changed in the last 20 years but I think we can do more to ensure we work as partners and not just have a transactional relationship.
Previous industry related companies you have worked at:
The Star Entertainment Group, Suncorp Bank.
Notable campaigns you have worked on:
One of my favourite campaigns was the launch of the Suncorp Bank App, back in 2014. It was a fun campaign to lead and looked great on the big screen at the cinemas.
Who is/has been a great mentor to you and why?
I was fortunate to have RACQ Bank’s CEO, Michelle Bagnall, as my General Manager when I was at Suncorp Bank. She is a woman who displays exemplary leadership qualities on and off the field, and is someone I learned a great deal from in day-to-day interactions and from afar.
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
The path to a senior role in marketing is not linear. No career path is linear these days. Move around. Go sideways. Step back. Step up. Dabble in related disciplines. Be humble but back yourself. Have faith. Work hard. Take risks. Ask for help/advice. Network like a boss!
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
A self-funded stay at home dog mum.
My mantra is:
I have the saying from Friday Night Lights stuck in my head: “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose”. For some reason it really resonates with me at the moment.
My favourite ad is:
The 1990 Winfield Cup TVC with Tina Turner. I was a kid when that ad was launched and I’ve never forgotten it. It reminds me of Sunday afternoons spent on the couch, watching the Broncos on TV with my dad.
Music and TV streaming habits. What do you subscribe to?
SBS OnDemand is my most used streaming app – my favourite show is Insight. I also passively watch a lot of shows on Stan and Netflix over my husband’s shoulder, which consists of me asking questions like “Who is that character and why did they just do that?” It annoys him.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I have a phobia of blowing my nose in public. It results in me sniffing a lot, which irritates people (mostly my husband and my mum).
In five years' time I'll be:
Working part time and contributing more of my time to charitable organisations.
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