Sarah Vosloo.
Our Industry Profile takes a look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.Sarah Vosloo: Head of digital at Spark Foundry NZ.
2 years.
How would you describe what the company does?
Spark Foundry helps brands grow by bringing together media, data, technology and creativity to solve business problems. We believe growth comes from understanding people, challenging assumptions and finding smarter ways to navigate an increasingly complex world. Rather than simply following category conventions, we use data and evidence to identify what will truly move the needle, creating work that breaks patterns and delivers growth for our clients.
Spark Foundry helps brands grow by bringing together media, data, technology and creativity to solve business problems. We believe growth comes from understanding people, challenging assumptions and finding smarter ways to navigate an increasingly complex world. Rather than simply following category conventions, we use data and evidence to identify what will truly move the needle, creating work that breaks patterns and delivers growth for our clients.
What do you do day to day?
I lead our digital capability across strategy, innovation, media, data and technology. No two days are the same, but most involve helping clients solve complex challenges, supporting our team to do their best work, and ensuring we're building for what's next rather than just optimising what's now.
I lead our digital capability across strategy, innovation, media, data and technology. No two days are the same, but most involve helping clients solve complex challenges, supporting our team to do their best work, and ensuring we're building for what's next rather than just optimising what's now.
Define your job in one word:
Translator
What's the biggest challenge you face in your role?
Keeping pace with the speed of change while helping clients focus on what actually matters. There is no shortage of new platforms, tools and trends; the challenge is separating genuine opportunity from distraction.
Keeping pace with the speed of change while helping clients focus on what actually matters. There is no shortage of new platforms, tools and trends; the challenge is separating genuine opportunity from distraction.
What's the biggest industry-wide challenge you'd like to see tackled?
The industry has become very good at measuring activity, but not always great at measuring impact. I'd love to see more focus on meaningful outcomes, long-term growth and responsible media practices rather than chasing short-term metrics.
The industry has become very good at measuring activity, but not always great at measuring impact. I'd love to see more focus on meaningful outcomes, long-term growth and responsible media practices rather than chasing short-term metrics.
Who has been a great mentor to you and why?
I've been fortunate to learn from a number of leaders throughout my career. The best mentors haven't given me the answers, they've challenged my thinking, expanded my perspective and helped me become more confident making difficult decisions.
I've been fortunate to learn from a number of leaders throughout my career. The best mentors haven't given me the answers, they've challenged my thinking, expanded my perspective and helped me become more confident making difficult decisions.
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
Build strong relationships, understand the commercial side of the business, and never underestimate the value of empathy and communication.
Build strong relationships, understand the commercial side of the business, and never underestimate the value of empathy and communication.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
A counsellor. I'm endlessly fascinated by people, what drives them, and how they navigate complexity and change.
A counsellor. I'm endlessly fascinated by people, what drives them, and how they navigate complexity and change.
My philosophy is:
Work hard, stay curious, and leave things better than you found them.
Work hard, stay curious, and leave things better than you found them.
Music and TV streaming habits:
My music taste is all over the place depending on the day, everything from running playlists to country music and throwback classics. For TV, I am a sucker for a British Crime Drama, Escape to the Country and anything cooking related.
My music taste is all over the place depending on the day, everything from running playlists to country music and throwback classics. For TV, I am a sucker for a British Crime Drama, Escape to the Country and anything cooking related.
What do you subscribe to?
Everything, this is likely why my inbox is a mess.
Everything, this is likely why my inbox is a mess.
In five years' time I'll be:
Still learning. I hope to be helping shape the future of our industry, developing great people, and proving that commercial success and sustainable ways of working can go hand in hand.
Still learning. I hope to be helping shape the future of our industry, developing great people, and proving that commercial success and sustainable ways of working can go hand in hand.
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