The MFA's NGEN Award gives media agency executives with less than five years’ experience the opportunity to create positive impact by using their core skills: strategic thinking, creativity, storytelling and media execution expertise. NGENers were this year invited to respond to a brief calling for a bespoke fundraising campaign for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (IFL).
AdNews presents, Meet the Finalists:
Olivia Coxon, Investment Partnerships Associate, Initiative
Ben Breden, Investment Partnerships Associate, Initiative
How long have you been in the industry?
Olivia: 6 months.
Ben: About 8 months.
What attracted you to working in a media agency? Was this always the plan?
Olivia: I was quite open-minded as to where I would like to work after uni, however a media agency attracted me as I thought it would be a fast-paced environment to gain experience communicating with both the client and the publisher.
Ben: I knew I wanted to be somewhere in the marketing and communications industry, although I wasn’t quite sure where I might fit in. Then I was lucky enough to participate in Initiative’s Iso-Internship, and I saw that media agencies sit right in the middle of all the action, so I figured it would be a great place to learn.
What were your greatest lessons from the experience of entering the NGEN Award?
Olivia: Sometimes the most simple ideas are the most effective.
Ben:I knew I wanted to be somewhere in the Marketing and Communications industry, although I wasn't quite sure where I might fit in. Then I was lucky enough to participate in Initiative's Iso-Internship, and I saw that media agencies sit right in the middle of all the action, so I figured it would be a great place to learn.
Ben: I learned that good presentations should be about one idea explained simply, rather than a collection of ideas stitched together. I also learned that the former is a lot harder to do.
What’s the one tip you would give future entrants of the NGEN Award?
Olivia: Always back up your ideas with research.
Ben: Creative collaboration is really difficult at the end of a full work day, at least for me. These things require energy and passion, so it's best to find times when you can bring that to the table.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Olivia: How sociable and creative it can be! It is definitely a challenging industry and you learn to react quickly to unexpected roadblocks, but it offers a great opportunity to develop professionally, all while having fun.
Ben: The wonderful people you get to work with!
Where do you plan to be in five years’ time?
Olivia: Hopefully working overseas in London or New York.
Ben: I don't really have a five-year plan. My plan is to excel where I am now, and take opportunities as they come.
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