Our Young Gun profile takes a look at some of the young talent across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today we speak to Jade Rooney, Client Solutions Manager, Half Dome:
Time at the company: 1 year 8 months
How long have you been in the industry? 4 years 9 months
How did you get here? Was this always the plan? Not at all! I left university after studying Business and had no idea what I wanted to do. I ended up at Ernst & Young as a Tax Advisor in their graduate program because that’s what everyone else in my year was doing. I was there for just over a year and even completed my first year of exams to become a chartered accountant. It’s safe to say that this was not what I was passionate about and so I made a big career jump and entered the world of media.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day? I would have to say Ashwin Govender, who has been my Account Director at Half Dome for over a year. He is not only a brilliant manager and mentor but has also become a great friend. He cares so much about my development and getting me to where I want to be. I know if I’m having one of those days and everything is going wrong, he’s always on the other side of the phone to support me. Another person I would be lost without is Flo, who is an Account Executive at Half Dome or more formally known as my ‘work wife’. We work so well together, understand each other, and have just become a well-oiled machine. She’s my day-to-day rock for sure!
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in? Apart from the socialising, which we haven’t been able to do over the past two years, I would say, the best thing about this industry is how dynamic it is. There is so much change, especially when working across digital, that keeps you constantly on your toes. You never become complacent because there is always the next ‘big thing’ that you need to understand or become an expert on.
And the biggest challenge? I think what makes our industry exciting can also be what makes it a challenge. Keeping on top of marketing theory, tools, landscapes, updates etc. is an ongoing process and one we need to keep on top of so that we are providing the most up-to date information to our clients.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I honestly don’t know. There are so many career paths for me at Half Dome and I’m enjoying dipping my toes in each and seeing where the wind takes me.
Where do you turn for inspiration? My mum, always! She’s the most impressive and driven women I have ever met. She changed career paths at the young age of 50 and has just been bossing it ever since. She’s the one who gave me the push and encouraged me to leave my job as a Tax Advisor, to go after something that would excite me. As with all mums, she was right!
My favourite advert is: Being Irish this one is close to my heart!
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you? I’m definitely an over-sharer, so there is really not a whole lot my colleagues don’t know about me. I eat Kiwis with the skin on and I guess some people find that weird.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future? Right now I have my eyes set on a role with a people & culture focus. Lisa Lie, the Head of People & Culture at Half Dome, is someone I look up to and her role is one I could see my future self in. Lucky for me she is my mentor, so I regularly pick her brain about her career path, her role and responsibilities within Half Dome and her contributions to the media industry to better understand if the people and culture route is the right avenue for me.
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