Isaac Montebello.
In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Droga5's senior account manager Isaac Montebello.
Time in current role/time at the company
I have been a member of Droga5 Melbourne for 5 years and a Senior Account Manager since November.
How long have you been in the industry?
Pretty much since I finished my Uni degree I have worked in Advertising, so, close to 7 years now.
How did you get here?
I started my journey at Isobar, community managing for brands like 711, Kmart and Schweppes in my final year of Uni. My dad funnily enough was doing some maintenance work at the Cummins & Partners building at the time and mentioned that he had a son completing his final year of an Advertising degree and was looking for work. They ignored him for a while, but he was persistent, and after coming in for a chat, I landed the role of Account Executive working into some very clever people during a really exciting time at the agency.
Was this always the plan?
I think it was always the plan to progress through the various roles in a creative agency. It’s hard to remember exactly how I felt at the time but what I can say is that all these years later I’m glad things worked out the way they have, and am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given to get to where I am now.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
There’s been a lot, so to shout out one is tough…so I’ll shout out two. Dave Collins and Jenny McLarney. Dave is one of the smartest people I’ve met in the industry and always knows the right steer to get the work to where it needs to be. And Jenny (aka Jenzel) has been there, done that on every category in the industry. She’s been someone that’s always looked to raise your standards and make you a better advertising person.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
The people. I think the people at agencies are what makes the industry great. They make going through the ups and downs way more satisfying and fun.
And the biggest challenge?
The rate of change in the industry is like never before. How we work, how we consume content and information. Creativity is still the single biggest competitive advantage across all businesses and categories.
In saying that, applying creativity to new tools is an exciting challenge, and I think some of the best work we’ve done at Droga5 in recent years has come out of these changes to the advertising landscape. These shifts and changes can often force you to work smarter and really sharpen your thinking.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
Other than Chris Davies (Head of Football at the Carlton Football Club), I’d say whatever the next progression is for me in my career here at Droga5. In this case, that’s an Account Director.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Outside of advertising people, I feel like I get my inspiration from a lot of different parts of the world. Film and television, electronic music, sporting culture, even professional wrestling. I also DJ at a couple of nightclubs in and around Melbourne in my free time, so I get to see different kinds of creative expression through those performances.
The world is filled with really creative people who are showcasing their qualities in all different kinds of mediums.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I unfortunately am a very open book, so there’s nothing they probably don’t already know about me. Despite being a ’suit’, a lot of my extra-curricular activities take place outside of the office through various creative outlets.
In five years' time I'll be...
I’d love to be leading accounts on clients that have broad reaching impact on people’s lives with great creative ambition. I want to be someone that people see as a great creative leader in their agency, and someone that they can depend on to get the job done.
My favourite advert is...
I have two all-time favourite ads. The first being the Toyota Hilux “Baby Come Back” and the other is the old Carlton Mid ad, "Michael Jamieson". I think both encapsulate what’s so great about Australian advertising and have stuck with me for a very long time.
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