Keeley McCahon.
In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Zenith Media's senior planning executive Keeley McCahon.
Time in current role / time at the company
I’ve been in my current role as Senior Planning Executive for just under a year, and I’ve spent the past 3.5 years at Zenith. You could say I was born into media at Zenith - it’s where I learned the ropes and really found my rhythm.
How long have you been in the industry?
Around 3.5 years full-time, plus a few internships beforehand that helped shape where I wanted to land.
How did you get here?
I started with internships before officially entering the industry, including a six-week stint at Publicis Groupe in 2020 (back when Razorfish was still Performics). That experience was a game-changer - I was exposed to life at Publicis (including Zenith) and instantly knew it was where I wanted to be. Fast forward to finishing uni, I applied for everything media-related and landed a hybrid Media Coordinator role at Zenith, working across both digital and offline. That early exposure to both sides of the business has become a real point of difference for me and still shapes how I approach planning today.
Was this always the plan?
Not even close. My original dream as a kid was Broadway (a missed calling), followed by a very brief and even shorter‑lived attempt at accounting. What stuck, though, was the pull towards something creative, fast‑paced and people‑driven. I stumbled across a media internship online with very little context, applied on a whim, and immediately loved it - so much so that I changed my degree to Marketing and Communications shortly after. Creativity still plays a huge role in my life outside of media too; I’m also a dance, acrobatics and circus teacher on the side, which probably explains why I thrive in an industry that rewards energy, collaboration and thinking on your feet.
Who is your right-hand person / who guides you day to day?
Maddie Ing, Snr Planning Manager on my account. An absolute gun and someone who’s played a huge role in my growth over the past 18 months. We were the dynamic duo on our client for a long time, juggling a lot with minimal support. Beyond being an incredible colleague, Maddie is also a great friend - which makes the chaos much more enjoyable.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
The people and the experiences. You’re constantly meeting new faces, collaborating across teams, partners and agencies, and then seeing those same people pop up in different roles a few years later. Media really is a small world - and you feel that very quickly.
And the biggest challenge?
Switching off. When media surrounds you everywhere - online, on your phone, on outdoor formats - it can be hard to leave work at work.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
Jonny Cordony's… Our Managing Director.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Brands that absolutely nail memorable campaigns. If it sticks with you years later, that’s the good stuff, I’m still singing the Reading Writing Hotline jingle 20 years on.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you
I have a very low tolerance for boredom. If I’m not busy, I’m probably planning my next thing, business, holiday or event... This explains why I’ve always juggled multiple jobs, side projects and passions at once. I like my days fast‑paced, varied and just a little chaotic.
In five years’ time I’ll be:
Hopefully retired if I win the lottery, but realistically I’d love to be a ‘Head of Digital' at a media agency OR be running my own small business, wherever the wind takes me.
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