Our Industry Insights Profile takes a weekly look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
Last week we spoke to Bohemia group performance and technology director, Sebastian Graham. This week we head to Sydney to speak to With Collective CEO and co-founder Justin Hind.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Five years.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Solves business problems through the combination of data, technology and persuasive creative thinking.
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
Air Traffic Control, Tap Dancing and Fire Fighting.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
Having the world class Steve Coll join the business as creative partner, joining the roster for Optus and Virgin Mobile and extending our remit from Qantas Loyalty into Qantas Airline, a client team and brand we’re exceptionally proud to work with. Also, see here for Dentsu buys indie shop With Collective.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
The people, smart minds that change, challenge and evolve every day.
Previous industry related (ad land/ad tech) companies you have worked at:
Y&R / Wunderman – director of CRM
Leo Burnett – head of direct and channel planning
BMF – head of digital and data
Downstream marketing (adtech start-up acquired by Adobe) - COO
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
Here at With Collective, head down and bum up, making With Collective one of Australia’s most respected problem-solving businesses
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
In my next life, I’d love to be a barrister.
Top networking tip:
You can never have too many friends because you never know who is heading where next.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills. Relaxed, down to earth, fit for purpose with a slight edge.
My favourite advert is:
Halftime in America – Clint Eastwood for Chrysler.
My must-have gadget is:
My new iPad Pro – it has revolutionised how I take notes, store information and share it. No more scribbling in 19th-century notepads, I lose frequently.
My favourite media is:
Film, I know I’m meant to say digital, or mobile but there is nothing like the scale, impact and emotion of well-crafted film.
My favourite TV show is:
Currently a tie between Luther and Janet King.
The last book I read:
Dr No (the first ever James Bond novel). I’ve read it about eight times.
My mantra/philosophy is:
Don’t talk about it, do it.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
I love numbers and human behavior; I’m an economist so marketing and behavioural economics fascinated me.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
Doing it for fun.
In five years’ time I'll be:
Five years older, still trying to forecast the future of this industry.
Define your job in one word:
Tap dancer (sorry that’s two).
What's your poison:
Old-school cocktails (any type) with hard liquor. Old Fashion, Dirty Martini.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.