Our Industry 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.
This week we head to Sydney to speak to AdRoll marketing director JAPAC, Cat Prestipino.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Two and a half years.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Helps marketers use their data to deliver more personalised and effective marketing campaigns.
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
Coming up with really cool ways to educate marketers on how to use the latest technology to make their marketing campaign better.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
The launch of our prospecting was unreal. We completely pivoted the company - re-trained a 300-strong sales force, completed reworked all our collateral including the website and reeducated the market on what we did. It was a challenge but it was really exciting to watch it all happen.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
It’s constantly changing. I get bored really easily and I love working in an environment where I’m constantly challenged and developing.
Previous industry related (ad land/ad tech) companies you have worked at:
Tribal Fusion, Exponential and IgnitionOne.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
Running a small European country? I’d like to still in the ad tech industry but working on consumer education. I think there’s a still a lot of fear in the broader community - particularly around privacy - and I don’t think we’ve done enough as an industry to address that.
What is the elephant in the room? The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be.
Why the relationship between creative agencies and technology vendors isn’t closer. I’d love to start seeing some of the great creatives in Australia really get involved in digital executions and start to push our technologies. We’ve developed some great projects but it takes people with the creative vision to truly push us to be great.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
If I told you that, then they’d all know.
Top networking tip:
You have to get three business cards before you’re allowed to talk to anyone you know.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Cafe Sydney
My favourite advert is:
I believe - Fosters, 2000
My must-have gadget is:
iPhone. I accidentally kicked it under the Opera House steps last year, I was completely lost without it.
My favourite media is:
Digital - you can do so much with it.
My favourite TV show is:
Game of Thrones or Rake - depends if I’m in the mood for serious or silly.
The last book I read:
The Father by Anton Svensson
My mantra / philosophy is:
I’m going to die with a twinkle in eye because I sung songs, spun stories, loved, laughed and drank wine (- credit, The Wine Song, The Cat Empire)
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
By total accident but it supports my theory that everything happens for a reason.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
An actress. That was the original plan but I got distracted on the way…
In five years' time I'll be:
Probably still up on my soapbox that this industry needs more amazing women but I live in hope that I won’t be.
Define your job in one word:
Awesome.
What's your poison:
Bubbles.
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
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