In this series, AdNews takes a look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. This time it's Index Exchange director, partner development APAC Elizabeth “Lizzie” Grant.
Time in current role:
I have just joined the team at Index Exchange and I couldn’t be more excited. Index has always been one of my dream companies to work for, primarily because of their strong regional female leadership team, sophisticated technology and excellent client service. I’m really looking forward to working closely with the team at Index and our partners across APAC.
How would you describe what the company does?
Index Exchange is a global advertising supply-side platform enabling media owners to maximise the value of their content on any screen. As a trusted partner and ally, we connect leading experience makers with the world’s largest brands to ensure a quality experience for consumers.
What do you do day to day?
My responsibilities include managing the publisher development teams across APAC as they support our media owner customers from onboarding and daily management to strategic development and finding growth opportunities. Our team plays a crucial role in the client services experience, and it's our responsibility to ensure client satisfaction. As members of the leadership team, we collaborate closely on internal projects, strategy, and initiatives.
Define your job in one word:
Dynamic.
I got into the industry because:
I studied media at school and university so I’ve been wanting to work in advertising for as long as I can remember. After trialing both TV and radio, I realised that digital was for me. I love the ever-changing nature of ad tech and the innovation that comes out of the industry.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
Our industry is constantly evolving! Being able to consistently adapt and upskill to ensure we’re offering the most efficient and effective services and solutions for our partners is paramount.
What’s the biggest industry wide challenge you’d like to see tackled?
It would be great to see more businesses across our industry fully integrate DE&I initiatives. The 2023 Australian Advertising Council’s DE&I consensus revealed that despite some progress, the overall Inclusion score declined in 2023. Highlighting the significant potential for further investment and improvement in DE&I efforts across the board. This is an area of deep personal commitment for me, especially given my role with The Women in Programmatic Network (TWIPN).
Who has been a great mentor to you and why?
Georgia Woodburne, co-founder at Cake.Shop (and previously managing director at Azerion JAPAC) has been an incredible mentor to me. Georgia pushed me to come out of my shell professionally, encouraged my career growth and has been my number one supporter. She is a fantastic leader and I can’t thank her enough!
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
Learn as much as you can from people around you, not just within your division of the business. Put your hand up for things that make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to give your opinion. Make sure you’re looking for and taking advantage of opportunities.
If I wasn’t doing this for a living, I'd be:
I would love to be a writer.
My philosophy is:
Don’t wait for the opportunities to come to you, go out and find them.
My favourite advert is:
I don’t know if it’s my favourite but the most memorable is the old Pepsi one where the little boy is at a vending machine and he buys two cans of coke so he can stand on them to reach the Pepsi can.
Music and TV streaming habits. What do you subscribe to?
Embarrassingly, I have almost all the TV streaming platforms, so I watch everything!
Music wise, I love R&B and I have a little soft spot for country music. I’ve also recently gotten into listening to audiobooks on Spotify.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I used to play the saxophone.
In five years time, I'll be:
I always used to have a plan but if recent years have taught me anything, it’s to expect the unexpected, so who knows but I look forward to finding out!
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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