The MFA’s NGEN Award gives media agency executives with less than five years’ experience the opportunity to create positive impact by using their core skills: strategic thinking, creativity, storytelling and media execution expertise. NGENers were this year invited to respond to a brief for youth mental health organisation Batyr.
AdNews presents, Meet the NGEN Award Finalists: Summer Treseder, Strategy Executive at Initiative, and Rikki Stern, Marketing Coordinator at Initiative.
How long have you been in the industry?
Summer: Two and a half years
Rikki: Less than 1 year and absolutely loving it!
What attracted you to working in a media agency? Was this always the plan?
Summer: Originally, I had no intention to work in media, and like most people didn’t even know what it was. I studied a Bachelor of Public Relations and Business until the head of Advertising at CSU, Anne Llewellynn, persuaded me into what she described as the much better option: Advertising.
Rikki: Working in media was never the plan for me. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was when I first went into it – I had actually started studying psychology and needed to convince my parents I had a plan when dropping out after a semester and a friend had suggested I look into Initiative. I was told of their incredible culture and that it would fit my creative skills.
What were your greatest lessons from the experience of entering the NGEN Award?
Summer: The greatest lesson I have learnt from NGEN is the importance of mastering storytelling, to refine, question and simplify over and over again until you are left with an entry that anyone could understand.
Rikki: To give everything a go even if it scares you! I did not know Summer before this experience and had never worked on any client brief before, so going into this experience I was nervous and out of my element. The outcome is that I gained a valuable lesson and a great friend.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Summer: The best thing about working in advertising is the diversification in work and thinking. No day is ever the same, or dull, with different perspectives helping to strengthen the quality of work produced.
Rikki: The people. My experience of the media industry is that it is full of creative, passionate and supportive people who love what they do and are willing to help you learn.
What does the MFA industry purpose of ‘We Are The Changers’ mean to you?
Summer: It means having the ability to create real tangible change to those that need it the most.
Rikki: I believe that we have the responsibility to use these media skills and relationships to help assist incredible causes like Batyr make a difference to society. It is no easy feat to dedicate your career to giving back and if we can support those who do in any way, that is invaluable.
Where do you plan to be in five years’ time?
Summer: I plan to accelerate my career in strategy, working alongside some of the greatest minds in the industry.
Rikki: I would love to continue learning and growing in media and I would also love to experience living in another country.
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