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 calling for a bespoke fundraising campaign for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (IFL).
AdNews presents, Meet the Finalists:
Ella-Jane Williams, Communications Manager, Match & Wood
Alice McAuliffe, Communications Executive, Match & Wood
How long have you been in the industry?
Ella-Jane: 2.5 years
Alice: 8 months
What attracted you to working in a media agency? Was this always the plan?
Ella-Jane: Media wasn’t the plan. After graduating from uni and not being able to find a job in my chosen field, I fell into media and haven’t looked back.
Alice: Working in a media agency attracted me as it would give me a well-rounded introduction into the industry.
What were your greatest lessons from the experience of entering the NGEN Award?
Ella-Jane: Learning to create a cohesive story that is infused into every element of the submission.
Alice: Learning the importance of being able to thread a common theme and insight the whole way through a campaign response.
What’s the one tip you would give future entrants of the NGEN Award?
Ella-Jane: Don’t settle on your first idea. Keep brainstorming and workshopping as your idea can only get better.
Alice: Don’t overthink it! Simple ideas can sometimes make the most sense and be the most compelling.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Ella-Jane: Seeing a campaign come to life and delivering real results for clients.
Alice:The people and the opportunity to learn and grow.
Where do you plan to be in five years’ time?
Ella-Jane: I plan to stay agency side and continue to develop my strategic and critical thinking skills.
Alice: I don’t have a plan yet, but hopefully working on projects that excite me.
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