More than 200 nominees have been put forward for The Marketing Academy’s Leadership Programme that launches this month. The scheme is backed by brands including Commonwealth Bank, Google, Foxtel and News Corp and business and marketing leaders including Telstra CEO David Thoday are signed on as mentors.
The 200 marketers from both agency and client side have been nominated by their employers to take part in the nine month mentoring programme to develop their leadership skills and boost the capability of Australian marketers.
The final selection process to whittle those 200 candidates down to 30 is currently underway with nominees that have passed the first two phases, which include an application and an employer endorsement as well as a 10 minute pitch and attending one-to-one interviews with a selection panel.
Founder and CEO of The Marketing Academy, Sherilyn Shackell said: “I am highly impressed by the quality of individual applications which is clearly indicative of a great leadership talent pool and a huge desire from individuals within the marketing and advertising industry to lead in business”.
Finalists will be announced on 19 February.
The Australian Leaders Programme is a spin-off from a UK programme that has been running for five years. The first intake of Australian marketers will start the course on 23 February and will spend nine months attending group and one-to-one sessions with senior mentors from Australian business. It kicks off with a five day residential boot camp.
The programme is free to attend and funded by industry sponsors.
Over the course of the nine months, the candidates will attend events and presentations from globally renowned industry figures and leadership professionals including:
- Russel Howcroft, businessman and The Gruen Transfer panellist
- John Barter, mindfulness practitioner and former Buddhist Monk
- Major General Arthur Denaro, former Commandant of Sandhurst Military Academy and leader of the United Nations Armed Forces
- Dr Alex Gyani, of Behavioural Insights for Purpose
- James Whatley, social media director at Ogilvy London
- Robbert Rietbroek, managing director of Kimberley Clark
- Ed Smith – CMO of Foxtel
Disclaimer: AdNews editor Rosie Baker is on one of the selection panels. The panel also includes AANA CEO Sunita Gloster, Damien Eales, group director of marketing at News Corp Australia, GroupM managing director of learning and development Asia-Pacific, Maree McDonough, Emma Hogan, Foxtel’s head of people and culture and Ben Lawrence, Wesfarmers chief human resources officer.
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 me a line at rosiebaker@yaffa.com.au
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