Our Young Gun profile takes a look at some of the young talent across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today we speak to Havas Media account director Catherine Edghill.
Time in current role:
One year and eight months.
How long have you been in the industry?
Nearly eight years, although I did mosey around Australia travelling for one of those.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
The motivations behind the choices people make, has always interested me, I’ve got a psychology degree to prove it. But I always thought I would work for the police. The position on a grad scheme for an indie agency in London came through first though and voila.
Who guides you day to day?
Somehow I’ve landed managing a team of five boys2men who keep me honest. They are all incredibly driven, focused and consistently strong performers. They challenge me to be better and call me out if I need to be. Equally they’re also the biggest bunch of idiots you’d ever hope to meet. It’s been hard to move our tight knit team digital, but they’ve taken to it quickly.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
That a good idea can come from anywhere, and more and more we are building cross discipline teams to better deliver solutions for clients. Our team for example, manage clients for which we hold the media business but also PR and/or creative within the Havas Village. The opportunity to learn has never been greater.
And the biggest challenge?
Retention. Retention. Retention.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
Thomas Bach, chairman of the International Olympic Committee. I don’t think they hire people based on how much you love the Olympics though. Might have to settle for Mike Wilson’s job, chairman Havas Media AUNZ.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
The two most reliable places for me to generate ideas are when cycling or in the shower. Followed by a close third, in the middle of the night. I sleep with a notepad nearby.
My favourite advert is:
I love Christmas ads. John Lewis’ ability to create excitement for an ad year in year out, always astounds me. But mostly, I just love that Coca Cola vintage Christmas ad. Is it really Christmas until you’ve seen the ad? No, it is not.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I did apply for a role at MI5, safe to say I didn’t pass the second round of recruitment. Something about not keeping quiet enough about it.
In five years' time I'll be:
Still wondering if Chairman is the correct term for a female?
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