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 Melbourne media account manager Alana Lowe.
Time at the company:
Two years in July.
How long have you been in the industry?
Nearly five years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
Advertising is clearly the next logical step for anyone with a degree in Journalism and Creative Writing! I started out at PHD on the ANZ account which was an incredible opportunity for a first role. Later down the track, a dear friend and mentor Ben Shepherd sent me the way of Matt Houltham (CEO, Havas Media Group AUNZ and Havas Melbourne), we met twice and the rest is Havas-tory.
Who is your right hand person?
Eve Ransley-Cahill. A work wife at Havas and in another life at PHD and someone I am lucky to call a close friend.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
The people! It has been said before but it is the simple truth. Some of the brightest, kindest, wildest, and most brilliant people have made their way into advertising.
And the biggest challenge?
Without a doubt the biggest challenge to date has been guiding our clients through this pandemic. I’ve been lucky enough to have the scale, smarts and sophistication of Havas’ resources from across its global network, to help navigate. The dynamics of our tight knit team have also helped to keep me sane!
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
CMO at Nike… Isn’t that the dream gig? Back on planet earth, it would have to be the marketing lead at Adore Beauty or Mecca! I am inspired by the incredible women that established these Australian empires and personally spend an obscene amount of time researching AHAs, retinols and ascorbic acid.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Unashamedly obsessed with the 90s and pop culture, @RickeyThompson is the embodiment of ‘just be yourself’. He is incredibly hilarious and a good laugh is all you need to reset after you’ve stared at an excel spreadsheet for three hours. Also his collabs with Alexander Wang and Calvin Klein are iconic!
My favourite advert is:
This is a no brainer. Nike’s ‘Dream Crazier’, VO by the one and only Serena Williams.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
My immediate team have been subjected to this, however the extended Havas family have not. During isolation, whenever a new delivery arrived, I would do an ‘unboxing’ of my latest skincare purchases with whoever I happened to be on a call with. It has been fun, mostly for me I’m sure.
In five years' time I'll be:
A key part of the furniture at Adore Beauty or Mecca.
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
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.