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 Herd MSL senior social and content executive Gregory Prowse.
Time at the company:
Two-plus years.
How long have you been in the industry?
Two-plus years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
The "plan" was to move to Sydney... and that was about it. I was up for a fresh challenge and to try something different. If I’m honest, I barely knew anything about agency-life and thought I would most likely fall into an in-house role. One thing led to another and a close connection of mine put me in touch with the team at Herd MSL and the rest is history.
Herd MSL is part of Publicis Groupe and these days we all work together in a brand new building in Pyrmont, Sydney. I love it because I feel connected to a whole bunch of creative people from other Publicis agencies that I previously would not have had exposure to. Heaps of my colleagues work a few days in the office and a few at home but I absolutely love being in the office and am here five days a week.
Who is your right hand person?
My senior account manager Nick Timms. His energy, creativity, and bravery motivate me every day to do my best work (I swear he is not paying me to say this.) It would also be remise of me not to say that my wider Herd MSL family. I’m lucky to have so many talented colleagues across social and PR who support me, teach me and encourage me. Their commitment to my development is what keeps me motivated daily.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Being paid to think creatively and paid to think differently. It never ceases to amaze me just how many fresh ideas are put forward to sell a car, a bottle of beer or a chocolate biscuit. Just when you think you’ve seen it all before a creative brainstorm session has just created half a dozen new ways that make me look at a bottle of shampoo in a whole new way.
It’s truly awe-inspiring and it’s an industry that I’m really proud to be part of. I truly believe that there are endless untapped ways to solve a problem or to– we just need to find them playing a role in this is definitely an exciting thing to be a part of!
And the biggest challenge?
Getting your voice heard in a universe cluttered with noise. The world we live in is a crowded space. To have the voice of the brands you work for heard and remembered is true art and when successful, is what makes me go home proud. It does not always happen but it’s a challenge I happily accept each day!
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I will happily take the reins from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond… In seriousness, I'm not gunning for anyone in particular, but I have my sights on developing leadership qualities such as the tenacity of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and the creative eye and ambition of LV creative director Virgil Abloh.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
We are very fortunate to be living in a time where almost anything is accessible online. If you set it up correctly, social media can be a very inspirational place to find great creative work, beautiful designs and inspiring people. **Just make sure you set your screen-time limits, kids!
My favourite advert is:
The World Is Just Awesome (Boom De Yada) | Discovery. This was the first advertisement I saw that made me really pay attention and I think started me down the career path to marketing. The World Is Just Awesome (Boom De Yada) | Discovery
Agency: 72andSunny
Client: Discovery Channel
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I was born a little red-head baby.
In five years’ time I’ll be:
Coming back home to Australia after working internationally. I want that international experience and the chance to live and work in a different country. I love what I do here in Australia and think that gaining an understanding of how other markets solve complex problems, how they gain cut-through in a crowded space and how they think differently will be amongst the most important experiences I can gain as I build my career. I want to be using those experiences five years on to really push my creative limits through thought-provoking work.
On a personal note, if I don’t own a French bulldog at that point I will have to reassess my life choices.
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