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.
Harriet Duke, sales coordinator at ScentreGroup
Time in the current role/time at company:
One year, starting my journey at Scentre Group BrandSpace in February 2022.
How long have you been in the industry?
One year.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I graduated in 2019 with a Communications and Media BA Honors Degree at the University of Liverpool. On the 14th of March 2020 (a few days before the country closed its borders) I boarded a one-way flight to Australia – alone, excited, ready for adventures and travels. Instead, I was in lockdown on the other side of the world from home – completing regional work on a banana farm in Queensland to extend my visa. After 2 years of inconsistent jobs and moving around the country – I fell in love with Melbourne, and I was dedicated to starting my career in media. My previous experience in the creative space in production and social management alongside my experience in process and system administration and marketing landed me my role at Scentre Group.
In my role as a sales coordinator, I have been keen to understand the industry and elevate my skills. I’ve been championing the onboarding of MOVE across the national coordinator team, so there is deep understanding of how we apply these metrics to our network. This proactivity, awarded by national coordinator of the quarter recently, as recognized by my peers. A very proud moment for me!
I’m lucky to work across both agency and direct sales and this allows me a broad understanding across the Sales spectrum and the role BrandSpace plays in co creating solutions to business and brand challenges.
In the agency stream I see how large-scale media agency organizations work, working with large global brands on large campaigns. It’s also taught me how to build and manage long-term relationships with our agency partners who I deal with on a daily basis. The direct stream has shown me to really think on my feet and be always on, engaged in market, meeting and speaking with new clients.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
Here in Victoria, we are as a close nit team of seven amazing individuals who are holistically one of the main reasons I work hard, love my job and the company I work for. We all lean on each other for support and guidance no matter how high the workload or whatever time of day, I really enjoy the energy of our office!
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
For me, the highlight of the industry would be the networking aspect – especially with being from a different country and coming over on my own – I continually meet exceptionally talented people from across all streams who are always willing to share their experience and expertise and have fun doing so. Being a huge people person – I am so grateful that my role allows me to speak to new people every day.
The biggest challenge?
Being away from my family in England is definitely the hardest challenge – especially with 5 young nieces and nephews in the UK growing up. I am lucky that I have a great work family and great new group of friends over in Melbourne but homesickness never goes away.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I aim to be highly respected and well known in Melbourne as a group manager in the same style as my current GM Brad Montgomery – communicating and demonstrating the value of BrandSpace in market, building, and growing key relationships and working with some amazing brands!
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I am a true podcast fanatic – finding myself with an air pod in and a podcast playing at any spare moment I have, to not only motivate and relax, but grow my knowledge and upskill. This includes listening to podcasts that interview inspirational people across a wide variety of titles and industries, different backgrounds, celebrities – business and everyday people. Knowledge really is power, and I think one of the most amazing things is hearing people’s stories – how they’ve got to this point – and what they have to say.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I’m a singer – I have recently written and recorded a song to accompany a Liquid Drum and Bass track. Stay tuned for the Spotify release coming next month
In five years’, time I’ll be…
I hope to still be in Australia – living in the sunshine (maybe not in Melbourne then) and still working and succeeding in the media industry. I see myself as a well-established sales executive – helping to coach and guide the next wave of junior sales executives.
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