Our Young Guns profile takes a weekly look at some of the young talent across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today, we head to Sydney to meet Initiative partnerships executive, Nick Archer.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Three years at Initiative.
How long have you been in the industry?
Three years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I feel that no one really sets out to work in media from the get go. When I finished my studies I was really just looking for any job in ‘advertising’. To be honest when I first started I had no idea what I was doing, all I knew was that ‘we didn’t make the ads’. Whilst this may have not always been the plan, in hindsight I am happy with the decisions I have made to work in this industry.
Who's your right hand person/who guides you day to day?
Rather them learning from or being guided by one person, I like to look to various mentors in my agency and especially members in my immediate team (Rhiannon, Marco, Courtney, Rebecca- legends!) for direction. This allows me to get a different perspective on how to approach situations/subjects from all levels and does not limit me to a single-minded approach to tasks.
What’s best thing about the industry you work in?
The people! Given our industry revolves around the relationships you build with not only those in your agency, but those you deal with on a day to day basis, it makes coming to work enjoyable and exciting as you’re constantly engaging/meeting with new people every day.
And the biggest challenge?
Burning out, especially in your first few years. Given we’re providing a service to clients, demand can range depending on their needs. From an industry standpoint, I think we are doing a great job in addressing this issue of not always working the standard 9-5. I feel this is offset by some of the incentives offered by individual agencies- for example, free breakfasts, early finishes on a Friday and the support and well being programs on offer.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
From a media perspective I’d love to work my way up the chain to an account director position, or managing director (watch out Shaun Briggs).
From a passion perspective, my dream would be to rival Henry Steinway or Mike Levy.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
People (again) Having conversations with different individuals and taking their approach on certain subjects and then applying my own lens is where I find a lot of inspiration.
My favourite advert is (and why):
Panda Cheese.
Probably because I discovered it whilst in one of those ‘YouTube 4am related video’ vortexes and couldn’t stop laughing. Also because you ‘never say no to Panda’.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
Yeah this is a difficult one because I tell people everything…
I did trampolining for five months when I was younger. It was definitely a phase though.
In five years' time I'll be:
An account director in media or playing the mainstage at Tomorrowland.
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