Young Gun profiles takes a look at the young talent across the Australian advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector. Aiming to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Kailah Symons: marketing manager at Coles.
Time in current role/time at the company:
I have worked at Coles for almost two years!
How long have you been in the industry?
Six and a half years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I always knew that I wanted to do something in the creative industry. When I was a kid my favourite thing about going to the cinemas wasn’t the movie, it was seeing the ads.
I graduated from RMIT University with a goal of being an account executive, so that I could one day jump across and become a strategic planner. After working in account service for four and a half years at several agencies across Melbourne, I was lucky enough to secure a role in-house at Coles working alongside some of my previous clients.
While I enjoyed my time working in agencies, I feel that I have found my sweet spot in brand marketing as it’s the perfect combination of strategy, problem solving and creativity.
A recent campaign that I worked on for Coles has been the highlight of my career so far. Great Lengths for Quality not only showcases some of the amazing things that our suppliers, growers and farmers do behind the scenes, but is the first brand campaign that we have done in quite some time.
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
I am lucky to work with some incredible people at Coles who inspire me daily to try something new or to push creative boundaries. My manager John Blaskett is the best sounding board one could ask for and I really enjoy working with him to create clear and compelling solutions for customers. I am also very fortunate to work with some very talented, creative people across the network of agencies that we work with.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Creativity. There is nothing greater than working with people who will see an idea roughly sketched on a piece of paper and understand it. We are all imaginative, like-minded, and problem solvers who are spinning lots of plates, while trying to fit a 10-word headline into a small MREC with a side of T&C’s.
And the biggest challenge?
I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given in my career so far and that I get to see my work be broadcast to a national audience. However, there is a big responsibility that comes with that as what we say or do can significantly impact the hearts and minds of our customers. It can be these sorts of decisions that can weigh on my mind after hours, but most of the time I trust my gut and hope that what I have done is right.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’m quite ambitious, so there is a few that I have my sights set on… watch this space!
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I get a lot of inspiration from what is around me. Whether it’s a particular camera shot from a Wes Anderson movie, a TikTok video of a girl reviewing makeup, or a conversation had with a colleague over a morning coffee – inspiration can strike at any moment.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
My grandma and her friend made up the spelling of my name (Kailah, pronounced Kay-la).
In five years' time, I'll be…
Continuing to work on one of Australia’s biggest brands and helping younger people navigate this industry, like so many have done for me.
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