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.
Kimi Teoh, digital manager at Ryvalmedia
Time in current role/time at the company:
Five months.
How long have you been in the industry?
Four years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I graduated from QUT with a major in fashion communications and started my career as a content creator/social media manager. I swiftly realised that while content is king, distribution was just as critical in the ever-so-cluttered pay-to-play space of social media. Merging my intrigue with consumer behaviour and dedication to granting deserving creatives the attention they need to achieve results – here I am!
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
I have tremendous respect for the entire team with each of them possessing a wealth of expertise and insight within the media industry. My dynamic duo would be fellow colleague, Justin George, where our collaboration is fuelled by mutual respect, trust, and a shared vision for delivering clients exceptional results.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
One of the most exhilarating aspects of our industry is how it keeps us on our toes to embrace innovation at every turn to stay ahead of the curve. It's a realm that demands constant growth, fosters creativity, and offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on brands, businesses, and ultimately – the hearts and minds of consumers.
And the biggest challenge?
With the decline in household consumption and increasingly unpredictable consumer behaviour, brands face the challenge of balancing budgets while maintaining market impact. It’s imperative to navigate this shifting landscape with data-driven insights, innovative approaches and a dose of optimism to demonstrate how smart advertising remains a powerful catalyst for success.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’m driven to master the art of building brands and developing media strategies that harness the power of data to gain insights into the psychology and behavioural economics of consumers. From there, my focus lies in amplifying a brand's message and storytelling to forge lasting and meaningful connections with audiences.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Quoting the famous Pablo Picasso, “good artists copy, great artists steal”. Similar to the world of art, nothing in advertising is completely new. I find inspiration in studying the work of our competitors and industry peers to identify successful strategies to adapt. Sometimes, there is no need to reinvent the wheel but to instead build upon what has already proven to be immensely successful.
My favourite advert is (and why):
The HP "Escape Therapy" campaign - as an avid-apple loyalist myself, I must admit that this video series managed to sway my consideration towards “escaping the Mac ecosystem”.
This bold move by HP was executed with such sophistication to spark interest, resonate with the target audience and drive behavioural change. Plus, the strategic use of the original voice of Siri (Susan Bennett) and having the campaign coincide with the Apple MacBook Pro release – stoke of genius!
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
Back in 2020, I started an online drop-shipping e-commerce store to upskill myself in digital marketing. And now I’ve recently taken up pottery – the goal is a new dinner party set and maybe a fruit bowl for the office.
In five years' time I'll be:
Further refining my expertise while intertwining my professional pursuits with my love for travel. Whether adopting a digital nomadic lifestyle, working abroad or engaging with international clientele – I aspire to immerse myself in diverse cultures and markets to unlock a deeper understanding of global nuances while delivering exceptional results.
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