In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Think HQ senior PR account manager / copywriter Lauren Brown.
Time in current role:
I moved into this role about half way through 2023.
How long have you been in the industry?
I joined Think HQ in 2020 while finishing my degree, and have been here ever since.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
After walking out of a lecture on the PR of an ethically questionable conglomerate, I was in a panic. Scared that I was on a one-way highway to sell my soul, I googled 'non-evil PR agencies Melbourne' and Think HQ popped up. I liked the way it looked!
After interning, I nuzzled my way in as a casual in the localisation/translation team, then PR. After giving AWARD and Copy School a go I moved into a hybrid role. I’m looking to fuse PR and creative to evolve our campaigns to work from an earned perspective.
Who is your right-hand person?
I don’t want to sound disloyal, but I have a different right-hand person for seemingly every project I’m on. I enjoy learning something different from everyone. In my hybrid role, I get to work with almost every team in the agency. Learning each person’s style of presenting, problem solving and ideating is never lost on me.
Probably a bit of a cop-out answer, but I promise it’s true!
What is the best thing about the industry you work in?
It’s the breadth of topics I get to delve into, and the eclectic collection of people I meet.
I never know what random brief will land on my desk ready to be explored. Especially the not-so-sparkly ones. I find those are the ones that have passionate people you get to chat to.
I worked on a project about accessible toilets for close to three years, and I loved it. Tapping into niche toilet experts and the passionate accessibility advocates to find the insights that would get people’s attention was a highlight.
And the biggest challenge?
For me, I think it’s wanting to tell purpose-driven stories versus the forces at play in our modern media and social landscape where the priority is stories and content that click.
No matter how important an issue is, journalists and audiences alike are having so much thrown at them. Especially if it’s not a sparkly topic (e.g. toilets), finding the hook that strikes that balance, engages the audience and honours the issue at hand is such a huge (yet fun) challenge.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I'm hoping to forge my own path over these coming years. In a perfect world, it’s a role where I can continue to hone in on my creative skills and enthusiasm, merging with my PR nose for a good yarn. I’m always open to new experiences and find myself collecting new skill sets on my journey - so ideally a role where I can be wearing a few different hats (or a very colourful, interesting one).
Or become a mad jingle writer and make millions.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I find passionate people infectious. Listening to someone talk so intently about their interests, no matter how far removed they may be from my own, always ignites something for me. It sets me on a path to discover and investigate, finding something new and forms of inspiration.
My favourite advert is:
Can I cheat and choose a campaign?
I loved the work Homie did with Tommy Little a few years ago to raise awareness of youth homelessness. At the time (and to this day) I look to it as an example of bringing together classic news values, creative and social in an innovative and novel way to create cut through at a national level.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I’m constantly yapping, so I’m not sure if there is anything. A new thing I’m learning is piano accordion, so maybe that!
In five years time, I will be:
Hopefully…
- Waking up, coffee in hand, excited for what the day holds
- Leading projects (or a project) that make positive difference
- Thinking of, and producing innovative work combining PR, copy and other craft
- Surrounding myself with people who bring me joy and inspiration
- Playing classic hits on piano accordion for the masses
But I’m open to whatever comes my way.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
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