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.
Lilly Wollmering, Art Director at Dentsu Creative.
Time in current role/time at company:
1 ½ years, Art Director, Dentsu Creative
How long have you been in the industry?
5 years in total: 2 and a half years in media, 3 years as an Art Director.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I started off at RMIT studying the Advertising industry as a whole. Originally, I popped out and began my career in Media, but quickly found myself envious of creatives across the room bouncing ideas off each other. I also wasn’t great with numbers, so had a very early midlife career crisis. Stressful for a 21-year-old. After a year of sitting at my desk with excel spreadsheets in full force, dreaming of being in those brainstorms, it became clear I was in the wrong department.
Speaking to mentors, they told me I needed to find a back way in, which is what happened next. I decided my best bet was to move to a smaller agency, complete Award School and see what happened. Lucky for me, my plan worked out. Finally, I was sitting with the creatives.
That being said, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. COVID came I then got a new job title: VERY Junior, Redundant, Art Director. From there I nervously threw myself into freelance and once again the master plan continued to work. Counting my lucky stars for that one. I now identify as a Very Happy Art Director at a fabulous agency with a great partner.
Who is your right-hand who guides you day to day?
Mentors, mentors, mentors. I’m fortunate enough to have three, Sarah McGreggor at work, Kate Griffths from The Aunties, and Joan Lim from a previous agency. Also my creative partner Leighton Howindt who is an absolute gun.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
There is never a dull moment. I feel like I’m constantly learning so much about so many topics. Whether it’s makeup, social causes or powdered milk, I love how the industry literally pays me to know so much about the world and the people on it. My housemates also reap the rewards, often bombarded with some of the most random facts in the world over dinner.
And the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge I grapple with is life work balance, it gets busy.
Whose job have you set your sight in the future?
Who knows! I am a big believer in going with the flow when things feel right. TBC.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Outside of work I love to paint and draw. It’s something that truly lets me shut off for a second, feel calm and content. I also love a TikTok binge (don’t judge me) and have actually found some of my best insights late night scrolling.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you
I can hyper-extend both my knees.
In five years’ time I’ll be:
Happy, healthy and rich. Hopefully.
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