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.
For our last Young Gun, we spoke to Iris Sydney senior account manager Alex Peel.
This time we chat to SoundCloud senior account manager for brand partnerships Marta Bonzanini.
How long have you been in the industry?
Seven years
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Six months in.
What were you doing before this job and how did you get this gig?
I’ve worked as a client solutions manager at Facebook, where I spent six years in total. I started off back in Europe and then moved to Sydney in 2013. A former colleague now working at SoundCloud London got in touch and asked me if I was interested in opening up their new team in Sydney…and the rest is history (in the making).
Define your job in one word:
Multifaceted
What were your real and cliché expectations of working in the industry?
For some reason, I thought there would be a lot of big egos in the music industry. Kind of a ‘Devil wears Prada’ thing, but the music version.
How does the reality match up?
It doesn’t at all, luckily. So far I’ve only met people who are just really passionate about what they do, and that are enthusiastic to see what form collaboration can take.
How would you describe what the company does and what does your role involve?
SoundCloud is a platform for expression where trends emerge and discovery begins. It’s where music lands before anywhere else, a place that helps artists be discovered by the public.
My role here is to help establish SoundCloud’s presence in the ANZ market and build relationships with media agencies and brands.
See here for: SoundCloud takes aim at Australian market – lets brands in
Best thing about the industry you work in:
Seeing how music develops and grows and how it helps connecting people.
Any major hard learnings in the job so far?
Opening up the first office outside of Europe and the US for a startup means a lot of responsibility. You need to try and be as self sufficient as possible, as sometimes you can’t afford to wait for your team in an other timezone to wake up and come to help.
If you had to switch over to another department, which would it be and why?
Marketing and events. They’re the force behind how the SoundCloud brand is perceived, and organise lots of cool events to engage the community of artists and listeners.
What's exciting you about the industry right now?
Music streaming has just started growing. It’s exciting to see how brands jump on board and use it as a mean to spread their message.
What concerns you about the industry and its future?
I’m still getting my head around a lot of new things, so I can’t really say.
Who's your right hand person/who guides you day to day?
Shaun Alexander, SoundCloud’s commercial director for ANZ. He has extensive experience in the industry and loves his music. I’m excited about working with a manager I can learn a lot from.
And your almighty mentor that you hope to dethrone?
Naomi Shepherd, head of brand at Facebook ANZ. She gave me some of the best advice I was ever given in my career, in a timely and very honest way. I hope to one day become as good as she is at guiding people and helping them become a better version of themselves.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in 2020 and how do you plan on getting there?
I’m looking forward to seeing where SoundCloud takes me.
What is the elephant in the room? The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be.
How employers should get better at retaining and nurturing talent.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I like to look at market disruptors that have found opportunities where no one else was seeing them.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
Hmm….I’m quite good at cross-stitching.
Favourite advert is:
I loved last year’s Airbnb ‘Host with Pride’ video campaign for Mardi Gras.
What’s your personal motto?
Be open. I’ve decided that in 2017 I’m going to say ‘yes’ more often to new things and experiences.
I got into marketing because:
I found myself to be the right person in the right place at the right time.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
Traveling and maybe later on open up a B&B in Italy, my home country.
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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