Arielle Selva is among the 30 prodigies hailed as part of B&T’s 30 Under 30 Awards, presented by Vevo, this year. But her plan to take out one of the sought-after trophies started two years earlier, when she vowed to take one home.
Selva, now the marketing director of Storytellers Australia, started her role at the agency almost three years ago. Walking through the doors she was asked what her career goal was, she simply replied with winning “a 30 Under 30 Award”. Little did she know that two years later she would achieve it, thanks to her inspiring ability to manage her small but growing network and build trust among clients.
In the spirit of finding the next catchment of young leaders, B&T sat down with the trailblazer herself to see what she had been up to and how this prestigious award had catapulted her career.
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B&T: What’s happened in your career since being recognised as part of B&T’s 30 Under 30?
Arielle Selva: It’s been a significant milestone and the highlight of my year. The award really helped me solidify my professional identity within Storytellers Australia and it acted almost like an accelerator, giving me the confidence to really lean into my expertise and take on more challenging, higher-level projects. Beyond professional growth, the biggest, and perhaps most valuable, shift has been in networking. The award itself is a great icebreaker (especially when they see it on LinkedIn), but it also connected me to incredible people, not just within the 30 Under 30, but also across other groups like Women in Media etc. and that network has become a fantastic resource that I actively use to bring new insights and ideas back into our company.
B&T: What are your career ambitions? Has this changed after being recognised this year?
AS: I would say I’m still in the early stages of my journey, but my ambitions are really focused on developing beyond my current individual contributions. I believe in giving back rather than personal gain, which ultimately helps the industry as a whole in the long run. Right now, I’m actively prepping myself to step into a mentorship role, helping to guide newcomers and juniors (even as simple as helping students land a job in the marketing/agency world). The industry is intense, and I want to help ensure they are equipped, prepared, and competitive so they can avoid some of the early pitfalls and accelerate their success. The 30 Under 30 recognition has definitely given me a new sense of responsibility and the credibility to be a more effective leader to the emerging talent.
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B&T: What trends/ opportunities are exciting you in the industry?
AS: I’m excited by how much authenticity matters now. The audience, especially younger generations, can sniff out a highly polished, inauthentic ad from a mile away. The opportunity is in truly integrating with the Creator Economy and recognising that platforms like TikTok and YouTube are now the entertainment and search engines. The need to focus on content that is native, engaging, and genuinely entertaining first, and selling second. This means giving up a bit of that traditional brand control to be truly human, relatable, and part of the conversation.
B&T: Why did you choose to enter this year’s 30 Under 30?
AS: It was actually a goal that was set right at the start of my journey. When I first began this role in 2023, my boss asked me what my career goal was. I told her simply: “A 30 under 30 award”. I didn’t even know how, what, when, where back then! After a while, it became a really clear, challenging target to work towards. It wasn’t just about the title; it was about the standard of excellence and the level of impact required to even be considered. To be able to hit that goal just two years later felt incredibly rewarding. It was a great way to mark a significant milestone in my career and validate the direction I was heading.
B&T: What advice would you give to other emerging leaders in the industry?
AS: My main piece of advice is to truly embrace the fact that we have all the time in the world right now. Especially when you’re just starting out, there’s no need to rush toward perfection or worry about failure. Instead, focus on being active: try things, be brave, and take action. This is the time to learn quickly. That means putting yourself out there and being willing to make mistakes, because that’s where the most valuable learning comes from. Essentially, my advice is: Now is the best time to experiment. Don’t hold back; be proactive, and let your curiosity lead the way.
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