Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Sasha Mackie took home the Marketing trophy at B&T’s Women in Media Awards, presented by Are Media, after leading the spectacular launch of HBO Max in Australia.
Now, with entries open for this year’s awards, Mackie has reflected on the emotional moment her name was called and admitted the experience was so overwhelming she had to leave the event early.
“This award was something I’d always admired and something I’d always wanted to win,” she said. “I was extremely nervous,” Mackie told B&T. “I had a table there and I just hoped I would make them proud. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“I had entered before, so when my name was called out I was just so excited. I think I ran and jumped up.”
“I was very proud,” she said.
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
The launch of HBO Max in Australia had already become a defining career moment for Mackie. Under her leadership, the platform became the fastest-growing streaming service launch in the country, exceeding expectations by more than 350 per cent and later becoming a blueprint for launches in the UK, Germany and Italy.
And New Zealand is next, with HBO Max launching in the region on 16 June.
Mackie said what struck her most about the evening wasn’t the trophy itself, but the reaction from the women in the room.
“The women in the room shouted the loudest,” she recalled.
“It really felt like a room full of women supporting women. Everyone was so happy for me.”
“People were standing up. I could hear people screaming. It was overwhelming, actually. So overwhelming that I didn’t even stay that late. I just wanted to go home afterwards and process it all.”
For Mackie, the emotion of the night came from feeling recognised not just as an executive, but as someone supported by a wider network of women throughout her career.
“The flowers, the phone calls, the texts… it was women wanting to lift other women up,” she told B&T.
“We all work really hard. We’ve all given a lot up. I just felt really supported.”
That support system, she explained, has become essential to navigating the pressures of leadership in media and entertainment.
“We can’t get by without it,” she said.
“You need someone to give you straight advice. You need someone to bring you up when your confidence is taking a moment, and you need someone to push your name when you’re not in the room.”
Mackie became emotional during her acceptance speech while thanking her colleagues, mentors and close friends.
“That’s when my voice went wobbly,” she admitted. “Because it’s not something you do alone.”
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
Before joining WBD, Mackie held roles across News Corp, Foxtel, Seven Network and Network 10, building a career spanning more than two decades in entertainment marketing.
“I’ve worked for some incredible managers who trusted me, supported me and let me run with things,” she said. “I’ve also been lucky enough to work in entertainment. We get to entertain people in their downtime, and that’s such a privilege.”
Beyond the HBO Max launch, Mackie also chairs Women of Warner Bros. Discovery, a network supporting more than 300 women across Australia and New Zealand.
The initiative creates opportunities for mentoring, networking and conversations around equity, confidence and career progression.
“Equity is still not there,” she said. “Whether it’s the pay gap or pathways to promotion, we still need these conversations.”
“But it’s also about creating safe spaces and supporting each other.”
Nearly a year on from the awards, Mackie said winning has changed the way she approaches opportunities professionally.
“It’s definitely given me more confidence,” she admitted to B&T.
“It’s opened doors for panels and speaking opportunities, and I’ve pushed myself to do things that frightened me.”
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
Since her award win, Mackie has appeared on panels at South by Southwest and is preparing to serve as jury president for the marketing awards at Cannes.
Still, she admitted confidence remains something she actively works on.
“I think we all still have moments of low confidence,” she said. “But you just have to keep going and make the brave decision.”
In fact, “brave” has even become Mackie’s personal word for 2026.
“Every decision has to be a brave one,” she explained. “If you fail or succeed, at least you made the brave decision.”
When asked what her big message was to other women considering entering this year’s awards, she said: “Stop waiting to be chosen. Just enter.”
