It’s MediaCom’s Nina Nguyen & The Countdown To The Women In Media Awards!
With barely 48 hours until B&T‘s unmissable Women In Media Awards, there’s no time to lose if you’re after a last minute ticket. And if you know any of our finalists, you should most certainly be in attendance to cheer them to victory! So head here to grab those tickets!
And to help you get in the mood, we’ve had a chit chat with Nina Nguyen, head of MediaCom Beyond Advertising (MBA) Sydney, to discuss a few talking points before the big night. Enjoy Nina’s wisdom right here!
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt throughout your career?
That you need to have integrity in everything you do. We are in the services industry which is heavily focused on client service, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be a ‘yes’ person all the time. I’ve noticed there seems to be difficulty in presenting unfavorable news to clients or that clients may make requests without historically understanding the impact. It’s our job to deliver expertise and I believe that to perform our best, with integrity and representing our business, we need to be transparent with clients.
Drawing on your own experience, what advice would you give to young women starting out in the industry?
I have a few pieces of advice:
- To be curious and ask lots of questions to satisfy that thirst for knowledge.
- Schedule meetings to meet people and network up – you never know where these people will pop up next and how these connections will help you throughout your career.
- Lastly, set big challenges for yourself. Never be afraid to put yourself out there.
What have been some of the biggest challenges for you throughout your career?
One of the biggest challenges that I’ve had is a personal one as a mum. When I came back from maternity leave, I put tremendous pressure on myself to deliver the same output and hours that I did before, and to also to be there for my young family. This didn’t work, and then the guilt sunk in that I wasn’t there nearly enough for my family at home, nor my work family.
Eventually, I overcame this when I changed roles, and one of the first conversations I had with my manager was how we best work together. This is so important, and we discussed how we liked to be communicated to, how often, and ways of working. Work flexibility was discussed and four years on I can say it works fabulously well.
This year’s B&T Women In Media feature focused on women with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. What are your thoughts on diversity in the industry? What do you think could be done to make the industry more inclusive?
I come from a Chinese-Vietnamese background and I can say the industry has come a long way since I started my career back in 2004.
At the time, there were only a handful of Asian people in the industry and I think it comes from being a first generation Aussie. At the time, advertising and media was not something that was known as a profession nor was I exposed to it.
You can read memes now about professions in the Asian community that are deemed as prestigious and it’s not far from the truth – I don’t think I even know the word in Chinese for advertising or media. To this day, I’m sure my grandpa thinks I’m an accountant. I guess I am in a way, as I oversee the commercials for the department.
In all seriousness, the industry could get more involved in orientation days to seed the idea of what it is that we do. I think for an industry that sells our clients’ products for a living, we don’t do as great a job selling what it is we do ourselves.
Lastly, what can we do as an industry to encourage more female participation in leadership roles?
Events like The 3% Conference and Women in Media Awards all shine the spotlight on females in leadership roles, so more of these will inspire future leaders to aspire to get to these positions. Having strong female mentors and coaches can also help provide stories for the next wave of leaders.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau agency Nina Nguyen something rotten Women in Media Awards 2017Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.