B&T’s 30 Under 30 Awards, presented by Vevo, celebrate the emerging talent making their mark across Australia’s media, marketing and advertising industries. With the 2027 awards on the horizon, we’re continuing to turn the spotlight back on the standout individuals from the 2026 cohort.
Last week, B&T spoke with Howatson+Company’s Gabriella Dudman, one of the 2026 Creative category winners. In the latest instalment of our series, we catch up with Mindshare’s Leah Moriarty, winner of the highly coveted People’s Choice Award, to discuss the importance of stepping outside her comfort zone, her ambitions for the future and why human connection remains at the heart of the industry.
Moriarty remains a standout performer in Mindshare’s Melbourne office, consistently delivering impressive results for major clients, including leading a NAB campaign that collected three Effie Awards and managing the bank’s AFL partnership.
Her contributions have earned her multiple internal accolades, including Mindshare Employee of the Year and Employee of the Quarter honours. Beyond client work, she spearheaded Mindshare Melbourne’s Impact Culture Day, raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Now overseeing Domain’s media investment alongside her continued work with NAB, Moriarty is also a passionate advocate for neurodiversity inclusion, championing workplaces where different perspectives and strengths are recognised and valued.
Missed The 2026 Winners? Catch Up On All The Talent That Took Home A Trophy.
B&T: After winning a 30 Under 30 Award where do you see yourself in 3, 13 and 30 years’ time?
Leah Moriarty: In 3 years’ time, I see myself stepping into a group or head of role, continuing to grow as a leader and taking on greater responsibility across both clients and teams. Melbourne will remain an important base as I build on the career and relationships I’ve established here.
In 13 years’ time, I want to have built experience across a much broader range of clients, challenges and markets, and to be contributing to a senior leadership role. I could see myself in a more investment-led position, or potentially as a managing partner or director. I’d also welcome the opportunity to live somewhere beyond Melbourne, potentially Sydney, while staying open to where life and work take me.
In 30 years’ time, I see myself in an executive role whether that’s a CIO, CMO or CEO role, bringing the experience and perspective to make a meaningful impact on the industry and the people within it.
I know what will remain constant is my commitment to learning, challenging myself and taking on opportunities that push me outside of my comfort zone, wherever that takes me.
B&T: Why did you choose to enter the Awards?
LM: I was fortunate to be put forward by leaders at Mindshare. Their belief in me was a reminder that I should back myself too.
At the beginning of the year, I set myself a personal goal to push outside of my comfort zone. I’m a firm believer that you don’t grow when you stay comfortable. Entering B&T’s 30 under 30 was one of the ways I challenged myself to do exactly that. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on how far I’ve come and recognise the work I’ve contributed to – and think about the future of the industry.
The experience was made even more meaningful as the encouragement extended well beyond my leaders. I was lucky enough to have had so many people I work with, people across the industry and people in my personal life encourage, support and believe in me throughout the process.
For anyone considering entering, take this as your sign to put yourself forward. You never know where a little self-belief and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone might take you.
B&T: What would you do differently if you were to enter the Awards again?
LM: I think I would spend more time focusing on how much I’ve achieved, and importantly, how I achieved it.
There can be hesitation around awards because you don’t want to come across as self-righteous or as though you’re putting yourself above others. There is a meaningful difference between being self-righteous and being proud of something you’ve genuinely worked hard to achieve.
I’d be more comfortable owning my achievements and taking the time to reflect on the work, challenges and people that helped me get there. Ultimately, you’ve put in the hard work, you’ve earned the opportunity to be recognised, and you should give yourself permission to be proud of that.
I think the awards are just as much about recognising the journey and the growth behind the achievement as they are about the achievement itself, and I’d embrace that more if I had the opportunity to do it again.
B&T: What’s one issue the industry should be spending more time on and why?
LM: The industry should be spending more time on building deeper, more meaningful relationships beyond surface-level networking, particularly as AI and automation become increasingly embedded in the way we work.
Our industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, so it’s easy to get caught up in the noise of ticking off the next task, chasing a promotion, winning the next pitch or striving for the next award. AI and automation will undoubtedly continue to transform the way we work and evolve our industry at speed, but we shouldn’t lose sight of what our industry is built on – human connection and genuine relationships.
We need to be more intentional about making time for meaningful conversations, building stronger networks and learning from one another. At every stage of our careers, there is value in staying connected, sharing ideas, recognising the high standard of work we deliver together and creating opportunities for people to learn from each other.
Technology can make us more efficient, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of connection. Sometimes, it’s as simple as picking up the phone instead of sending an email, having a meeting in person rather than Teams, or taking the time to have a conversation that isn’t directly tied to a task or an outcome.
Ultimately, strong human relationships are what create trust, collaboration and opportunity. Investing in those connections will help us deliver greater impact for clients, open better pathways for people across the industry and build a more connected industry for the future.
Could you be next? Entries for B&T’s 2027 30 Under 30 Awards, presented by Vevo are open NOW!
