Ahead of our AMG ‘7 Minute Mentor’ speed learning session in Melbourne on May 17, CHE Proximity director of experience Elizabeth Geor reveals how she fell into advertising by mistake after starting out in law.
TCC: Why advertising as a career?
EG: To be honest, it was by mistake. I was looking for something to do that wasn’t law and ended up getting offered a job in advertising. Turns out it’s a very similar set of skills, particularly the logical thinking and ability to distill information to a single argument.
TCC: If you hadn’t pursued this as a career, what else would you have done?
EG: I’d probably be a public lawyer, it’s the only part of my degree that I liked. I always thought lobbying and public policy would be great. I’m secretly obsessed with politics and have a burning desire to work on an election campaign at some point.
TCC: Name three skills or qualities you think you need to stay at the top of your game ?
EG: Curiosity, bravery and humility.
TCC: What’s the best part of your job?
EG: I’m surrounded by some of the smartest people I know.
TCC: What’s the worst part of your job?
EG: As an industry, particularly in media, we haven’t done ourselves any favours in pushing innovation. We’ve been caught in a race to the bottom and are now paying for it.
TCC: What’s your most embarrassing career moment?
EG: Apologising to the client for the four goal posts in a piece of AFL creative. I was a fresh off the boat Kiwi who only knew of a game called Rugby Union and its two goal posts.
TCC: What’s your career high?
EG: It sounds corny but there have been so many. Being part of my first creatively awarded piece of work was a high, but more recently winning our first big media account was incredible.
TCC: What do you look for in a team member?
EG: The right cultural fit. Skills can be taught. Being curious, hungry and a quick learner outweigh any level of existing skills.
TCC: If you could step back in time and offer yourself just one piece of advice as you started your career, what would it be?
EG: 1. The only constant is change. 2. Be braver. 3. Everything is a learning experience.
Liz Geor is one of our ‘7 Minute Mentors’ at our AMG speed mentoring event in Melbourne on May 17.