University of Canberra Advertising major, Georgia Holgate landed a role at Leo Burnett after going through the Comms Council Graduate Program in early 2018. She has worked on global airline brand Emirates and pitched ideas to Adobe.
What prompted you to apply to this year’s Grad Program?
I had recently completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising Majoring in Marketing at the University of Canberra and was looking for employment opportunities. The Graduate Program caught my eye as a great way to be introduced to the industry whilst continuing my studies and building on my skills.
Also, in my final year at university I competed in the International Advertising Association’s Big Idea competition where I had the opportunity to present to a panel of industry representatives to pitch an idea for our client, Adobe. This gave me a huge wave of inspiration and motivation to be involved in extra learning opportunities.
How do you feel about the agency you were placed with?
I love Leo Burnett, it’s a great agency to work for. It has definitely been a learning experience coming from a small agency to a global network. The culture has helped me blend into a new working life and if I had to describe Leo Burnett Sydney in 3 words they would be: hard-working, fun and ambitious.
What campaign are you working on right now (or just wrapped up?)
I work across various brands within the Leo Burnett portfolio including Emirates. We recently completed a three-phase campaign called Rare Fares and next up is a super exciting top-secret project set to launch January 2019, so keep your eyes peeled. Working on a global airline brand is incredibly exciting yet definitely means I’ve got constant travel envy.
What do you enjoy about your current role?
My current role within business management allows me to work with all areas of the agency from creative to social to finance and beyond. Working with different people allows me to establish important relationships that will drive me to the next stage of my career. I enjoy the challenge that every day is different and that you never know what is around the corner.
Any advice for new grads?
Create a quality resume, practise your interview skills and apply for lots of different roles. I believe you have to experience as much as possible to figure out what you enjoy and that may change throughout your career. You’ve got to be able to manage yourself. You are in charge of your time, roles and responsibilities so ask questions, negotiate and pursue opportunities that will help you grow.
Another tip, seek out a mentor, someone who will assist you with your career goals and those almighty questions when starting out in the wild world of advertising.
What were some highlights from the program for you?
My favourite part of the program was hearing from industry professionals, listening to their perspectives and seeing great creative work. Also, meeting other graduates and building my networks was a highlight.