This week’s Meeting of the Minds sees Serena Vanstone and Danny Molyneux from independent agency Claxon reveal their leadership heroes, current streaming binge, and career goals.
The Mediaweek series showcases diverse perspectives, thoughts and opinions by bringing together two different points of view from an industry rookie and an experienced expert.
Serena Vanstone, junior digital strategist – Claxon
Favourite podcast/read – I’m not much of a podcast person, but I love to read – my current obsession is ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ by Trent Dalton.
Current streaming binge – I’m watching Parks and Recreation at the moment – an old favourite.
Guilty pleasure content – I’m a secret Love Island UK fan!
What do you have on repeat – Any Indie Mix on Spotify.
Best career advice – Just start! If you fail, you learn, and if you don’t, you’re exactly where you want to be. Don’t let the anxiety or fear of failing hold you back from your goals.
Leadership hero – My dad is definitely my leadership hero! He’s the Dean of the Bangor University Business School in Wales, he’s also a Professor of Actuarial Science, and is by far the smartest and nicest person I know. Even though he’s so busy, he always has time for everyone and has always believed in me.
Best training course/session – I’ve found the 42 courses platform to be particularly engaging. I really appreciate the practical examples and videos – it makes training much more fun.
I wish someone had told me – Stressing about things doesn’t impact the outcome, but taking action does!
Favourite place to network – Unfortunately there aren’t many media events here on the Gold Coast, but I am looking forward to the next IMAA event, I always enjoy those!
Something that’s surprised you about the industry – There’s so much change and innovation happening all the time. New platforms, technologies and optimisations are constantly evolving to help us achieve the best results.
What is your hot take on the industry – After working with Claxon and seeing all of their amazing uses of AI this year – I firmly believe agencies that refuse to adopt AI will get left behind!
Career goal for 2024 – Being new to digital media, my career goal for the year was to learn as many digital platforms as possible – I’m up to 4 so far!
Danny Molyneux, general manager – Claxon
Favourite podcast/read – I rotate between a few podcasts Diary of a CEO, modern wisdom and huberman lab
Current streaming binge – Monsters – Netflix. Just finished the Menendez brothers
Guilty pleasure content – Youtube – specifically fitness related content. I spent 2 hours last week watching reviews of running shoes before I decided on a pair. Spoiler alert if you’re interested they didn’t make me run faster
What do you have on repeat – Spotify with a complete mix of genres house, hip hop, rock, trance… I love all music, you name it, I will listen to it.
Best career advice –The best career advice I’ve received didn’t come from any one person, but from multiple leaders along my journey. Each mentor, boss, and colleague has contributed valuable lessons, shaping my growth. Combined wisdom has been instrumental in helping me navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and continuously develop both professionally and personally. I’ve relied on experienced individuals who have walked the path and gained the knowledge. The best advice I got early on was find yourself a mentor and seek out people who are willing to share their knowledge. Chances are they’ve made the mistakes and finding the right mentor means you don’t have too.
Leadership hero – I don’t really have a leadership hero. However, I do resonate and agree with a lot of Simon Sinek’s principles and thinking.
Best training course/session – A recent RMIT digital leadership course I completed was fantastic. Great cohort and awesome content.
I wish someone had told me – To invest in bitcoin years ago!!!
Favourite place to network – Weirdly the gym. I have met lots of interesting people there, friends for life and people I have gone on to work with.
Something that surprised you about the industry – Everybody knows everybody and at times it has a very high school clique feel to it. Don’t get me wrong I have made some fantastic friends and great colleagues over the years but there’s still an element of segregation (who you know). Also, for an innovative tech first industry things tend to move slowly which really surprised me (let’s not talk cookies again).
What is your hot take on the industry – In an era where consumers are bombarded with messages, the advertising industry faces a crucial dilemma: to choose authenticity or automation. As technology advances, many brands are leaning heavily on data-driven strategies and AI to optimize campaigns, resulting in generic content that often lacks a human touch.
While automation can enhance efficiency and targeting, I believe it risks alienating consumers who crave genuine connections and relatable storytelling. Brands that prioritise authenticity, embracing transparency and human-centric narratives, will stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace in my opinion. In a world yearning for realness, the future of advertising lies not just in algorithms, but in understanding and engaging with the human experience.
Career goal for 2024 – Continue on the growth trajectory and agency success we had in H1. Expanding the team further with more A players and dominating more international markets.
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Past editions of Meeting of the Minds.
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Top image: Serena Vanstone and Danny Molyneux