Meeting of the Minds brings together two different points of view from an industry rookie and an experienced expert.
The Mediaweek series aims to showcase their diverse perspectives, thoughts and opinions.
This week’s Meeting of the Minds sees Kelly Healy and Phillipa Monti from News Corp Australia reveal their leadership heroes, current streaming binge and career goals for 2023.
Kelly Healy, General Manager Sales QLD, SA and WA, News Corp Australia
Best career advice – Always do your best to keep growing and learning. Lifelong learning allows you to focus on personal development. Don’t forget to diversify your experience across all media channels.
My favourite podcast/read – I love Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It’s such a good read and I’d recommend it. It talks about doing less but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution in whatever you do. Don’t be mistaken though, it isn’t about getting more done in less time but it’s really about getting the right things done.
Current streaming binge – Have you ever thought about the friendship you’ve shared with your friends and how it’s evolved over the years? “And Just Like That” is exactly what it’s all about – navigating the complicated reality of life and friendships; something that we all go through. If you’ve enjoyed Sex and the City, then you should definitely watch this because this is a sequel of the American television drama series.
Leadership hero – Take a guess? It’s none other than Louise Barrett, Managing Director of National Sales, News Corp Australia. Lou’s is an industry veteran and someone that I will always look up to and respect. I’m so grateful for the advice and guidance she has shown me over the many years working together.
I wish someone had told me – Always know your “why”. Because if I had known earlier, maybe I would have found my passion and path in life earlier than i did post-school life!
Guilty content pleasure – Who says Harry Potter movies aren’t for adults like me? I love watching Harry Potter movies with my boys and spending quality time with them. It’s one of the best things mums can do with their kids!
Best training course/session – It has to be News Corp Australia’s Pace Setters! I was part of the program this year – A prestigious reward program which recognises News Corp Australia’s top achievers across advertising sales nationally. What an honour.
Your mentor – My network of female friends who inspire, encourage and ground me. They are the best and I’m forever grateful for having them.
Hot medium or show – Unchained on SBS – a devout Rabbi-detective, whose job it is to free the women whose husbands deny them a divorce and a new life, finds that in his own home lurks a secret that threatens his own world and marriage. It’s so good.
Favourite media event – Definitely News Corp Australia’s Client Christmas Party in Brisbane – aka “Tools Down for the Year”.
Wish I’d done that – start a business like Naked Foods. An Australian-based health & wellness bulk foods franchise for everyday people. #healthylifestyle #eco-friendly
Career goal for 2023 – Build and foster client relationships across the Queensland, South Australian and Western Australia territories I manage, and to further understand how we can continue to help their businesses grow.
Phillipa Monti, Client Service Executive QLD, News Corp Australia
Best career advice – Value relationships especially in this industry and do what you love. But also… make friends with pricing, finance, security and the office manager at News Corp Australia 🙂
My favourite podcast/read – She’s on the Money (podcast and book) by Victoria Devine. I listened to the podcast and read the book simultaneously whilst travelling Western Australia and driving back to Victoria. Ironically at a time where I pretty much didn’t have a cent to my name, it inspired me to get smart with my money and taught me some great lessons about financial independence.
Can I choose another podcast (please?)… I love the Imperfects, in a world where we are constantly reminded of the way others live, what they might have that we don’t and are blinded by the highlight reel we see online, the Imperfects allows us to really get to know those people we might aspire to be like and learn more about what makes them human. It’s one I think everyone should give a go.
Current streaming binge – I just finished Painkiller. It’s a Netflix series about the OxyContin epidemic in the United States. This was eye opening, to hear the story behind the creators and mastermind of this highly addictive and deadly pill and the real families that were destroyed by it. So confronting.
Leadership hero – My parents – they are caring, nurturing, generous and hardworking. Looking back as an adult I can appreciate the hard times they went through throughout different stages of our life, in amongst it all they raised three kids who have grown up to have our own lives. We are very close and it makes me incredibly happy to see them having a full circle moment, creating a fulfilling life for the two of them again, with one or all of us never far away of course.
I wish someone had told me – Don’t wish time away, because the older you get the faster it goes. Not too long ago I would have dreamt about getting to this point in my life. It’s important to enjoy every moment, because one day these will be the ‘good old days’ we look back on.
Guilty content pleasure – Watching short snippets of reality shows like Below Deck on Facebook and Instagram… because I don’t have the time to commit to the full series, but I feel invested by the amount I do watch just in individual scenes!
Best training course/session – I’d have to say the MFA NGEN program. Being new to the industry can be overwhelming, but the regular sessions have been great to understand more about media outside of what I do day-to-day, as well as the opportunity to network with other like members from the industry.
Your mentor – My Dad, I look up to him and admire his achievements and experiences. He is who I call on the way to work before a meeting or on the way home from work to talk about something that might have come up that day. He always gives the perfect advice and gives me confidence and reassurance as a newbie to the media world.
Hot medium or show – Instagram reels, there is so much funny content out there for a laugh at the end of the day. There’s also a lot to learn, I have almost started my own affiliate marketing side hustle a number of times now lol.
Favourite media event – News Corp Australia’s Newscast “Behind the Mic” audio event last month. An intimate event hosted in Brisbane with a panel of talent from NewsCasts library of amazing podcasts. I loved listening to what the ladies had to say about their different experiences in podcasting and storytelling. It was an engaging conversation with plenty of laughs.
Wish I’d done that – Started in the media earlier. I spent a lot of time not knowing what I wanted to do, but I wish I had jumped into a role like I am in now earlier as I think deep down I knew I might have ended up here but didn’t have the confidence to jump into something so foreign and new.Also, I wish I had have turned around at the WA border that time, bought a Troopy ( that’s a Land Cruiser ) and travelled Australia for another 6 months 🙂
Career goal for 2023 – To look back on my first year in media and be proud of what I’ve achieved and will continue to achieve into next year and beyond.
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Top image: Kelly Healy and Phillipa Monti