Anna Lockwood Telstra Broadcast Services VP international
What was your first media industry job?
ALMOST EVERYTHING IN A MEDIA CAREER WILL BE A STEPPING STONE TO SOMETHING ELSE
I started my career as a freshman at Brown University, in 1985! I worked in the media services team on campus. My first job after graduating college was with Interlock Media Associates, working on an environmental documentary series in Costa Rica as an assistant producer. How many different job titles have you had in the industry? Many! To name a few: editor, filmmaker, producer, trainer, media consultant, pre-sales manager, sales manager, vice president, board member, board advisor, non-executive director and mentor. Did your education prepare you for the work? I studied journalism and filmmaking, but have learnt on every job. There are so many pathways to the media industry: formal education is one, apprenticeships and on-the-job training are others. Hard work and grit are also important! What was the worst day at work you ever had? Any day when people lose their jobs is tough. We work in such a tight-knit
If you could fix one thing about the way people work, what would it be? I love the greater focus we now have on sustainability and environmental responsibility. Hopefully this will continue to accelerate, and it’s an area TBS and I are very committed to. What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in the media industry? It’s wonderful for a lifelong career! I’ve had fun and been challenged for over 30 years now, and am constantly learning. Jump in, work hard, give back when you can, and play the long game. Almost everything you do in a media career will be a stepping stone to something else – the next gig, role, project, opportunity. And don’t forget to have fun along the way!
industry that impacts from downsizing, reorganisations, transformations and cancelled projects are personal and challenging. Luckily, I am more often hiring people and growing teams, which is what I like best. The best? One that allows me to attend live sports! I’ve been so lucky to have been able to combine work with my love of sports. What has been the biggest change in the media industry between when you first started and now? Embracing the need for diversity and inclusion, to make our industry as representative of audiences and the world as it can be. This is the biggest change I’ve seen, and it’s really great to be working in a much more diverse field than when I started out.
Jodi Clifford Farmerswife Managing director, North America
What was your first media industry job? I started as assistant scheduler for post-production at Starz Entertainment in 1996. How many different job titles have you had in the industry? Ten. Did your education prepare you for the work? I studied film and TV at the University of Wisconsin in the US, and had a love for the creative, but knew my skill set was on the business operations side. My education gave me a good framework for getting started, but I’ve learnt almost everything on the job. What was the worst day at work you ever had? Having to let people go – that is never an easy thing to do.
The best? I have a lot, but the best come from ongoing success, knowing I’ve done a good job for company and customer. What has been the biggest change in the media industry between when you first started and now? Technology – not just the creative process, but the tools. If you could fix one thing about the way people work, what would it be? As someone who loves efficiency, day-to-day operations can be overlooked. Those who do it well stay in business, and get to do all the creative work they love. What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in the media industry? Just get started. Anywhere. Find your skill set and take on as much responsibility as you can.
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