Your Career Journey
Welcome to Your Career Journey, the podcast designed for Marketers and Creatives who are navigating the twists and turns of career development.
Whether you're a seasoned professional navigating a career transition, climbing the corporate ladder, looking to return to work after some time away or just taking your first steps, this show is for you.
Each episode dives into real stories from Marketers and Creatives who’ve made their mark. We’ll cover career challenges, triumphs, and everything in between, offering practical insights and inspiration and giving you valuable takeaways for your journey.
Expect candid conversations with industry experts and thought leaders who've embraced the highs, weathered the lows and emerged with wisdom worth sharing.
Join me and let’s explore the multifaceted landscapes of career development, learning, and growth together.
Your Career Journey
The Journey from Marketer to CEO with Vanessa Lyons
In this episode, I’m joined by Vanessa Lyons, CEO of ThinkNewsBrands, to talk about how she navigated her way from a career in Marketing to becoming a CEO.
Starting her career as a Product Marketer at Phillips was, in hindsight, pivotal, not only because of the highly commercial nature of the role but also because of the broader global roles she was able to take on. What did she learn from roles based in China and New Zealand, and what lessons did she take from an early mistake?
How did working in large corporates and a redundancy help to refine what came next? Why the intentional move to work for smaller businesses, and how did she make the shift to take on broader business management roles outside of the traditional Marketing remit?
What has she learned from this, and what advice does she have for other Marketers who want to do a similar thing?
Vanessa and I also talked about our experiences with cancer and what we’ve both learnt from it, which is a far more entertaining and uplifting conversation than it sounds! How has it changed Vanessa's approach to work/life balance and what it meant for finding meaning and purpose in her work?
Vanessa is a real powerhouse, and it’s clear throughout our conversation how intentional she has been with her decision making and her career journey. There are lots of insights and great career advice in this one!
00:00 Introduction and Career Beginnings
00:27 Early Career at Philips
02:27 International Experience in China
03:55 Marketing Leadership in New Zealand
07:05 Transition to Telstra and Redundancy
08:41 Diverse Industry Experience
12:21 Challenges and Growth in Smaller Businesses
14:52 Reflections on Career and Success
23:03 The Hidden Efforts of Leadership
24:02 Managing Stress and Risk in High-Stakes Roles
25:28 The Importance of Creating Time to Think
26:23 Gaining Perspective Through Personal Challenges
27:48 A Personal Battle with Cancer
33:08 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Work
40:10 Defining Personal Success
41:37 Final Reflections and Advice
If you'd like to connect with Vanessa:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalyons1/
Hi, I'm Emma. A Career Coach helping Marketers and Creatives get greater clarity on their career paths and confidently navigate the steps needed to create change.
If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me via:
Website - https://www.egconsulting.au/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham/
