Maddie Marovino
Director of Client Experience, Hello
I'm Canadian-born but living here for the past six years. I moved here to turn my life on its head and see what it would be like to start from scratch, albeit somewhere much warmer. Sometimes I think I live a life of many contradictions - maybe it's an insatiable appetite to do and try everything. I love travel (boring, don't we all), but I mean the gritty kind where you find yourself on the side of a mountain not having showered for 5-days thinking "wtf am I doing with my life?". I try to be outside as much as possible - it keeps me sane. Dips in the ocean, walks, hikes. That said, I love my creature comforts and the vibrancy of living in a city: gigs, galleries, and so on. A Friday doesn't feel like Friday if I'm not at a new restaurant with a glass of wine in hand.
Career & Background
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?
I’m a marketer with a passion for building a fanbase for brands through creativity and community. I’ve been in the industry for 15 years – either working in marketing roles at tech startups or in agency land. The two have a lot in common – fast pace, many hats, work hard and play hard. I started off in the social space as a community manager, then social strategist into an integrated role at a Global agency where I spent four years working across creative, social, media and influencer on everything from pets, pharmaceuticals and grapefruit (yes, grapefruit) to brands like McDonald’s and Harley Davidson.
Today, I’m the Director of Client Experience and 3IC at Hello, an integrated agency where we design brand experiences for the digital era. I sit on the Executive Leadership Team as the only woman (for now) and also have led the Uber/Eats account for the last 5 years. My goal to become is the GM of the business where I can have a greater sphere of influence on client partnerships and the next generation of marketers in our industry,
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
My dad – a graphic designer and brand strategist. When I was very little we used to spend our weekends flipping through graphic design books. Pre-internet, imagine that. I’ve always had to balance my love of two worlds – the creative and the analytical. If you were to ask my younger self ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’, she would respond “an artist”. Somewhere along the way, I became fascinated with sociology and psychology – why do people make the decisions they do? What influences them? How do you measure it? Advertising was this convergence of both these things that I loved, and it always just felt like exactly where I wanted to be (even in my worst moments).
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Fun
- Integrity
- Leadership
- Success
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Honestly, any woman in the industry who’s lasted in it.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- Work Life by Adam Grant
- Women at Work by HBR
- On Strategy
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- Adam Grant – Organisational Psychologist, Author and Podcaster
- Diary of a CEO – Steven Bartlett (also a podcast)
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
I wish so badly Assisterhood was around when I was coming up in the industry. It’s tough out there, especially for young women. Having a strong network of people around you at all stages of life is so important.
I’m passionate about championing women in our industry and in addition to spearheading DEI initiatives in the business, I introduced the Women’s Accelerator Grant at Hello, which awards a grant to a woman in the business to help pursue a passion. I moved away from my family and friends, and have that perspective to share. I hope to meet new people (mentees and mentors) and contribute positively to our industry.
What are the top skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Confident
- Great listener
- Looking for potential
- Open
- Supportive
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.