Seamus Fagan
Associate Creative Director at Leo's, Co-Head of AWARD School Online
Seamus is an Associate Creative Director with 16 years in the advertising industry and a Masters in Digital Media. He’s worked across a wide mix of brands including Nintendo, Devondale, Tasmanian Heritage, Twinings, Lexus, BMW, KFC, Coca-Cola and Dan Murphy’s.
When he’s not making ads, he co-runs Award School Online, helping the next wave of creatives break into the industry.
Career & Background
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
I love problem solving, and being a creative means I get to do that on a pretty big scale for a living.
What was your journey and where are you headed in your career right now?
I started out in advertising as a designer in a studio before catching the art director bug. I’ve been art directing for longer than I can count on both hands and have since worked my way up to Associate Creative Director.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- Creative Demons and How to Slay Them by Richard Holman – This book’s name is self explanatory.
- It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden – A book that reminds you that curiosity and ambition is just as good as talent.
- The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St Clair – It’s a deep dive into the strange and surprising stories behind colours, and why they’ve meant so much to people throughout history.
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- Black List Table Reads – A chance to hear some of the most exciting unproduced scripts in Hollywood performed by actors, a great reminder that brilliant ideas don’t always make it to screen.
- Breaking and Entering Advertising – A B.T.S look at how people actually break into advertising, with honest stories from creatives about their careers and the industry.
- The CMO Show – A podcast where leading CMOs unpack how brands are built, offering a valuable look at marketing and creativity from the client perspective.
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Authenticity
- Compassion
- Teamwork
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Honestly (albeit a little tacky), it’s my parents. They came to Australia with nothing in the bank and worked incredibly hard to build a life here, which meant I got the chance to grow up comfortably and choose a career I genuinely get to have fun with.
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
I’m a big believer that knowledge is meant to be shared. I’ve been lucky to learn a lot over the years and mentoring is a great way to pass some of that on. I’m particularly keen to support people from underrepresented backgrounds in the industry, because that’s how we make the our industry better for everyone.
What are the top 3-5 skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Collaborative
- Compassionate
- Empathic
- Great listener
- Open-minded
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.