Hannah Sturrock
National Head of Engagement, ACA
A bigger canvas - working almost as a pseudo 'management consultant' to the advertising industry - allows me to zoom out from the day-to-day and work on long-term industry sustainability. Helping to author legacy initiatives like Create Space while building my own profile and brand gives me autonomy and purpose, while also allowing me to support and connect people across the industry.
Having worked with disruptive and challenger brands, startups and social enterprises, I can offer genuine insight, direction and inspiration by asking better questions, re-framing propositions, synthesising diverse perspectives, and translating vision and ambition into stories that empower and connect, internally and externally.
Career & Background
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?
I have had a very colourful career – working in London and Sydney in production, traffic, operations, client and agency management and strategy, for companies like BMF, The Hallway, Karmarama and Wallpaper* magazine.
With 20 years in the industry, I’ve experienced most things – fun, fame, friendship, redundancy, promotion, self-promotion, crazy growth, tough decisions, finding my tribe and finding my voice.
In 2018 I won a scholarship for the Marketing Academy leadership program and was named one of AdNews 30 Emerging Leaders and Campaign Asia’s Account Management Person of the Year (I wasn’t really an ‘account management person’!). I learned about identifying and working to my strengths, being aware of limiting beliefs, the power of asking great questions, and the benefits of coaching and mentoring to my confidence.
All of this has led me to advocate for people who don’t “stick to their lane” and who are ambitious but are plagued by doubt or held back by outdated definitions or labels. At Advertising Council Australia, I launched the Create Space brand and program to drive positive change for a more inclusive industry – an ongoing mission.
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Growth
- Reliability
- Wisdom
I have three core values that help me to judge situations and make decisions.
Connection
Commitment
and
Challenge.
Connection – for me is to be present, listen profoundly, seek insight, and reflect deeply.
Commitment – means to take responsibility and make promises consciously and with intention. Then be assiduous in following through.
Challenge – wrestle with the concept of change, conquer mental quicksand, and ask better questions of yourself and others.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
I don’t have a single pin-up on my bedroom wall – I admire and am inspired by all the curious, opinionated, independent women working and leading in our creative industry, many of whom I get to work with in my role at Advertising Council Australia. They are proving how impactful we are as leaders, talent magnets, strategic business thinkers and creative innovators. I love seeing them all rise to the top.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- Drive – Daniel Pink
- Do Better Work – Max Yoder
- StrengthsFinder 2.0 – Don Clifton
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- Adam Grant – Work Life
- Mary Portas – Beautiful Misfits
- On Strategy Showcase
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
One of my top strengths is Individualisation – a keen observer of how people are, how they think, what motivates them, I help people unpack problems and take advantage of opportunities. I make meaning by offering considered insight, direction and inspiration to the people I mentor, by asking questions, re-framing challenges, distilling observations into hypotheses, and translating vision and ambition into stories that empower and hopefully unlock growth.
What are the top skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Asking powerful questions
- Connected
- Generous with time
- Knowledgeable
- Looking for potential
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.