Deborah Woodford
Head of Marketing, Great Southern Bank
Deborah is a senior marketing leader with experience across agency and client-side roles in the UK and Australia, including TBWA, M&C Saatchi, Proximity and Optus. Her background spans automotive, telecommunications and financial services, working with brands such as Toyota and Volkswagen before moving into banking, where she played a key role in transforming CUA into Great Southern Bank. She is known for a practical, customer-led approach to brand and marketing, with a focus on using data and insight to improve acquisition and engagement outcomes, while building teams that can execute with clarity and pace. As a mentor, Deborah values different perspectives and the role they play in shaping better thinking. She aims to support early and mid-career marketers to build confidence in their judgement, navigate complexity, and develop a clear point of view in their work and career goals.
Career & Background
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
I want to help the young and ambitious accelerate their career.
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background and where you are headed in your career right now?
My early career was in advertising agencies in London and Sydney – think TBWA, Proximity, M&C Saatchi. First client-side role was Optus in Sydney, then moved up to Queensland and helped transform CUA into Great Southern Bank.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- Feel the Fear
- Do it Anyway
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- Mi3
- Uncensored CMO – Jon Evans
- Mamamia
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Family
- Kindness
- Optimism
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of fantastic mentors in my career and I’d love to be able to pay it forward. I’ve learnt a little along the way, made a few mistakes and would love to help guide someone along their way.
What are the top skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Direct
- Great listener
- Knowledgeable
- Non-judgemental
- Open
- Willing to be vulnerable
Ready to be a part of Assisterhood as a Mentee?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.