Isabelle Debnam
Head of Marketing (AU, NZ & US) at Tes
I can vividly remember back to high school when I was weighing up my career path options and Uni degrees…I knew that if I could combine my love for the written word, problem-solving and being surrounded by creative people, this would be the path for me. Luckily, marketing ticked all of these boxes.
Career & Background
What was your journey and where are you headed in your career right now?
I studied a Double Business Degree in Marketing and Tourism Management – this gave me the option to pursue a marketing path, or my dream of travelling the world for work (does anyone remember the show Getaway? #Goals).
I managed to secure an internship at Gold Coast Tourism during my final years of study, which was a wonderful combination of both degrees, and I was convinced that I was going to continue down the path of Destination Marketing. But life doesn’t always go as planned! I went on to work 8 years at an agency after originally being hired on a 2-week contract. After being exposed to a range of marketing channels, cross-discipline projects, client industries and various leadership roles, I decided it was time for me to experience new things.
Fast forward to today, where I am one of the senior leaders in a global marketing team, responsible for the overall engagement, nurturing, acquisition, and retention for marketing across Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- This Is Marketing – Seth Godin
- Dare To Lead – Brené Brown
- Life Is Tough (But So Are You) – Briony Benjamin
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- KICPOD with Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw
- After Work Drinks with Isabelle Truman & Grace O’Neill
- Your Marketing Mates (shameless plug – this podcast is by me and Liz Ballantyne)
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Authenticity
- Making a difference
- Trust
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Ohh great question! There’s no way that I can choose just one. Personally, my close circle of friends and family inspire me every day – whether that’s frequent reminders of kindness, resilience and creativity. Professionally, my biggest inspirations have often been women in leadership positions (and my fellow “work wives”) who aren’t afraid to shake up the status quo and be their true authentic selves.
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
Mentorship has always been something very close to my heart. I have experienced first-hand the powerful, long-lasting impact that a mentor can give you, at all stages of your life and career. Having someone to give you a fresh perspective and an unbiased ear goes a really long way. I knew that if I was ever presented with the opportunity to mentor or support someone, I would pay it forward.
For Liz and I, mentorship and sharing personal experiences were also core motivators behind starting our podcast.
What are the top 5 skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Connected
- Empathic
- Great listener
- Non-judgemental
- Passionate
Ready to be a part of Assisterhood as a Mentee?
We are now up and running in QLD, VIC & NSW – and we’re only just getting started! Let’s shoot for the stars – together!