Isabelle Debnam
Senior Brand Strategist, Director of Marketing & Operations & Podcaster
Hi, I’m Belle. With over a decade of marketing experience spanning both agency and in-house, I thrive at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and leadership. As a Brand Strategist & Storyteller at Rehaula, I help transform everyday businesses into industry-leading brands through strategic brand management. At PEDRA Studio, I am the Director of Marketing & Operations, where we design brand stories that clear the path for action. Beyond strategy and marketing, I’m also a Podcaster, sharing insights and conversations that inspire and connect marketing professionals. Whether it's building brands, leading teams, or creating content that resonates, I bring creativity, energy, and a results-driven mindset to everything I do.
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.
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.
I then went on to become one of the senior leaders in a global marketing team in the EdTech space, responsible for the overall engagement, nurturing, acquisition, and retention for marketing across Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Fast forward to today, I now wear many marketing hats that allow me to flex my strategic muscles and love for storytelling. As a Brand Strategist & Storyteller at Rehaula, I help transform everyday businesses into industry-leading brands through strategic brand management. At PEDRA Studio (a Meanjin-based motion design studio), I take a design-driven approach as the Director of Marketing & Operations, where we design brand stories that clear the path for action.
Beyond strategy and marketing, I’m also a Podcaster (Your Marketing Mates), sharing insights and conversations that inspire and connect marketing professionals alongside my friend and fellow marketer Liz Ballantyne.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- Things Will Calm Down Soon by Zoe Foster Blake
- Dare To Lead by Brené Brown
- Life Is Tough (But So Are You) by Briony Benjamin
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- KICPOD with Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw
- Shameless with Zara McDonald & Michelle Andrews
- 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
- Success
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. My daughter is also a daily source of inspiration and an important reminder for me to be present and enjoy the simple things.
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 long way. I knew that if I was ever presented an opportunity to mentor or support someone, I would pay it forward.
For Liz and I, mentorship and sharing personal experiences was also a core motivator behind starting our podcast.
What are the top 5 skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Asking powerful questions
- Connected
- Empathic
- Knowledgeable
- Non-judgmental
- Willing to be vulnerable
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.