Fast Five with Jenn
Q1. You’re starting a small business in an economic downturn… are you crazy?
Crazy like a fox! To be honest, I actually think the customer problem we’re here to solve has been exacerbated by the current economic climate. We had already observed CMOs stretched to their absolute limit in terms of their time and capacity, unable to dedicate the required time to working ‘on their business’ because they were run off their feet dealing with the day-to-day. And CEOs unable to hire/afford experienced senior marketing leaders, in a tight labour market experiencing wage inflation. And now everyone’s having to face into reduced budgets, and leaner staffing- and trying to figure out how to nail their business KPIs regardless.
This is where an external, experienced perspective can be invaluable- often as a business leader or CMO you’re too close to the problem, and really invested in the strategy and investments you’ve made to date. We can help you zoom out and figure it out, because we’ve run that particular gauntlet ourselves in the past (and survived to tell the tale!).
Q2. In terms of your choice of co-founder… Jenn, why Laura?
Well, we’ve known each other forever, so it’s been a long ‘test drive’ before this point! We grew up together in NAB Marketing, though never in the exact same functional area. To be honest, I’ve always been a little bit in awe of Lau- she’s so composed and precise with her words- always knows the right thing to say in any situation. And I’m a bit more boisterous and hand-wavy in conversation! Laura’s also phenomenal in the way she can go from 30,000 feet, right down into operational detail, she’s all ease and grace on the surface of the pond, but the legs are paddling hard underneath to get shit done. I’ve also seen her lead through some super challenging situations, so I know she’s got the grit and tenacity required from a business partner of a start up! She’s also the calmest, most patient person I think I’ve ever met- which balances out my ‘let’s get it done YESTERDAY’ tendencies!
Q3. Where do you do your best thinking?
The swimming pool. I find swimming laps really meditative, and as someone who needs time for processing and deep thought in order to function, it’s my happy place. I can take in loads of information during the day, but I need time alone to sort and categorise it and connect all the dots. And then it’s like, ‘BANG!’- I’ve got the answer. I find that I take a mental swirl of data into the pool with me, and come out with clarity by the time I’ve finished that last 50m.
Q4. What drives you nuts?
Waste. In every sense. I’m that woman making stock out of last night’s roast chicken and the wilted vegies in the fridge, LOL! I often say efficiency is my favourite ‘eff word’. When I can see time, effort or resources are being unnecessarily spent for little or no return… it raises my hackles! This might sound a bit sad, but I used to get a real charge out of being tasked with a budget reduction as a CMO. It forces you to take a good hard look at what really matters right now, and get creative about how you drive the same (or greater) impact by making more of what you’ve got. It’s a good juicy problem to solve.
Q5. How would your family describe you?
They’d probably complain that I never sit still. I can’t walk from one end of the house to the other without simultaneously doing fifteen other jobs on the way through, because I can’t bear having to retrace my steps. And probably a bit impatient. And determined. I’m probably more in the tough love camp in parenting my two girls (7 and 10)- they have agency in their choices, but also need to be prepared to live with the consequences! And my husband Ian would definitely say I’m loud- we technically share an office at home, but he often prefers to work from the dining table if I’m in meetings! But hopefully they’d also say I have a good sense of humour, and give a world-class cuddle.
