1. In your career, what’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given, and why?

"Don’t move from media agency to sales, you’ll lose all of your knowledge." Worst advice ever. Why? Because career transitions don’t erase your skills—they expand them. Moving to sales let me use my media savvy in new ways, understand clients better, and learn sales techniques. Instead of losing knowledge, I gained a broader, richer perspective and a bigger, more interesting network of peers in the industry.

2. What’s your biggest ‘Cappuccino Career C*ck-up’?

My biggest 'Cappuccino Career C*ck-up' was jumping from digital planning to overall comms planning without asking enough questions. It was an internal move, so I thought, "How hard could it be?" Famous last words. I went from being a digital whiz to a planning rookie, scrambling to understand annual plans for a heavy TV spender. Luckily, my junior team and the saintly TV planners held my hand through the chaos.

3. What were your lessons from that?

In the midst of my planning debacle, I realised I’m a digital specialist at heart. It also taught me that learning is fun if you embrace the chaos, laugh at yourself, and keep your sense of humour.

4. What is the importance of making mistakes when paving your career path?

Mistakes are essential for growth. Each one is a unique lesson in resilience, adaptability, and humility. They force you to evaluate your actions, refine your strategies, and improve problem-solving skills.

5. As a leader, what advice would you ABSOLUTELY NOT give anyone now?

Never advise anyone to "avoid taking risks." Risk-taking fuels innovation and progress. Encouraging a cautious, risk-averse mindset can stifle creativity and hinder both individuals and organisations from reaching their full potential. Instead, I advocate for calculated risks— weighing up the perceived ‘risk’ with the possible outcome. Contact that industry leader for mentorship, ask the first question at Q&A, or request that promotion. It’s scary at first, but you’ll get used to it—and life will be way more interesting.