Hi B/BC/Boss! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself - your personal journey and career background?
It’s a pretty wild story actually.
I was just finishing my at Hogwarts (AKA ICMS, Manly), scrolling through a job site and I saw an opportunity for a job with Universal Music. The role would be a festival reporter/content producer, travelling the world and covering some of the world's best festivals.
So, I applied; along with 5000 others.
It turned out that it was a competition to WIN the job, and to win, you had to create a blog, interview bands, develop content, photos and win the attention of six judges.
Those six judges picked six finalists who were invited to interview a band; then it was a public vote.
Wild - I won.
So I spent 2010 travelling the world, going to music festivals and capturing content. It was beyond incredible and a completely life-changing experience. To this day, it’s still one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. In this role, I cut my teeth writing, and developing content and I fell in love with the music industry.
I was in music PR for a few years, looking after a stack of local artists and some major festivals, including Falls, then moved into film PR - looking after releases like Bad Grandpa and Anchorman. I didn't LOVE the film stuff so I jumped back into music but more in the music-brand space, with an amazing local agency called Magnum & Co.
At Magnum, I met some of my nearest and dearest and started on music brands like Monster Headphones, JBL and SOL REPUBLIC before moving across to action sports, sports and lifestyle. This gave me experience with the likes of Oakley, Under Armour, Thredbo, Burton and Red Bull.
After 3 years at Magnum, Red Bull poached me in-house, and I headed up communications for the brand's music and culture initiatives. At Red Bull, I branched out beyond PR and got experience in all other areas of marketing; particularly content marketing which the brand is known for!
After I left Red Bull, I spent some time travelling and doing the freelance thing, before I started The 152 Project.
Photo credit: Ken Leanfore
Were you always interested in the Digital Marketing/Communications space as a career?
Digital media and storytelling, yes. Comms and marketing, no.
I used to want to work in film. So when I left school, I initially did a digital media degree at COFA (now UNSW Art & Design). I was there for a year and loved the content and storytelling aspects but hated the technical side of filmmaking (blahhh editing) and changed degrees.
Comms-wise - I had no idea what communications or PR were. Even when I went for my first role as a Publicist I had no idea what a Publicist was (soz, Stacey). So I kinda just fell into PR then into marketing.
What can you accredit to steering you on your career path in this industry?
I enjoy the fact that in PR and Marketing each day is not the same as the last. One day you’re looking up private investigators for a media opp; the next, you’re on the slopes with Client Liaison. I need diversity and excitement in a role to keep me engaged.
I’ve always been good at writing which has helped, and being dyslexic means - aside from the odd typo - my brain is really great at seeing the big picture and connecting dots, which is awesome for PR and marketing. Dyslexia really is a superpower and very misunderstood.
Was there an “ah-ha!” moment or event that was pivotal to your big leap into starting your own business? Can you tell us a little bit about what that was?
Really, it was a lot of little steps followed by a friend encouraging me to give it a crack. We started The 152 Project as a side hustle, and got some great feedback early on that indicated this could be more than just a side project. The other push came from a negative experience. I was working in a pretty toxic workplace at the time and I genuinely think that having a horrible boss gave me the push I needed to take this full-time.
Was your own business always the end goal?
I’ve always felt like I would have a business of some form but had no idea it would be a PR and marketing thing. Now that I've built The 152 Project I don’t think it will be my only business. I find business fascinating, it’s like a new playground of opportunities. So I'm sure, when the time is right, there will be more!
Best piece of advice you’ve received from a mentor or senior in this industry?
Know your worth, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
And also this one - unfortunately not given to me personally - but something that has resonated.
“When you’re a race horse, the reason they put blinders on these things is because if you look at the horse on the left or the right, you’re going to miss a step. That’s why the horses have blinders on. And that’s what people should have. When you’re running after something, you should not look left or right — what does this person think, what does that person think? No. Go.” Jimmy Iovine, The Defiant Ones
Comparison is the thief of joy and something I need to keep myself in check about. You do you, and don’t let what other people are doing disrupt your vibe.
What do you now know about this industry - that you wish someone had told baby Bec at the start of her career?
Oooo TBH I love that I didn’t know anything. I think that has made my career so much more exciting; I had zero expectations. When a door opened, if it looked fun I went for it.
I am also a huge fan of trial and error, so I’m very happy with my mistakes. I’ve learned from them, and they’ve shaped my career for the better.
Not industry-related, but if I could rewind time I would get baby Bec to read the Dyslexic Advantage earlier in life. It unlocked so many amazing ways my brain works and has meant I don’t focus on the shortcomings or feel like an idiot because of them. The confidence this book has given me, particularly in a professional sense, has been life-changing. I wish young Bec had this book earlier.
What’s your wake-up ritual/routine?
Ideally some form of exercise (although far less when it’s cold)- either hit the gym, do an at-home workout of Pilates or Yoga (with PPF’s online studio) or walk the dog. I’ll then shower, make a coffee, and then be at my desk, ready to go. In the mornings, I like to take it slow, so if anything involves me needing to rush to fit it all in, I don’t do it.
For those of us lucky enough to know you personally - we know how much you value and love travel! Have you always been a budding adventurist at heart?
Awww 🥺
I think so! My family instilled this in me at a young age with trips to the US. My brother has always been a big traveller, and I’ve always looked up to him, so that has deff shaped some of it too. Also, some of my best friends were big travellers.
Stand-out trips or favourite destinations? In 2019 I did Europe and India, which was one of my fave trips to date. Italy was amazing, and India was next level. I loved India so much. That trip was very much a big unwind and reset. I felt like I was burnt out and just needed to recalibrate while seeing the world. That trip was also a life-changing moment for me.
What does “work-life balance” mean to you, and how do you work to achieve that goal?
For me - it’s working when I want to work. I work hard and often work late or on weekends. It doesn’t feel like work which is why it’s so easy to pull silly long hours or not have a break. But I balance that by having a break when I need to. It might have a few hours off in the middle of the day, or have an extended weekend. That type of thing makes me feel like working late or on weekends doesn't matter so much.
I also have an INCREDIBLE team that supports me and they have been game-changing for my workloads and general wellbeing.
Outside of The 152 Project - where can we find you? With who? What are you doing?
Hanging with partner Dave and our Mastiff x Frenchie (yeah, you read that right) Chloe. Also spending time with our friends - often on the Northern Beaches at someone's place, a bar or a restaurant. Our friends are VERY social, so we’re often in a big group of awesome humans just enjoying life.
What’s next for 152?
Some really exciting collaborations with other gun marketers and a VERY EXCITING new project/client. WATCH THIS SPACE.