Gift of the Gabberer: Danielle Le Toullec
Let’s do this.
G: OMD has won stacks of awards for culture in OZ and OS, what’s its secret?
A genuine interest in keeping employees engaged, connected and fostering a culture of ongoing learning.
This attracts people who not only work hard and are good at what they do, but also those who want to be a part of that environment and help continue to grow it. We’re lucky to work in an industry that has a lot of great perks, but the ‘secret’ is in the smaller, consistent efforts such as taking the time to celebrate Black History Month, Divali and Thanksgiving (in the EMEA office in London) or OMDer of the Month and the mentoring program (at OMD Australia), which are meaningful in the long run.
G: How essential was OMD’s programs and support to you when moving up through the ranks?
The OMD culture of continuous learning and growing was, and continues to be, incredibly important to me when it comes to pursuing my goals and enjoying coming to work every day. It really does feel like a family to me – I’ve been lucky enough to work under some incredible mentors whose support has helped me to grow to where I am today.
G: How important is being at a workplace which nurtures talent?
It’s the difference between having a job, or a career.
A workplace that nurtures talent is one where people can see longevity as there are more opportunities for growth and lateral movement. Leaders in these organisations often see moves that make sense, before the person might! For example, I was in a Social Specialist role in our OMD Create team in Sydney when I was encouraged to apply for the national marketing role which led me to my current position in London.
G: This industry sometimes cops a bad rep for toxic culture – what’s your advice for someone who isn’t enjoying their current workplace?
Know when it’s time to persevere and when it’s time to call it quits. In my experience, it is the difficult, uncomfortable experiences which lead to the biggest growth. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time! That said…
life is too short to spend 8 hours+ a day somewhere you don’t feel happy so give it your best shot to find a solution,
if you can’t then learn from it, make a note of what it is you don’t like about that workplace or manager and start to hone your instincts for an environment where you can truly thrive.
G: You’ve worked with OMD over three different continents (!!!!) can you tell us what barriers you faced when working with different workplaces? What's great? What’s not?
Technically two, but as my role is now global I am fortunate to work with different cultures every day - whether that is on-ground at the Cannes Festival of Creativity in France or at SXSW in Austin, Texas or spending time with the team in the New York office.
Even within one country or region, the cultures can vary wildly. What’s great is the diversity of thought that people bring to the table and their unique backgrounds. You have to be mindful of how different cultures approach things, especially in a Marketing & Communications role. You can be more direct and to the point in some cultures, whereas in others that approach can come across as rude. Overall, it’s a great opportunity to become a more considered, empathetic and effective marketer.
G: Any advice for someone who wants to do the LONDON/NYC thing?
Don’t rush it. Take your time to learn your craft and make the move when it feels like the right next step.
You only get one life and you should never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about! I had wanted to live in London for a long time before I made the move but I’m so glad I was patient because it has been a much smoother transition.
In terms of practical advice, save as much as you can before you move, network, network, network and try to land a job before you arrive or at least line up a solid number of interviews so you can hit the ground running.
And once you’re there, don’t only hang out with fellow aussies, as tempting as it may be - push yourself out of your comfort zone, make new friends with locals and other expats. Overall, I strongly recommend it, you’ll not only further your career but learn more about yourself along the way.
