ABOUT ME

Connecting fans and brands via passion has been my profession for more two decades.

Working in sports and entertainment in Australia, Asia and Europe, I’ve been fortunate to experience brand, agency and media-owner sides of the industry. I’ve worked with some of the world’s biggest brands across Telco, FMCG, Consumer Electronics, Payments, Insurance, Motoring, and Beverages.

A naturally curious person, I question everything (often to the chagrin of my colleagues) and this instinct lead me into Strategy and Creative Planning. I love working on briefs that challenge ‘conventional wisdom’ and get massive satisfaction from unlocking new insights that solve business problems.

When I’M not working, I’m a husband, proud father of two and working on a VERY average golf swing.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Kids woke me an hour ago. Making breakfasts and school lunches through blurry eyes – “Hey Alexa, Play ABC News in Kitchen”

7:45am – Out the door with kids for school drop off – “Hey Siri, what time is the next train to the office?”

8:30am – In boardroom for Marketing Strategy weekly meeting – Connecting Syd and Melb offices on MS Teams for video conference

9;00am – Review first draft creative concepts for a long standing client’s season launch TVC which landed overnight. A few good (but safe) ideas, one killer concept (bang on brief) and one idea that would get me fired (glad the creative team are still pushing the limits ;))

12:00pm – Lunch with the Management Team to discuss budgets, targets, staffing and other equally inspiring topics – lucky the Pho is hot and delicious

3:00pm – Review creative brief for brand new client. Pushing our guys to really dig into Gemba Insights data (there is over 10 years of it!) to understand what makes fans of Cricket in India unique for a new project

4:30pm – Time carved out to get though todays emails. A note from an old colleague sharing some awesome new work she did puts a smile on my face. Also need to catch up on Timesheets (I’m a bit behind as our ever patient finance folks remind me)

5:30pm – Quick check in with the boss (the work one) to close out the day. Scan LinkedIn (Mark Ritson is kicking ass and taking names – again). Chuck laptop in bag. Earphone’s in. Out the door

8:30pm – Eldest off to sleep, so time for a whisky and feet up. “Hey Alexa, open Netflix”

ABOUT ME

I grew up in a small town outside of the ACT, where weekends were filled with Netball in the mornings, cheering on the local Rugby team in the afternoons and watching whatever sport was on TV in the evening.

I applied my passion for sports and entertainment to studying, finishing a double degree in Sports Management/Tourism Management at the University of Canberra. I was offered a foot in the door interning with a professional Rugby team, which lead to a full time role in Sydney working in Sports Partnerships for Teams and Major Venues – and never looked back!

I’m a huge live event fan so love spending my spare time with friends checking out a sports event or music gig.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:50am – Alarm goes off. Time to hit the gym before a big day!

7:45am – Jump on the train into the city. Sports podcasts and tunes are queued and ready for the commute to the office

8:30am – Breakfast + coffee whilst checking through any overnight emails and setting up my to do list for the day

9:00am – Weekly WIP with the Creative team to provide updates on some exciting upcoming projects and discuss some urgent briefs that have just popped up

10:30am – Catch up with the St.George team to chat through our Apple Pay activation. Super excited for this campaign to launch. To do list continues to grow…

12:30pm – Can’t believe it’s already time for lunch! Head into the kitchen to heat up some food and catch up with the other teams over results from the weekend. How good were the Swannies!

1:30pm – Internal re-group on a new brief we’ve received. The Creative guys are presenting some amazing new concepts for one of our clients

3:00pm – Cat has stocked the kitchen with some delicious snacks so I’ll grab a muesli bar to power through the afternoon

4:00pm – Finish off a production brief for Transport for NSW. We need some new LED signage created for the Western Sydney Wanderers game next weekend

5:30pm – Enter in my timesheet, file away some remaining emails and check how my day tomorrow is looking

5:45pm – Air pods in and out the door for a low-key night, catching up on the latest show I’ve been binging on Netflix

ABOUT ME

An ex-Designer turned Creative Producer with experience working with brands across a range of industries and channels. After working in London as a freelance designer, I landed a gig at an experiential and sponsorship agency where I got the chance to work on RWC 2015 (every kiwis dream). It was here I developed a taste for working in the sports and entertainment space.

It makes sense I ended up working for a company that lives for sport and entertainment. From a young age I loved all things sport, playing Kiwi Cricket and Mini Ball to volleyball and netball. Since moving to Melbourne I’ve carried on playing netty with my new local club, St. Kilda City. As for the entertainment side of things, whether it’s the latest podcast, tv series musical, ballet performance or festivals, I love it all.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:45am – Rise and shine it’s time to go to the gym

6:00am – Gym. Time to start running

7:45am – Tram. Enjoy my commute as it gives me time to read or listen to a podcast

8:15am – Get to work but not before stopping for coffee on the way in. See if I can play any pranks on Nathan… then wonder if he’s played any pranks on me and get paranoid

8:45am – Creative huddle. Get together with the team and prioritise our days and see where we can help each other

9:00am – Work. High priority, urgent stuff comes first…

1:00pm – LUNCH. Sit around the table with a few other folks around the agency and go through the newspaper quizzes. Get frustrated when everyone gets the answers so quickly because they’re all related to Australia and I’m a Kiwi

2:00pm – Back to work. By this point I’ve got Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign open. From brand campaigns to presentations, you name it and I’m trying make it look slick

6:00pm – Whip on my netball gear and join the Gemballers on the court for hopefully another win!

7:00pm – Home, then dinner. After that it’s time to wind down. Netflix, a cheeky drink or maybe I’m so tired I’ll just browse nothing on my phone till I fall asleep

9:30pm – Bedtime

ABOUT ME

Sport, music, performance and more sport. I could never choose just one. I grew up in Melbourne watching, playing and dreaming my life would involve all things sport and entertainment. I currently play for the Casey Demons in the VFLW, netball and tennis competitively and jam out on the guitar or piano in my spare time.

Whilst studying, I coached multiple sports across two Girl’s Schools in Melbourne. It led to me heading the Netball and AFL programs creating a high-performance environment for young girls to learn, develop and excel. I completed internships at Capi and Priscilla’s Model Management finding a love for event management, innovation and sustainability. I graduated from RMIT with a degree in International Business with an Interest In strategic management and creativity, Innovation and design. I am excited to begin my career at Gemba and be a part of changing the sport and entertainment industry.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Run time, keep clocking up k’s…

7:45am- Sometimes I forget how organised I can be, breakfast and lunch are already made which means I can rush out the door to work

7:55am- Park at the tan and enjoy a 15minute stroll into the office with a friend who works nearby

8:10am- Catch up on emails and timesheets

8:30am – Creative Team Huddle

9:00am – WIP with STG Girls- what surprise job will pop up today?

9:30am – Prepare for a morning of managing different projects coming in/ on-going within the Creative team and attend a briefing for Toyota

1:00pm – Honey and I chat about random things in life before I take 10min for lunch (boarding school teaches you to eat quick)

2:00pm – WIP with Alexandra, talking about my current work and last weekend’s SSN games

3:45pm – Jump in the car to head to footy training. 1.5hrs in traffic means phone calls only to discuss any questions or projects with the team

5:00pm –Footy training

9:30pm – Arrive home and back online to check any urgent matters while I eat dinner

10:15pm – Sleep

ABOUT ME

I have worked in client and agency side sports marketing roles in Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years.  I am interested in the nexus where sport and entertainment meet business and how we can shape a better future for our industry.

My diverse experience across many sectors ensures my advice is straight forward, solutions-oriented, and actionable. I love the variety agency life brings and thrive on helping our clients navigate the ever-changing sport and entertainment industry we operate in.

At Gemba I oversee the way our business operates and support clients through research & data, business advisory, marketing strategy and creative for a range of sport and entertainment rights holders, government organisations and brands.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:00am – Out the door to F45 Training. I prefer to get my daily exercise done and dusted early, it wakes up the body and mind and sets me up for the day ahead. Win the morning, win the day after all, but why is there always a rower or box jump burpees?

7:30am – Breakfast in the office, quick browse of the news , review of the calendar and draw up the plan of attack for the day

8:00am – Weekly meeting with divisional managers, department heads and finance team to discuss the sales pipeline, new business opportunities, proposals to get out this week and some pending resource challenges.

9:00am – Client meeting to update on a major contract negotiation. Review the Turnstile valuation and update our negotiation strategy in readiness for the first major meeting next week

10:00am – Catch up with Ruby to discuss company marketing plan she is working on and review and reshuffle next weeks diary. She really is a miracle worker!

10:30am – Meeting with the Gemba team working up a slate of sports content production opportunities. Reminded how incredibly well Boyd writes long form sports content. Can’t wait to pitch these in the coming couple of weeks

12:00pm – Zoom call for the weekly company quiz. Craig wins, but Vicki’s son Elliot gives him a good run for his money!

2:00pm – Working session with the Insights and Strategy teams on the productisation of our Data Acceleration Program for sports leagues and teams. COVID-19 has reminded us of the importance of commercialising direct relationships with fans

3:30pm – Review client deliverable. We are helping a major sport review their OTT strategy in selected overseas markets. To deliver the best client outcomes we are partnering with Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates out of London

5:30pm – WIP with Millsy in London. We discuss the status of the joint Gemba/Turnstile project that is developing two commercial strategies for one of the world’s leading sports organisations. Also cover off  the business case  for a new Tenka Group venture. Exciting times

ABOUT ME

Ever since I was young I have been sport obsessed. Whether it be playing footy, going for a surf or watching whatever sport was on TV, sport has been a central part of my life. Growing up in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney I am a die hard Swans and Roosters fan and also get out on the track every week for the mighty UNSW/ES Bulldogs.

When it came to university, studying Economics and Marketing introduced me to the world of research and insights that I would soon find out is the perfect combination of numbers and marketing. Over the past five years I have worked across a range of industries with clients big and small, gaining expertise in media and sponsorship within the sport and entertainment categories.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:45 am – Head down to Tamarama for a surf if the waves are good, or a gym sesh and swim if it’s flat

7:45 am – Quick breakfast at home and then onto my bike to ride into work for the day

8:30 am – Get into work and straight into my emails and planning out what needs to be done for the day

9:00 am – Head off for a coffee catch-up with a prospective client

10:30 am – Jump into a meeting with the Strategy team to brainstorm how we use our Insights Program to support a clients Customer Value Proposition

12:00 pm – Lunch time and a game of Ping Pong!

1:00 pm – Check out the latest news in the marketing and sports world, which often merges into reading the latest NBA goss on the Bleacher Report

1:30 pm – Run some data in Q for an upcoming meeting

3:00 pm – Check in on how fieldwork is progressing on a couple of projects

3:15 pm – Turn on a podcast (‘Grin Reapers’ is my current go to) and finish of an upcoming presentation

5:00 pm – Reply to some more emails and finish any admin that needs to be done

5:30 pm – Back on the bike and time to ride home

6:30 pm – Off to AFL training and time for a good run around after a big day in the office

ABOUT ME

From as early as I can remember, there has not been one day pass where I haven’t participated or consumed sport! Football, Rugby, Tennis, and more recently… MMA.

At 16, my first work experience was at a global sports & entertainment firm. I spent a lot of time at university exploring the psychology of sport; its beauty, its faults, and why sport has become a true commercial powerhouse. After university, I worked for a few years in Strategy and M&A across the Hedge Fund service space. I then entered the startup world to launch a Food-tech based company, which was an amazing journey. More recently, I have been doing various entrepreneurial work across the startup tech sector, which has included fundraising, strategy and coding.

I never truly believed I would have the opportunity to combine my professional ambition with my lifelong passion for sport….until I discovered Gemba! I am so excited to join the Gemba journey at such an exciting time.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Roll out of bed. Music on. Shower. Coffee 1. Try to consciously avoid my phone notifications. Off to the gym I go, whether it be F45, running, Jiu Jitsu or boxing, something to get the heart rate going. Attack the day (whilst half asleep, telling myself it will be worth it)

7:30am – Leave the gym, check my emails, walk to the office through Kensington Gardens. Coffee 2. Podcast on. Have a think about the day ahead.

8:15am – Settle into the office. Actively plan a priority list with the team. Put in my airpods and try to ignore questions about Chelsea’s performance on the weekend…

10:00am – Whether it be a model, proposal, or big deliverable; crack the toughest, most complex task of the day first. Deep work time. Coffee 3. I am very conscious of my brain power diminishing as the day goes on!

12:30pm– Check in with Claire and Rob. Try not to get over excited about ideas I may have for a client, or Gemba in general.

1:30pm – Avoid the post lunch slump with a strong coffee (4). Head off to a client meeting with Claire! Discuss the 100 ideas we have on our journey back.

3:30pm – Head down, close off remaining big tasks for the day. Consolidate thoughts & actions from our client meetings. Once complete, waddle over and give some chat to the Turnstile team.

5:30pm– Quick conversation with Claire, discuss anything further we need to close off by tomorrow. Scramble a barrage of mental notes to pick up tomorrow where I left off. Write my 1 lesson of the day!

6:00pm – Rush home. Depending on the weather, go for a run along the river then into Battersea park. Once finished, head home for dinner whilst holding myself back from saying ‘Quick beer?’ to my mate. (The runners high is real!)

ABOUT ME

I grew up as a third culture kid, born in Australia, spent my younger years in Singapore and finishing school in Hong Kong. From a young age, my love for sports grew, but it was in the realm of swimming where I truly found my one true passion. With countless hours in the pool following the black line, smelling of chlorine constantly, I evolved into a highly competitive swimmer, leaving a trail of triumph and unforgettable memories behind me, when I hung up my goggles in 2022.

My passion for sports and rehabilitation led me to completing a degree in Exercise Physiology and working in the profession for a year. However, the thrill of live sporting events and entertainment guided me to pursue a new journey in the field of marketing, where I can combine my expertise and passions to make a meaningful impact.

DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00AM – Alarm goes off but I hit snooze and figure out how much longer I can stay in bed before being late for work

7:45am – Grab my keys and hit the road

8:15am – Order a coffee and say hello to Con from the coffee shop downstairs before heading up into the office to tackle the day ahead

8:30am – Get up to speed on any emails from the night and organize my priorities for the day ahead

9:00am – Shoottt! Realise I still haven’t picked up my coffee and head downstairs to pick it up, hoping its not luke warm or cold

11:00am – Stomach is rumbling and thinking about lunch

12:30pm – It’s THURSDAY meaning its LUNCH CLUB. Ruby has gathered the troops and we are on our way to get a feed

1:30pm – Catch up with the Westpac team to chat through any future activations for the NRL season and the to do list continues to extend

3:30pm – Quick check in with my team mates on the latest projects, which we usually start to ramble off topic

4:30pm – Swans Hub creative needs updating, finish off a creative task brief to upload on to the QBE Market system for client approval

5:15pm – Check the inbox and finish off any last emails that may have come through

5:30pm – Reflect on the day and enter in my timesheets, wondering what has been done for that day, now that its already 5.30pm

7:00pm – Off to soccer training, boots on and time to unwind

10:30PM – In bed, alarm goes on, time for my beauty sleep!

ABOUT ME

Stay Tuned…

A DAY IN THE LIFE

ABOUT ME

Growing up in England, sport has always been a huge part of my life. From an early age I was involved in every sport you can imagine, gymnastics, squash, horse riding, netball, basketball, hockey, you name it I’ve probably played it. As I got older I dedicated my time to basketball with the goal of moving to America to play at University.

At 18 this became my reality. I received a scholarship to play basketball for Briar Cliff University in Iowa. Here I was able to combine my studies, Business Management & Marketing with the sport I loved. Whilst there, I was recruited to join the track & field team, so I split my seasons with winter playing basketball and summer running track. When I wasn’t training or playing games, my friends and I would gather around the tv and watch ESPN with copious amounts of snacks. After 4 years I graduated with a double major and minor.

After graduating I interned as an entertainment/events assistant at Hard Rock Casino for the summer, before moving into a full time role in promotions and marketing. As my VISA came to an end in the U.S I decided to make the move to Australia and continue my career in the live events industry. I have spent the last 3 years working at Crown Melbourne in the entertainment department, organising live events for The Palms. Joining Gemba I now get to combine my passion for sports and marketing.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:30am –Rise and shine! A shot of pre workout and off to the gym to hit the weights!

6:45am – Quick scrub a dub in the shower and get ready for the day

7:15am – Jump on the tram and listen to some tunes (Try not to miss my stop)!

8:30am – Arrive at work and go through any emails that may have come through overnight… next stop, make a priority list for the day and allocate focus time in the diary

9:00am – Catch up with my manager Jess and talk about all the ‘to do’s’ for the day ahead

10:00am – Most likely in a meeting chatting either AFL, Motorsports or one of my favourites, TCMF!

10:30am – MONSTER ENERGY time, not being a coffee drinker means I have to find the boost elsewhere

12:00pm – Lunch time and usually a stroll with Ally along the river! We are both deep in AFL Finals so we use this as a mini catch on all things creative for Live Site

1:00pm – Check through my to do list and most likely adding lots more to it!

2:30pm – Jump into arvo meetings for motorsports to discuss a content piece that will be shot at Bathurst, and of course the return of the 86 Series End of Year Awards Dinner

4:00pm – Focus time is on and smashing out either a campaign brief, report or getting leverage budgets and masterfiles up to date!

6:00pm – Finish up for the day and respond to any urgent emails before the laptop gets closed for the evening! Sometimes even finish off with shots into the mini hoops ring

6:15pm – On the tram home, music at full volume and planning out dinner for the evening

ABOUT ME

Growing up in India, my life was always inclined towards sports and entertainment. Thanks to the opportunity given by Gemba, I am now working in the niche field.

Leveraging my curiosity in technology and Data, I moved from India to Singapore to pursue a master’s degree in Analytics and now I call Sydney my home. Over these years, I have worked with several clients across various domains as a Data Analyst to bridge the gap between their data analysis strategies.

My ideal break for the day is spent either on checking the latest buzz in Sport or finding the next movie/series to watch.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Time to get up, go for a short jog and get ready for the office

7:30am – It’s breakfast time, usually my Spinach smoothie and egg-avocado toast

8:30am – Get into the office, have a sneak peek into schedule tasks and sort out emails

9:15am – Daily D&A stand up time, delve into team’s WIP and record my updates

10:00am – Working on either extracting new Data from various source API’s or Data analysis in Big Query. Mornings are mostly for coding and resolving Data issues

12:15pm – Going to a Mexican, Lebanese, or Indian restaurant to grab a spicy lunch

1:00pm – Time to build interactive reports in Power BI

4:00pm – Research work for product development, learning and incorporating new methodologies used in data pipelines or dashboards

5:30pm – Bye-Bye team. Time to wrap up the day and head home

6:30pm – Prepare dinner, catch up with family/friends

8:30pm – Netflix (Stan/prime, etc.) and chill

10:45pm – Off to bed for a good night sleep

ABOUT ME

I love making things, and I’m lucky enough to have been hands-on doing stuff in sport & entertainment for more than twenty years. I started out as a designer and art director in adland, then as a writer and director in the TV production world, making TVCs, branded content, animations, docos and even a feature film. Now, I’m still making stuff on a daily basis, and trying to help others to be as creative, passionate and effective as they can.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:05 am – Up and about. Time for a run. What day is it? How far?

7:10am – Breakfast with the family. Compare notes on the day ahead. Be reminded of something important I’ve forgotten.. ie: youngest daughter’s skateboard needs a service

8:00am – Write morning pages. Check email. Write to-do lists. Find random distractions that lead down rabbit holes that could be interpreted as research. Or not

8:30am – Creative Huddle via Teams. What’s on today? Some print to dispatch, an edit to approve and couple of ideas that need tweaking. Oh.. and a shoot with some superstar athletes. You’re late!

9:30am – On set (virtually) with an AFL/NRL/W-League/WBBL star. All hands on deck as we try to squeeze a season’s worth of compelling communications out of a 15 minute player appearance..

10:30am – Coffee and reset. Where’s that to-do list? Let’s go again with the next star athlete. Get some tips on how to improve my leg break. Watch an old highlights reel. Vow to make another comeback to park cricket

12:30pm – Crash the lunchtime quiz. Marvel at the useless pop-culture trivia my brain retains whilst managing to forget the most basic of daily necessities

1:45pm – Creative review. The team present some fresh thinking/ideas/designs/carpet swatches. We bang them around a little; poking, prodding, expanding. Exciting… let’s get them in front of client!

3:20pm – Step away from the machine! Headspace clearing walk/skate/hoop-shoot

4:30pm – Creative regroup (Teams) – Where the hell did that day go? What have we missed?

5:29pm – Change bearings to get the wheels spinning on my daughter’s skateboard a little smoother. Try to get her as intrigued in the basic mechanics as I am. Fail.

7:12pm – I wonder if new wheels on that old deck would make it easier to ollie?

ABOUT ME

I’m a hungry, curious sports-fanatic who has been lucky to make a career from the business of people’s passion.

I am a flexible thinker who can provide authoritative insight, having spent 6 years in the retail wild lands through university at Rebel Sport, and graduating with a double international studies & law degree, before changing gear and spending the last 7 years in the global world of sports and entertainment marketing.

I was fortunate to have my first role in marketing as a project coordinator for the XXXX Island, and have since moved around the world working with sporting and entertainment behemoths such as FC Barcelona, Lionel Richie, and the Golden State Warriors – I have even been lucky enough to play golf in some of Scotland’s most famous golf courses, including St. Andrews!

I want to be challenged, I want to inspire, and I want to use my curiosity for digging into what makes the world go-round to do work that will unlock future brand success. It is with great excitement I am getting a chance to continue my career in exploring what makes people connect.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:55am – Alarm. Snooze & Scroll wake up. Check the overnight Prem League results. Check any N.America games I want to catch on Kayo that day

6.15am – I’m up. Puppy duty. Trying to get him puppy pre-school ready, but I am not doing a great job

6:30am – Shoes on. Jump on my bike, I am out the door

7:15am – Arrive to the office. Damn, Condo beat me again. Does the man ever sleep? Quick email scan & red flags for the day. Quick priority list and I am back out for a run around the city

8:00am – At my desk, quick read of the morning headlines. Should I dump my GME stock? Reddit seems to say no, so I hold

8:30am – Its breakfast time. I’m an avo/vegemite man. First Teams chat for the day – reviewing an AFL strategy!

10:30am – Coffee hour. I’ve cleared my morning of any urgent workload

11.30am – Sponsorship planning session with a new client. We talk about brand objectives, their T.A. and priorities for the year. It’s a good chat and we are off to put together a prop

1:30pm – Late lunch, I like to make the afternoon feel short

2:30pm – WIP with Sydney MS team. Priorities set for the week, and team is lock and step for another busy week. I bring chocolate

5:00pm – Last check on days list of priorities. Need to send one more email to follow up on a landscape report we are completing for a key client and then its home time

6:00pm – Ride home on the fixie and puppy play time awaits

7:30pm – Dinner and family hangs

8:30pm – Netflix and chill

ABOUT ME

Growing up I always found myself gravitated to Sport or Music if you didn’t find me on the basketball court or pursuing some other sporting interest. I was then embracing my love of music with constant headphones in my ears and singing out loud forgetting I was in a public place.

My passion for basketball started when I was eight and from then I was hooked to the sport. If was asked about my most memorable moments, they will all find a way to be linked to basketball. But most importantly were the long-lasting friendships I made from pursuing basketball as a hobby. These are the same friends that you will always find me chatting and hanging out with, enjoying a night out in Melbourne, or watching movie.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Rise and Shine! Alarm goes hop out of bed and run around to get dressed.

7:00am – I am out the door on my way to work with a pitstop for the essential coffee fix.

8:00am- Arrive in the office, unload the dishwasher, turn the coffee machine on. Also decide on the playlist for the day to ensure good vibes for when everyone arrives.

8:30am – Say good morning to the team as they trickle in through the door, as I go through my inboxes and sort out my plan of action for the day.

10:00am – Usually by this time my plan of action has completely changed, as there will always be some issues that occur whether it be IT or building maintenance, that I need to follow up on.

12:00pm – My tummy starts to rumble, so go for a little stroll around the food stalls near the office to decide what I’m feeling for lunch that day.

1:30pm Check in with Melbourne Ops team to get a couple updates regarding current projects.

2:30pm – I usually follow up on staff requests such as travel bookings or office supply orders.

4:00pm – quick check-up on any sports that have been played that day, catch on sporting news.

4:30pm – Last check in the office before the end of the day, clean up the kitchen and make sure everything is ready.

5:00pm – Last check of my inbox and plan my plan of action for the next day.

5:30pm – You can see me in a mad rush running out of the door. As I have to many commitments, I’m rushing around to attend such as playing a basketball game, Footy training or even my second job

8:00pm – I finally arrive home after a hectic day of work and then sport and get a chance to eat some dinner and relax by either rewatching the same tv show I’ve watched millions of times or watching a replay of a sporting match.

10:00pm – Night, Night!

ABOUT ME

As a kid I developed a deep love for sports that continues to this day. From racing around as a toddler on my bike to competing in tennis tournaments around Australia, I have always been drawn to the excitement, dedication and energy of it.

Today, as a mechanical engineer with experience in the motorsport industry, I have the skills and expertise to merge my passion for sports with my love of math and problem solving.

Whether I’m breaking down strategies or observing athletes performing at their highest level, I am captivated by the thrill and anticipation that sports bring. I’m thrilled to use my knowledge in data analytics at Gemba to create innovative solutions that help teams achieve peak performance.

When I’m not working you can find me playing or watching sports, or even fishing on my boat.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Rise and shine, embracing the day with a swift stride to the kitchen for a bowl of Weetbix

7:30am – Enter the bustling office, eagerly diving into the virtual realm of emails and meticulously arranging the day’s agenda

9:15am – Gather with the brilliant minds of the Data & Analytics team for a daily stand-up meeting

9:30am – Immerse myself in the captivating realm of data analysis, crafting visually dashboards that unveil hidden insights

12:30pm –Detach from the digital realm, having lunch while engaging in discussions about Aussie cricket team or the electrifying motorsport world

1:30pm – Return to the data realm, working on attendance prediction models, leveraging data to forecast and make informed decisions

4:00pm – Meet with stakeholders to showcase progress and provide guidance on utilizing the tools and insights derived from data analysis

5:30pm – Leave the office and hop on the train, heading towards the next chapter of the day

6:00pm – Arrive at the gym, ready to unleash a torrent of energy

7:00pm – Cook some delicious pasta to satisfy the love of Italian food

8:00pm – Take to the tennis court, and work on my game whilst enjoying the social side

10:00pm – Return home, unwind on the couch, and indulge in some NBA game replays

ABOUT ME

I love problem solving and psychology, so I’m forever asking “why” questions.  Inevitably this has led me to a career in insights and strategy.  For over a decade I have worked consultancy and client side in the Retail, Sports & Entertainment industries, solving big nutty problems with customer-led analytics and tech solutions.

Together with my family, my big passion is playing and watching sport.  Whether it be football, rugby, tennis, cricket, F1, I love the inevitable rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being a fan.  I love playing racquet sports and have recently become hooked on Padel, which I try to play twice a week.  To be able to combine my professional and personal life by working in sport continues to be a pinch myself moment.

I’m incredibly excited to be part of the industry push towards more high profile and successful Women’s sporting calendar, as well as diving deep into ensuring we successfully baton pass sports participation and engagement onto Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

My role at Gemba Europe is to ensure our partner clients receive best in class work across our data, insights and advisory projects, as well as making sure our business is operationally set up for success.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Alarm goes off.  Scramble around trying to turn it off before it wakes up my two toddlers. Get up and enjoy a quiet cup of tea to myself whilst flicking through overnight emails from Condo and the team in Australia. Realise it’s my turn to do the kids school and nursery drop off so quickly get changed and brace for impact.

7:00am – Morning bedlam begins as I hear the inevitable “it’s wakey time, can we come downstairs?!” from the kids. Hurtle at 100mph through breakfast, 3 rounds of “The Pizza Game: and 1 Paw Patrol, before managing to get the kids dressed and out of the door.

9:00am – Regain my composure on the way into work. Enjoy listening to the latest Unofficial Partner podcast, and check and re-check whether Man Utd could yet have an outside shot at the title.

10:00am – Start my day chatting to Gemba and Turnstile teams about current and future opportunities. Try my best not to appear too over-excited about the number of potential Padel projects on the horizon.

11:00am – Meet another brilliant client-side connection to add to my network in the industry. Their passion, energy and ideas remind me just how much I love working in sport & entertainment.

12:30pm – Create a presentation for a potential client showcasing Gemba’s capabilities and case studies.

3:00pm – Speak to a potential candidate who is interested in joining Gemba in our London office.

4:30pm – Chat to Rob and Nic about our respective days. Try and fail to remember to only say Padel once every 3 sentences.

6:00pm – Head home to do the kids bath and bedtime. Confirm that working in Paddington means I enjoyed my regular marmalade sandwich with Paddington bear today.

7:30pm – Play Padel with my husband and love every minute of it.

ABOUT ME

I’ve always loved sport and entertainment. I was brought up on the game they play in heaven, but more recently have been fed a healthy diet of AFL. I now understand the reference “Leo Barry, you star!” and have done a campaign with him too! In my younger years I represented New Zealand at two Lacrosse World Cups. To unwind, I love a good rom-com.

After ten years in advertising, I saw the light and moved into sport and entertainment. As Head of Client and Creative Services, I’m responsible for developing our comms go-to-market offer, building our client base and ensuring the Account Management and Creative teams deliver work of a consistently high standard to our amazing clients. It might be clichéd, but I love my job!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

8:00am – Breakfast with one of my team, Zoe. A semi-regular check in to see how she’s going – we chat about her clients, projects, career development, and life in general

9:15am – Check out some sponsorship websites, Activative and what’s happening on Twitter. I try to think of something interesting to post…

10:00am – Time for a discovery meeting with a big client. I want to pick their brain on what work we could be doing for them in the social or PR space for a business case i’m exploring

12:00pm – Still can’t think of anything for Twitter. How does Condo do it?

1:00pm – Drop in to Keegan’s Sanitarium cricket shoot. Our creative team have managed to sell in a really fun idea that is going to get messy on set…

3:00pm – Probably not the best time to tackle reading all the board documents for the upcoming meeting, but I raid the chocolate stash to get through it

4:15pm – Quick chat with Vicki (P&C) about learning and development needs for the team. We agree that some strategic planning and leadership courses are a priority

5:40pm – On the way home, still lacking inspiration for a tweet, I retweet Condo’s tweet from today. Bit of a cop out

7:20pm – Social netball. Despite it being non-competitive (ha!), I’m pleased when we crush the other team

ABOUT ME

After graduating with an Arts degree from the University of Melbourne, I did what any respectable Arts student would do – take the first professional job they are offered! I found myself in the research and insights industry where my appreciation for data-driven decision making has grown into a passion. I’ve worked with clients across multiple sectors including all levels of government, industry and business, helping them make effective strategic decisions.

Combining my career with my passion for sport has long been a dream and I am lucky that Gemba has made it a reality. While you won’t find me on a football field anymore, you will definitely find me playing competitive basketball or golf with friends. If you can’t catch me there, it’s probably because I’m glued to the TV watching AFL or the NBA (unless it’s that awful one month period when neither is on!).

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:15am – Up for an at-home workout to try and start the day right!

7:45am – Head off to work with an NBA podcast ready to go

8:30am – Arrive at work, check emails and figure out how best to attack the day. Looks like I have a few surprise meetings that Goodie has put through over the weekend!

9:15am – Catch up with the rest of the Insights team in Melbourne and Sydney to see what everyone has on

11:00am – Current project work. Check in on any surveys we have running through Qualtrics. All is tracking nicely, no need to panic

12:30pm – Lunchtime with the team where we discuss off-court NBA drama and continue to debate the sport most suited to an office team. Looks like touch rugby is on the cards today

1:30pm – Quick practice on the office mini hoop (still can’t hit a shot from where my desk is) and then off to a prospective client meeting to chat through a project brief

2:30pm – Post client meeting with the team to work out our strategy to deliver a killer research and insights program

4:30pm – Check off some strategic initiatives work to keep things ticking over. Look at our Proprietary data to see if there are any emerging trends worth noting

5:45pm – Time to head home to change and have a snack before heading to basketball. Hopefully we can top the day off with a win!

ABOUT ME

Sport was my number one growing up. I remember being on the edge of my seat with my dad and still am to this day whenever we watch the Sydney Roosters. Playing sport has always been just as important to me. I remember waking up on Saturdays, pulling the curtains back and hoping that Cricket would still be on.

I studied Event & Sport Management at Torrens University and from this experience, I knew I wanted to have a career in the sports industry. I have been very lucky to have some great experiences in this industry so far and I’m glad from this it has led me to working with an amazing team at Gemba.

In my down time, I enjoy trying new restaurants & cafes, swimming, running, watching sport and spending time with family and friends.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Wake Up and out the door for a quick run, biggest challenge is what playlist will motivate me!

7:30am – On the train into work

8:30am – Grab a coffee from the café downstairs, sit down look at the meetings and emails and see how everyone’s weekends were!

9:00am – We have our business wide Monday Morning WIP and this week it’s Data & Analytics presentation alongside a few Gembaversaries

9:30am – Jumping straight into the Account Management & Creative WIP where we overview projects that are upcoming & ongoing in the week ahead

10:00am – We have a supplier to go through an idea for Maccas to activate during the NRL & AFL Season, working out the nuts & bolts of how we will execute this campaign

11:00am – Working on the ticketing management for Coca-Cola for the FIFA Women’s World Cup with impending deadlines so everyone can watch an amazing world cup!

12:00pm – HCF are one of our new clients where we work with them on activating Suncorp Super Netball, meaning it’s a presentation from Creative today around some of the big screen assets

1:00pm – Weekly WIP with Transport for NSW where we work on pulling together a report on previous work we have completed with New South Wales Rugby League – Knock On Effect

1:45pm – Lunch Time, whatever is leftovers in the fridge from the night before is consumed.

2:30pm – Working through the McDonalds season activation plan off the back of the meeting earlier in the day, have debrief session with the team and working through the information

3:00pm – McDonalds team in NSW have asked us to manage & produce a photoshoot to accompany a contract extension with some NRL clubs. Working through a brief to provide to our Creative team for help on the shoot

4:00pm – On call with McDonalds and discussing the creative presentation of ideas for NRL & AFL for the season ahead. Commercials and socials are just some things that were discussed

4:45pm – We have just got a new Barista machine and everyone is trying out their Barista making skills – fair to say mine are ok but still average…

5:30pm – Check the last few emails, submit timesheet and time to head home

6:30pm – Back home and start preparing dinner with family

8:00pm – Sit back and start to watch the new season of Drive to Survive and it starts hitting home that Daniel Ricciardo won’t race next year, just won’t be the same…

ABOUT ME

Growing up in Canada, I have always enthusiastically embraced a wide range of activities – skiing, soccer, volleyball, and dance were always my sports of choice.

Before joining Gemba, I dedicated five years to orchestrating immersive event experiences in the North American and Australian markets. Now, I am thrilled to fuse my career with my passion for sports and entertainment. 

In my downtime, you’ll find me at the gym, concerts, events, hanging out with my partner and our bulldog, Hank, and exploring Melbourne’s culinary scene with friends.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:45am: Wake up and shower – contemplate how long I can sleep in for, before forcing myself out of bed

7:30am: Have a much-needed coffee and take the doggo for a walk

8:30am: Arrive at work and prioritise my day

9:00am: Huddle with the creative team

10:00am: Likely to have meetings, meetings, and more meetings

1:00pm: Yay! Its (hopefully) lunchtime – ideally, getting a tasty sandwich or thinking about what else I can eat

3:00pm: Organise all quotes, checking and updating budgets

4:00pm: Call production companies to get updates on activation builds

5:30pm: Home time

6:30pm: On a good day, get to the gym and get fit!

8:00pm: Dinner time – should I cook? Or, should I get Uber Eats again?

9:30pm: Relax time

ABOUT ME

I am what you call a third culture kid; Born in Mumbai, India and raised in Dubai; I have now made the lovely city of Melbourne my home for the past 10 years. I like to believe that I have taken the best parts of each of these cultures and developed my unique personality over the years. I enjoy everything fast paced and vibrant hence why a career in the Sports and Entertainment industry might just be my true calling!

With a degree in Human Resources and Public Relations I hope to grow in the world of People & Culture to really make an impact in the life of every employee that I work with.

When I am not at work, I usually am consuming stories through Movies, Podcasts & Books. And finally, I live to eat!! Cook it, Order It, Watch it on TV all leads to my undying love for everything FOOD!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:20am – Wake up to realise Noodle the Cavoodle has made his way onto the bed at some point in the night

7:00am – Out the door, In the Car, Podcast on and hope to all the God’s that the traffic into the city is not too bad today

8:00am – Calendar and To Do List check and answer emails that have come through overnight from the Turnstile team

9:15am – Huddle with the lovely Cat before we get into the day

10:00am – Coffee time, maybe make a vegemite toast as well

10:15am – Mornings are for recruitment! Organise applications that have come through to the Careers Inbox and organise interviews for the teams

12 pm – Lunch with the team in the Sunken Lounge (forgotten to bring lunch from home again so it’s going to have to be a Poke bowl!)

1:00pm – 6 weeks check in with a new Gembie as they get settled in

2:00pm – Work on the P&C Metrics ahead of the Leadership Meeting and get it out to Paula for final checks

3:00pm – Afternoons are for focus work! Today we are updating the Flexibility Policy in line with new legislature

5:00pm – Weekly WIP with Rob

6:00pm – Out the door, In the Car, Podcast on and hope to make it to Pilates on time

ABOUT ME

Stay Tuned…

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Stay Tuned…

ABOUT ME

I’m lucky to be part of a very exclusive club of ‘Gemba-returnees’, I ‘pulled a Condo’ and seized the opportunity to come back to Gemba! It’s great to be back with some familiar faces, many new ones and my old desk where I left it; right in the path of the office football field.

With over fourteen years finance experience in a variety of industries ranging from film distribution to medical centers, I am currently Gemba’s Management Accountant. Having returned from a year of maternity leave, I now work part time, three days per week.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Alarm goes off, followed by hitting the snooze button over and over and over again; I am not a morning person

7:45am – Wake up my toddler, have a cuddle, then start chasing him around the house to get him dressed for childcare

9:00am – Arrive at Gemba, fill up my water bottle, check my inbox and catch up with Paula and Jenn about our fav TV shows we watched over the weekend

9:30am – JCRs! Is it sad that I look forward to these?

12:30pm – Go for a stroll to get lunch

1:00pm – Spend the rest of the day working on month end stuff

5:30pm – Time to go home and spend some time with my baby boy!

ABOUT ME

I was about 14 when I realised I probably wasn’t going to play football for England, or become the first Kiwi to win a Grand Slam singles title in over 100 years… so a plan B was needed, where I tried my hand at coaching and sports journalism, before falling into the world of sport and entertainment.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a range of different partnerships including B2B, tourism, ambassadors, social impact and of course, sport.

I’m a naturally curious person who loves learning about new sectors and thrives on the challenge of thinking outside the box.

Outside of work, I still love a kick about, getting lost on a hike, or a BBQ with mates.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Alarm snooze snooze snooze

6:30am – Into the gym for a quick sesh – Pull day…

7:20am – Shower time, throw a shirt on, smash some eggs on toast

7:55am – Start running for the tram!

8:15am – Get to the office. Quick breeze through the latest sport & entertainment news and what’s happening around the world in marketing

9:00am – Chat through priorities for the day with Rennie and clear the emails

10:30am – First video chat today and it’s an interesting one – talking with a rights holder about a rare opportunity in the film / blockbuster space!

11:30am – Time to plug into a renegotiation strategy quickly before lunch

1:00pm – Break time. Chicken & rice with a side of table tennis. Champions aren’t made overnight…

2:00pm – All agency PDCA. Becky from the Account Management team takes us through the TGR activation at the F1 Aus GP and learnings for next year

4:00pm – Catch up on the Cricket brief from Toyota. Where to take the Good for Cricket raffle this season?

5:30pm – Timesheets and that’s a wrap for the day. Back home for more life!

ABOUT ME

At school I was a jock-nerd hybrid: in love with sport, but (secretly) into maths.

Sport prevailed during uni and early career. I cut my teeth as a sport scientist with pro clubs in AFL and football (the round-ball game). But it wasn’t long before maths made a triumphant return. A natural affinity for numbers drove me into data analytics, while continuing to work in sport meant I got the best of both worlds. I now have the privilege of delivering data solutions for high-performing teams.

My interests include endurance running, watching football, public speaking, philosophy, reading books, and golf. Thank goodness I am a much better husband and father than I am a golfer.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:00am – Rise before the sun (first win of the day). Start the morning with exercise, a fresh fruit smoothie, meditation, and a tea – the calm before the storm

6:30am – Leave home for work. Time to read a book on the train in

8:00am – Arrive at the office, fill up the water bottle, and plan the day ahead. Attempt to complete at least one item on the to-do list before morning meetings

9:00am – Long black, Data & Analytics team stand-up, then some data engineering and dashboard building to finish off the morning

12:00pm – Lunch while catching up with fellow Gembies

1:00pm – Meet with clients to talk dirty data

3:00pm – Wrangle more data. Now it’s time to clear the email inbox

5:30pm – Depart the office. Journal and reflect on the day during the train ride home

7:00pm – Go for a run, dinner and chats with the family, shower, and bed

ABOUT ME

Following university, I’ve perused a career in research. I’m a naturally inquisitive person and LOVE digging into data to understand attitudes, behaviours, and discovering the ‘why’ for clients. I’ve previously worked on a real mix of qualitative and quantitative projects – from online ethnography to quantitative tracking and segmentation analysis. I have spent half of my career so far doing B2C research and the other half doing B2B research for corporate communication strategy across many industry sectors and clients. The chance to combine my love for Sport and Entertainment really is a dream come true!

Sport has been my lifelong passion, as a result I’ve pretty much tried everything; gymnastics, football, netball, athletics, rowing, skiing, surfing, the list goes on!
Long-distance running has emerged as my latest pursuit, introducing fresh challenges to my life.

Outside of doing sport, I am passionate about Women’s football; from a fan perspective and an advocate for the growth of Women’s sport, I’m excited to watch the game grow in England and the rest of the world.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Coming Soon…

ABOUT ME

Up until starting at Gemba I had been exclusively – and happily – freelancing as a Graphic Designer. After only a short stint in the Gemba creative team, the awesome culture quickly lured me into accepting a full-time position. It just so happens we get to work on some pretty cool stuff too. I’m grateful to be working in an industry that gives me the opportunity to be constantly learning and evolving.

I love to be entertained. My interests range from indie psychological thrillers to a new star studded Netflix original. Xbox to PC gaming, FPS to arcade games. A phone full of apps, streaming platforms, playlists, and e-books means it’s all easily accessed from anywhere – most importantly my morning commute!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Snooze. A cautionary alarm (or 4) lets me know that my real alarm is coming soon

7:00am – I’ve made it out of the house. Jeanie and I exchange dollar dollar bills for caffeine, and then I start my commute

8:30am – Huddle, prioritising, coffee round 2. I get to work on anything I promised would get out the door first thing

12:3 pm – I do stuff

2:00pm – I got distracted and eat lunch late

3:00pm – I do more stuff

6:00pm – I start the long and busy commute back home

ABOUT ME

Growing up I gravitated toward any sport that involved as little hand eye coordination as possible, this is where I found my love for skiing, gymnastics, and rock climbing.

My passion for gymnastics kickstarted my career in coaching, which I have done for the last 12 years across three clubs. This led me to taking on the role of Gymnastics Program Coordinator at Boroondara Sports Complex, which I undertook during my final year of my Advertising degree.

As a classic Melbourne girl, I adore everything food and wine, a typical weekend includes a smashed avo brunch. When I’m not at brunch you’ll find me in the gym, relaxing with a good book (yes, the paper variety) or the latest Netflix show.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Rise and shine (aka slowly meander out of bed)

7:30am – Out the door and onto the bus with an iced long black in hand

8:15am – Pick up an almond latte from the coffee shop downstairs before heading into the office

8:30am – Creative Team Huddle

9:00am – Time to sort through the Creative Scheduler email inbox and schedule any requested meetings

11:00am – WIP with the Production Team

12:30pm – Lunch time! Coffee number three mixed it up and got an iced almond latte

1:30pm – Back to work…

3:00pm – Afternoon brain slump means time for coffee number four (I’m working on my caffeine addiction I promise!)

5:30pm – Knock off, time to madly rush to the bus and hope I don’t miss it again

7:00pm – Gym, gotta work on those gains

11:00pm – Bedtime, grab my book and accidentally read till the early hours of the morning

ABOUT ME

Sport has alway been a huge part of my life. As a kid growing up in Melbourne, it was always a chaotic weekly schedule of netball, tennis, going to the footy on the weekend with family. I’m thrilled I have been able to turn this passion into a career I am very proud of and continue to develop globally.

From being a publicity assistant at the Australian Open, to working on the WTA Tour and travelling globally with the best athletes in the world, I’m constantly inspired by the infinite ways that sport and entertainment can connect and excite.

I have a Bachelor in Public Relations from RMIT Melbourne, and I have been lucky enough to work in London, China and Australia.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:15am – Alarm goes off. Rise and Shine

6:36am – Snooze off, let’s try that rise and shine again!

7:30am – Out the door and to the station, slightly delayed by saying goodbye to the dog (Billy, the Cocker Spaniel). I pop on the latest F1 podcast to catch up on the latest race news for the daily commute into the Gemba office

8:15am – Arrive at the office, coffee in hand and consult the pre-prepared daily to-do list from the day before. Check the calendar and schedule myself some focus time to ensure all tasks are completed throughout the day

9:00am – Time for the Monday Morning Meeting! This is such a great way to start the week with Melbourne and Sydney getting together to share recent projects, insights and updates from the various Gemba departments

10:00am – Check in with the amazing Gemba Creative team to discuss current projects and feedback from Clients

10:30am – Time to check in with Toyota, one of Gemba’s biggest clients on all things AFL. The agenda can include anything from key updates on the latest MCG activation, stats on the amazing Good for Footy Raffle and looking ahead to the AFL Finals

11:30am – New artwork just in from Gemba Creative, time to send to Client!

11:35am – Time for some tunes. A chorus of “Hey Google, play … on Spotify” chimes in from around the office as we battle for control of the office speakers. We usually land somewhere between 90’s R&B and Crowded House

12:00pm – Update the AFL Major Campaign budget for Toyota, forecasting any updating costs and reconciling the month just gone. Good opportunity to check with the campaign timeline, and various WIP documents whilst I’m at it

1:30pm – Edit the deck for a client presentation which has been reviewed by our Senior Account Director ready to go for tomorrow morning

2:00pm – WIP with Account Manager getting the updates on the latest from Toyota’s sponsorship of Motorsport as we work on the launch of the Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series

3:00pm – Catch up with AFL to discuss the latest updates from Toyota and collaborate on the upcoming community initiatives to celebrate volunteers in footy

3:30pm – Touch base with Marketing Strategy to discuss the upcoming sustainability campaign for Toyota. Such an interesting field for sponsorship at the moment, can’t wait to hear their thoughts on how Toyota can make an impact

5:30pm – Clear the inbox and check the calendar ahead of tomorrow. Double check I have a room booked for the client presentation before a final run-through

6:00pm – That’s stumps! Time to head to tennis and get active to finish the day!

ABOUT ME

After finishing a double degree in Law and Commerce at the University of Wollongong I decided I’d had enough of law and wanted to go into market research. Over the past few years I’ve really enjoyed building up skills in interpreting and communicating data at all levels, and helping clients better understand their market.

Combining my experience in market research with my passion for sport and entertainment was something I’d always been interested in doing, and I’m thrilled Gemba has provided me with the opportunity to do so.

In my spare time you’ll find me training at my local powerlifting gym, practicing guitar or following along with the latest scores and stats across Cricket, the NBA and Formula 1.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Alarm goes off, time for coffee #1 (long black) and checking the news before a drive to the station and jumping on the from Sutherland to Central

8:00am – Arrive at the Gemba office. I’ve been beaten by a couple of other early risers. Plan out my 5 major tasks for the day. Tempted to make it 6 but I’m not sure I can deal with that kind of responsibility

8:30am – Review a proposal and ruthlessly correct spelling mistakes

9:00am – Monday Morning Meeting with the Gemba team, followed by the Insights WIP. Mandatory 5 minutes per meeting to deal with technical difficulties

10:00am – Coffee #2 (small cap), working on a piece of bespoke research for the strategy guys in Melbourne to present

12:00pm – Get a call from a client. Can we get a survey in field in three days? After a chat with Condo, calls with fieldwork providers and guidance from Dan, we get the go-ahead

1:00pm – Lunch in the break room with the NBA on in the background. It’s Warriors vs Pelicans. No surprises who’s winning…

1:30pm – Start scripting the questionnaire for that survey. Google SUV models to include in one of the questions and get distracted by F1 stats from the Melbourne GP yesterday

2:00pm – Back on track. Work with Vinny on a small slide deck for a client

3:00pm – Back onto that bespoke research. Have a chocolate and plug in to some metal to prevent the afternoon slump

5:30pm – Time to start wrapping up – send off a few emails, say bye to the team and head home

7:00pm – Quick dinner before heading to the gym for deadlift night. A nice way to clear my head after a big day!

ABOUT ME

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to blend passions with work. I’m a keen sailor, cyclist, swimmer, traveller, and cook. I love being outdoors, listening to podcasts, all things biohacking, and walking the dog. So ending up in Sport, Entertainment and Culture has been a great fit.

Starting in design, polishing skills overseas in London working in branding, advertising and sport partnerships, and finally rounding things off in recent years specialising in Sport and Entertainment has been the journey. Being able to create unique experiences for fans that generously reward their passions in Sport and Entertainment, is my why.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

And what a wonderful life it is

7:00am – Leisurely swim with the sharks in Bondi

7:24am – Coffee

8:37am – Arrive at office, get another coffee

9:00am – John monologue (give Nick a call for side chat)

9:30am – Feet up at desk

10:00am – Brief designers to do my crappy scamps

10:10am – Read the paper

12:00pm – My go to Lunch order: 4 beef patties from Maccas

12:59pm – Turn on the swans game replay

2:00pm – More slacking off

3:00pm – Snooze in the sunroom

3:53pm –  Footy tips

4:21pm – NRL tipping

4:48pm – Knock off early (great day of work)

ABOUT ME

Despite multiple lockdowns and online learning, and a bit of a caffeine addiction, I managed to complete my Bachelor degree at RMIT. I was inspired by my VisCom teacher to pursue design and my passion continues to grow every day. I have a hands-on approach to my design work and am always developing my skills and knowledge.

During school I loved to get involved in almost every extra curricular activity, from team sports to musical productions. I play indoor beach and hard court volleyball and I absolutely love the sport. As someone who hates going to the gym, it’s a fun and social way for me to stay active and be involved in my community.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Alarm goes off and I choose to ignore it for the next 20 minutes

7:20am – Decide if I should make my own coffee or pay too much for one from the local cafe

7:40am – Drive to work while pumping some tunes to start the day

8:15am – Get to work and stop myself from buying an almond croissant

8:30am – Creative huddle to figure out what I’m actually doing that day

9:00am – Get started, working on the most important stuff first

1:00pm – Have lunch with some other Gembies. Did I make my own lunch? Probably not

2:00pm – Back to work, knocking down jobs

5:30pm – Leaving work and dreading the crazy amount of traffic, but still singing along to my favourite songs in the car

7:00pm – Get home and eat. I’m always starving by the time I get home

7:30pm – Wind down and binge some tv shows (most often ones I’ve already seen)

9:30pm – Bedtime

ABOUT ME

Born and bred in Melbourne, I’ve spent the majority of my 20+ year career in the world of advertising and media. I started out in a couple of smaller agencies and have also worked in a large global business.  I enjoy the energy and ever-changing dynamics working in this industry can bring.

When I’m not crunching numbers, I love to be entertained, whether it be at a live theatre performance, concert or at the cinema.  I also love to lose myself in a great book, spend time with family and friends and manage the Instagram page of my naughty yet adorable cavoodle named Scout!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Alarm goes off, hit snooze at least twice before dragging myself out of bed to walk my dog Scout

7:30am – Time to get ready and out the door to the office!  Listen to either music, crime podcast or audiobook on my commute

9:00am – Review emails over a Chai, plan to-do list for the day/week ahead

9:30am – Finance Team WIP to prioritise tasks for the week

10:00am – Finance-y stuff!  Process payroll for the past fortnight, answer team queries, raise client invoices, set up new Gembies in Pegasus

12:30pm – Time for lunch, hopefully a walk around the block if the weather is good!

1:30pm – More finance-y stuff!  Prepare sales pipeline for the team, complete balance sheet recs and other month end tasks

3:30pm – Time for an afternoon cuppa and a quick chat before smashing out the last couple of hours for the day

6:00pm – Time for the commute home – phew!  Another day done!

ABOUT ME

A proud Melburnian, I grew up in a sports loving household and took part in as many sports as I possibly could growing up. Whether it was basketball, cricket or football I was always playing something with my brother and cousins. I’ve continued to play any sport I could as I’ve gotten older, including still playing football for my local club.

It took me 12 months of a construction degree to realise that my true passion was in marketing, and since beginning my career in advertising 8 years ago I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest advertisers in the country.

Gemba gives me the chance to combine my 2 passions into one and I can’t wait to get started!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:45am – Wake up after hitting the snooze button several times.

7:00am – Quick breakfast made up of berries and chobani yoghurt before jumping on the 7.32 train.

8:00am – Jumbo coffee from PLUS to really get my day started before i get into the office. Try and plan my day and prioritize tasks.

9:00am – Client meetings and WIPS all morning.

12:00pm – Lunch with the team. Usually consisting of leftovers or a baguette if i want to treat myself!

1:00pm – More meetings. Usually, I will try and put in some focus time to concentrate on brief writing or financial tasks.

3:00pm – Quick table tennis game to break up the day and rejuvenate the mind.

6:00pm – Walk to my partners office around the corner to get a lift home with her.

7:00pm – Dinner usually consists of a Hello Fresh meal, followed by an episode of Succession.

8:30pm – My nightly ritual consists of ironing my shirt for the next day before I brush my teeth and head to bed.

ABOUT ME

I was born in Sydney, then over the last 27 odd years moved to Adelaide, Perth, Canada, Melbourne & Japan – and now back to Sydney.

Other than living out of a suitcase and relying on Google Maps to get everywhere, I love music, reading, the snow, the beach and chess.

I have also been known to accidentally watch 15+ hours of AFL in a singular weekend – but life is about balance, so I don’t often lead with that.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5.50am – Aggressive alarm. 5 minutes to cry in the shower then off to my reformer pilates class. Pump it (louder).

7.30am – Home from gym. Shower, eat, clothe myself, serenaded by Hamish & Andy poddy.

8.27am – Begin the perilous voyage to work.

8.30am – Arrive at work. Complain about the long walk to anyone who will listen.

8.35am – Call Julia to ask how to log into my MacBook.

9.00am – Creative huddle. Issy bossing me around with my tasks for the day – smile and wave.

9.30am – Work time. Could be anything from drawing, to writing, to ideation, to googling cricket balls for 3 hours.

11.00am – Time for my extra hot decaf oat 3/4 flat white with honey, cinnamon and 2 pink marshmallows.

12:30pm – Lunch time – feeding the pigeons my crusts in the park.

1:30pm – Back at it again with the white vans. Knocking off afternoon tasks for the day. Ally usually pestering with unreasonable deadlines.

3.30pm – Selfies in the bathroom with John.

5.25pm – Definitely remember to do my timesheets.

5.45pm – Uber home.

ABOUT ME

I have had the privilege to work in the industry I love for over 10 years which has taken me to some amazing places.

From starting my career stuffing membership renewal forms into envelopes in the back office of the Wests Tigers, to managing one of Europe’s biggest football sponsorships – Mastercard’s UEFA Champions League partnership.

I believe in the connective and inclusive power of sport and the joy it brings to people’s lives. That is why I love what I do and will always work in sport.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

The great thing about Gemba is every day is different! Transitioning back to office life with a mix of WFH means routine is a little bit hard to nail down but being dynamic is a huge part of this job so keeps me on my toes. Generally, a day might go a little like this:

MORNING: Up before the sun, my favourite Melbourne bean Wide Open Road thrown in the moka pot and usually accompanied by a side of vegemite toast. Pending post-work activity, I will then either drive in or jump on the no.5 tram down St Kilda Road.

OFFICE: Big booming good morning to the crew, a lil chit-chat then its head down and into the day. Whilst I have a great desk in our office, I am often found rotating from meeting to meeting and spend least of my time here, however, in between I don’t mind a cheeky coffee run (round 2) or sushi lunch with the team. Managing Toyota, one of Gemba’s biggest clients, keeps me very busy and discussing multiple different priorities across various sports all day which I love! An AFL Premiership launch event, to a post-Ashes cricket wrap up, to a Supercars season strategy and a side of country music vibes planning for the upcoming Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The meetings usually consist of WIPs with my direct team, a client meeting here and there, potentially a new business pitch KO and creative briefing or check-in. Desk time is focus time, get into my emails, working through top-level account admin for Toyota and often fielding questions from the team as I am finally back at my desk for the day. I have also been known to take-over the office speaker pumping an eclectic mix of tunes from the old school vibes of ELO and Bowie through to some OG 90’s hip-hop. I also don’t stray away from some office banter and hoops comp (the mini NBA nets on the wall get a good run on a Friday arvo).

END OF DAY: When achievable, I love to get to the gym for a reformer pilates or yoga class, on other days though it’s a late finish and a stop-in at the IGA downstairs to grab a My Muscle Chef classic (chicken and cauliflower bake is 10/10). I moved to Melbourne to take this job so I also love ticking off the list yet another amazing Melbourne restaurant with mates. If a Friday, definitely hitting a pub with the team for a few post work pints!

ABOUT ME

Since university, I’ve held a number of research focused roles across media agencies, publishers and broadcast media organisations in London and Sydney. In these roles I’ve designed and delivered qualitative and quantitative projects for clients, ranging from brand tracking, media and campaign effectiveness studies, creative testing and online communities. The chance to combine my passion for sport and my experience in data/research is one that I’m very excited for.

I’m a huge sports fan and have been hooked on watching live sport ever since that first trip to Stamford Bridge at the age of 8 (thank you Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for a precious 1-0 win). Since then, any opportunity to watch professional sport in action is a must for me.

Outside the office, you’ll find me trying to keep the dream alive by playing average football in my local 5-a-side league, listening to a podcast or playing a very bad round of golf.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Stay Tuned…

ABOUT ME

Growing up in South London not far from Wimbledon, I’ve always been mad about sport. I’ll try my hand at pretty much anything, but football and tennis have always been my favourites. Naturally this led me to hold three roles at Wimbledon when I was younger, from ballboy to waiter to court attendant.

Having always loved problem-solving, I studied for a degree in Natural Sciences, but realising I wasn’t cut out for a life in the lab, I turned my attention to analytics. Prior to moving to Sydney, I spent three years working for a sports consultancy, working with the likes of Premier League and ICC on a wide range of projects.

Joining Gemba felt like a no-brainer to continue combining my love of sports and insights.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Wake up and immediately check the overnight football scores, hoping for an end to Chelsea’s dire run of form. No surprise to see another 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened opposition..

7:30am – Quick smoothie and off to work. Spend the bus journey listening to a podcast and searching for a decent bike to avoid having to get the bus again

8:15am – Start the day off right with a Yorkshire brew while I check through emails and complete timesheets

9:30am – Head for the Insights stand up with the latest bad joke. No match for Tushar of course

10:00am – Amend the AFL draft survey with a new batch of feedback from the client and brands

10:30am – Disturb the office with an inability to froth milk properly, before finalising the survey and sending it back for confirmation

11:00am – Work with Tushar to add the finishing touches to a bespoke Fan Attendance research deck

1:00pm – Chat to the team about the Australian batting deficiencies while having leftovers from yesterday’s dinner, likely yaki soba

1:30pm – Bring back the old school revision playlist (lyric-less soundtracks) to accompany me through a session of sponsorship effectiveness

2:30pm – Second bout of noisy coffee making. Machine must be broken…

3:00pm – One brand down, one more to go before I head home

5:30pm – Begrudgingly walk to the bus stop for another painstakingly slow journey

7:00pm – Poke bowl for dinner then off to the local pub quiz where we’re guaranteed to come last as half the questions are on Aussie culture. Still, at least we won a fan that plugs into your phone…

ABOUT ME

I grew up obsessed with sport and thought I’d one day don the boots for the mighty Pies or open the bowling for Australia. When I realised that wasn’t going to happen working in sport was the next best thing.

I started my career at the AFL where I spent four years before pursuing a career in management consulting. Five years later my passion for sport led me to a strategy role at Racing Victoria where I spent six years, later becoming General Manager Strategy looking after strategy, projects and data & analytics. I worked on major projects such as Racing.com, Racing Photos and The All-Star Mile.

After a stint at a boutique management consultancy leading various data strategy projects, I joined Gemba to help establish the Data & Analytics division. This was an exciting opportunity to combine my strategy consulting, data and sport experience to work with the biggest brands in sport and entertainment.

Outside of work my passions are my family, renovating and keeping fit in the gym and on the bike.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Wake up and procrastinate whether I should go to the gym or not….ok gym it is!

7:00am – Crazy hour….get kids ready, school/kinder/childcare drop off (realise I left a school bag at home…damn)

8:00am – Sales Meeting to talk about budgets and pipeline…Hodgie killing it again

8:30am – All staff Monday Morning Meeting – Creative team presents on a cool TV ad campaign they’ve done for Toyota and AFL….I realise I don’t have a creative bone in my body

9:00am – Dial into the strategy daily stand up with the team to discuss the weekend of sport and then priorities for the day

9:30am – Data & Analytics Sprint Planning with the team to plan out the next two weeks

10:00am – Present a status update to the MCC Leadership Team on data and analytics progress

11:30am – Lead a data strategy workshop consultation with a major rights holder

1:00pm – Lunch, hopefully some leftovers so I don’t need to decide what to eat

2:00pm – Call with a client who requires strategy support

3:00pm – Focus time to review and update client work and respond to emails

6:00pm – Head home – dinner, bath, book & bed for kids

8:00pm – Time to relax, catch up on news or some Netflix

ABOUT ME

Having worked in various industries and needing a bit of a career change, I followed my passion for finance and spent the last 5 years in a creative agency, where I’m now excited to bring my experience to Gemba.

I am a creative thinker who thrives in a busy environment. I enjoy working with great people and the momentum of this industry is something that excites me.

Outside work, I like to spend time with family and friends cooking different cuisines. You will also find me at the local nursery where I enjoy seeing plants transforming into fruits, vegetables, or flowers to view.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – Alarm goes off and the day has started!

7:20am – Out the door and on the train whilst grooving to some music.

8:30am – Arrive at the office, time to catch up on emails and finance tasks.

12:30pm – Lunchtime

1:30pm – More number crunching

5:30pm – Finish off the day and start the commute back home.

ABOUT ME

Inspired by my AFL hero’s, I grew up in Melbourne living and breathing sport from a young age. Not quite good enough to turn pro I decided to get involved behind the scenes.

In previous roles, I have had some amazing opportunities at the pinnacle level of high-performance sport working alongside some of the industry’s elite AFL clubs and sporting organisations from across the country.  Gaining this unique exposure accelerated my understanding of the multiple complexities within sport and fast tracked my ability to innovate and problem solve.

I thrive on developing and applying industry leading data and technology practices to translate complex information into simple insights, enhance the decision-making process and empower end users.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

3:00am – Awake to my newborn daughter for a nappy change and hope to grab a couple more hours of sleep

6:00am – Time to get up and get moving either on a run or a walk with the dog

8:00am – Arrive at the office, grab a coffee and sit down to align the calendar and projects for the day ahead

9:15am – Daily stand-up meeting to check in with Data & Analytics team and then crack on with the first prioritised project for the day

12:00pm – Time to fuel up with some leftovers for lunch and catch up with my new colleagues

1:00pm – Meet with some key stakeholders to present progress and gather any further requirements

3:00pm – Wrangle some data or work on developing new tools

5:30pm – Depart the office and tick off a few pages from a recent book on the train home

6:30pm – Get the hot handball from my partner, time to step back into the new role of being a father, cook some dinner and prepare for the next day

9:00pm – Chill time with some Netflix and a cup of tea, have a bit of a stretch, then off to bed with fingers crossed for as long a sleep stint as possible

ABOUT ME

My finance career has always been in the exciting world of advertising and marketing. Over the last 20+ years I’ve worked in both global agencies and small boutique marketing firms and love the diversity of roles and amazing people I’ve met along the way. Throughout my time at Gemba, I’ve been allowed the flexibility to become a mother of two gorgeous girls, while being supported as I worked my way up to leading the entire finance division.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Up and getting ready – kids lunches to make and ponytails to put up! Grab a coffee and walk to the train station – let’s hope it’s on time today

8:00am – First meeting of the week – let’s talk new business!  Catch up with the proposals team on the revenue projections for the month

8:30am – Monday morning meeting – who’s presenting today? Whose Gembaversary is it?

9:00am – Finance WIP – catch up with Jenn and Erin on their weekend and review their priorities for the week

10:00am – Call from Murph in the Sydney office to talk about divisional planning – our favourite topic at the moment

11:25am – Another call from Murph… try to dodge a footy flying overhead! Pat!!!!

11:55am – Pop out with Jenn for our weekly Pilates session down the road, then back to work for a bite to eat and back into it!

2:30pm – The Gemba Bake off! Enjoy some delicious treats from the team – it’s getting really competitive now! Who will win?

5:00pm – Check in with Jenn before I leave for the day and jam myself onto a packed tram for the trip home

ABOUT ME

After starting my career initially in engineering as an oil & gas engineer, working across Australia & North America, I realised after a few years that I was after something different professionally.

After an early career change, I moved into the agency world as a digital strategist working with a range of clients across small, medium and corporate level enterprises. At the same time, I also undertook my MBA to develop and strengthen my broader commercial, strategic and advisory skillset.

More recently, I’ve spent the past few years working in the sporting industry at Cricket Australia in a cross-functional role within the in-house strategy and media rights teams. Through this, I’ve developed a broad understanding and exposure of the sports industry, having worked across initiatives in participation growth, media rights, broadcast & commercial operations, high performance pathways, franchise league development and general corporate strategy development. I look forward to bringing my deep industry experience to Gemba to help solve challenging, complex solutions across a broader range of sports & entertainment properties.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Get the day started and aim to get in a gym session or at least some fresh air before the day kicks off

8:30am – In the office, quick scan of any pressing emails and then some team bonding over a morning coffee

9:00 am – Daily Strategy stand-up with the team to review upcoming priorities for the day

10:00 am – Weekly-check in with a client to review and discuss the progress and next steps of their upcoming media rights deal

11:00am – Jump on a call with a client who is seeking to build out their next 5-year strategy

12:30pm – Lunch with the team and potentially sneak in a few highlights of the weekend’s sport

1:00pm – Exploratory meeting with a potential new client to review a proposal of how we may be able to support their business requirements on a new customer strategy

2:00pm – Power hour #1 – check in with the broader team, see how they are going and shift priorities, if needed

3:00pm – Weekly update with a Rights Holder SteerCo to provide an update on the development of a new business model for a new participation program they are seeking to launch

4:30pm – Power hour #2 – close out any remaining meetings and start ticking off any pressing items to round out the day

5:30pm – That’s a wrap for the day – make sure any important client correspondence is sent out and making sure there are no fires left to put out for the next day

6:00pm – Enjoy the evening!

ABOUT ME

I’m a typical sport obsessed Melburnian. A huge crowd at the MCG doesn’t get any better – especially when Carlton win.

I’m fortunate to combine my passion for sport with my profession, and count myself lucky to be working at Gemba.

Throughout my career I’ve experienced many aspects that sport and entertainment has to offer. From major event management, to working in the commercial team at the Melbourne Storm, and most recently guiding some of Australia’s biggest brands through their sponsorship campaigns.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:40am – First alarm goes off, I hit the snooze

5:49am – My 9-minute snooze goes off and I peel myself out of bed

6:10am – My fiancé (Lucie) and I drag ourselves to BFT gym. The music is blasting, and trainers have way too much energy. Luckily Tim Pope (from Gemba Strategy) is there to give us a pump up

7:20am – Back home to quickly walk the puppy, shower, eat and off to work I go. If weather permits, I ride in. Otherwise, I’m on the train

8:15am – Arrive at work, set up the desk, respond to any urgent emails and plan the day out

8:45am – Coffee #1 (long-black)

9:00am – WIP with Toyota to catch up on weekly tasks and things to plan for in the medium term

10:00am – Tom and I divide and conquer some pressing Toyota work – this can be anything from a creative brief, end of season report, contract valuation, renegotiation planning or sponsorship portfolio reviews

11:30am – Coffee #2

12:30pm – Time for lunch. So many options in near the office. But somehow, I always end up with Sushi…

1:30pm – Back into Toyota work. Is it Cricket, AFL, Motorsport, National Tree Day, Cowboys, Crows?

3:00pm – Coffee #3

4:00pm – Kick off meeting for a new opportunity with a brand – the Marketing Strategy team have unearthed another opportunity! We’ll get to work on the proposal right away!

5:45pm – I’m outta here – back on the bike, or train

6:30pm – Walk the doggo

7:00pm – In the kitchen cooking up a storm. Adam Liaw or Rick Stein on the TV in the background

8:00pm – TV time – Netflix/Kayo/SBS/ABC are the go-to’s. Unless Lucie commandeers the remote then it’s either Love Island or RHOBH

ABOUT ME

In hindsight I was probably destined to work in Sport & Entertainment. As a kid I developed a cricket tournament hosted in a carpark near home, ran horse racing nights and built stadiums in art class. My first job was working for a publishing company that specialised in sport, music and theatre publications.

From there I spent 10 years at Adidas, a great mix of sport, strategic planning and fashion. During this period I worked in Apparel, Footwear and Communications which gave me a holistic understanding of the business. In my last couple of years I was part of the adidas Global Olympic Strategy team, my first real exposure to the world of international sport.

In 2001 I took the plunge and started a business that evolved into Gemba. 18 years on I still thrive on the challenge of the industry and love the energy of working with a great bunch of people who are great at what they do.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

London

6:15am – Up and out into the cold for a run. Keep telling myself “A bad run is still better than a good meeting”

7:15am – Walk and Talk. Need to check in with our Sydney office so walk to work while on a call. Gets my step count up, avoids the furnace of the Central Line and a productive use of time. Winning

8:15am – Arrive at the Turnstile office and discuss the fall out of last nights Champions League games

10:00am – Meeting with client to present Turnstile valuations. A really interesting discussion about the pricing and value proposition of Women’s sponsorship assets

12:30pm – Stroll down to the food carts with the team with a strong resolution to “mix it up” today for lunch. After much bluster we all order the “usual”

2:00pm – Meeting with Dev team who are working on the next Turnstile module. Lament that I cannot write code

4:00pm – Call with a client who wants strategy support from the Gemba team regarding commercialisation of a stadium. Lament that I can not speak French

5:30pm – Call with US sports league who are keen to understand more about Turnstile’s approach to pricing sponsorship assets

6:30pm – Out of the office and head home avoiding the lure of a London pub on a cold night

ABOUT ME

Like most people in our industry, sport and entertainment passion runs deep within my genetic make-up. In fact, my earliest memories are being on a sports field. Whether it was learning how to hold a hockey stick at the age of four, or ensuring my backline were in position waiting for the rugby ball to pop out of the scrum at the age of seven. I always knew my life would revolve around sport in some way or another.

Born and raised in Mzansi (South Africa), I was fortunate enough to attend schools and a university that gave me a platform to pursue my sporting passion whilst laying a solid educational foundation beneath it all. By the age of 22 I had a Bcom Marketing Degree behind my name and had just represented my country at the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup in India.

Not long after that, I decided to hang up my hockey boots and pursue my marketing career full-time. I am so grateful that I am now able to bring my passions to life through the world of sport and entertainment marketing, and ultimately connecting brands to fans through the things that they love.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Frantically scramble to hit the snooze button on my phone. Just another 10 minutes, please. I like my sleep.

6:40am – With one eye open, check up on all my messages from friends and family back in South Africa that have messaged overnight. Time difference sucks!

6:50am – Okay, should probably get up and shower because the bus leaves in 40 minutes.

7:30am – Hop on the 201, straight over the Harbour Bridge and into the city. The bus trip is usually spent checking on EPL results from the night before and completing my daily Wordle.

8:00am – Almond latte extra hot, please. Straight up to the office and begin sorting through my emails and daily to-do list.

9:00am – Check-ins with different members of my team, identifying focus areas for the day and how we’re going to tackle them.

10:00am – First client meeting of the day with HCF, running through the WIP to ensure we’re delivering on their Netball Australia sponsorship content and activation strategy.

10:45am – Caffeine is vital. Squeeze in a quick coffee before the next meeting.

11:00am – Weekly catch up with our Macca’s clients, discussing ways to bring their NRL sponsorship to life.

12:00pm – Block out an hour of focus time to finish the FIFA Women’s World Cup activation deck for Coca-Cola. Nothing like an early 2000’s Hip Hop and R&B playlist to get my creative juices flowing.

1:00pm – Sudden realisation that I haven’t eaten a thing all day. I’m not on an intermittent fasting diet, am I? I should probably eat. *Casually walks to the Vietnamese joint around the corner for a fresh BBQ Pork Banh Mi

1:45pm – Check in with my wife to see how her day is going and if it’s my turn to pick up groceries after work.

2:00pm – Shift my focus to Westpac as we chat through our most recent activity from State of Origin II. Knowing we’ll be doing it all again at Game 3 in a few weeks, it’s important to understand how we can optimise the activation by identifying key learinings from the first two rounds.

3:00pm – Internal check-in with my boss/mentor/sensei, Clare, who gives me guidance on a challenging brief we’ve just received and how to best approach it. Once work talk is done, we spend the rest of the session chatting about my shoulder injury and when the sling can finally come off. Sorry, Clare!

4:00pm – The end is in sight! One more client meeting for the day before we can start wrapping up. This time we’re reviewing mid-season KPI results with our QBE client from their Swans and Swifts sponsorships respectively. Great to know we’re tracking well against the projections.

5:30pm – One last email before heading to the bus stop to catch the 304 back home. My brother back in South Africa should be awake now so I give him a ring and check how my beautiful niece and nephew are doing.

6:00pm – Turns out it was my day to do groceries, so I rush through the Woolies aisles to grab the essentials and take a brisk walk home. Time for dinner and daily catch up with my wife.

7:00pm – Usually I’d be getting my football kit on because training starts in 30 minutes at Northbridge. However, whilst I’m recovering from injury, I prefer getting the feet up and seeing how Ted Lasso’s Richmond FC are going to do against Pep’s solid City outfit.

ABOUT ME

Growing up in Sydney in the 90s I was a netballer in the winter (WD forever) and a swimmer in the summer (butterfly queen) I also spent many Sunday afternoons watching the Tigers play at Balmain oval so I’ve been lucky enough to have grown up with lots of wonderful memories surrounded by lots of passionate sporting fans. As I got older, I became more interested in the Entertainment side of things and started to live, breathe and obsess with all things entertainment specifically the film clips that would accompany songs.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to work across various industries including Event Management, Beauty, Corporate and NFP in different positions, all with a focus on admin and team support. This allowed me to not only gain valuable administrative experience but also allowed me to understand how to best support teams to deliver their best work.

Away from work, you’ll find me hanging with my husband Phil and baby Sonny OR obsessing over the latest Bravo content/Deux Moi celeb spottings.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00am – first Alarm goes off, I hit snooze quickly so I don’t wake Sonny and enjoy the next 15 mins in bed

6:15am – I am awake and coffee machine is on, once the caffeine hits the system I proceed to slap on a face, pick an outfit and get myself and Sonny ready for the day

7:15am – I’m out the door but not before laying a big embarrassing mum smooch on Sonny as my husband is on drop off/pick up duty today

7:25am – On the train and settling into the latest episode of Real Housewives

7:55am – Off the train and straight to my coffee joint for the second caffeine top up

8:15am – In the Office and my first check in with Condo to see if anythings urgent I need to action

9:00am – The team has started to roll in and the good vibes are pumping, we decide who’s going to be in charge of the playlist as I start to tackle my inbox

10:30am – My head pops up and I’ve got my plan for the day, things change daily so it means my to-do-list does as well, but we get it done

11:30am – Thursday means LUNCH CLUB so I’m getting the team ready in the chat and wondering where we will venture today

12:30pm – We’ve chosen the venue for the day and the team heads out, we grab lunch and head back to eat together

1:30pm – Check in with my Melbourne Ops team to get a couple of updates on projects we are working on

2:30pm – Another check in with Condo, this time I need to book some flights and accommodation for some upcoming travel

3:30pm – Quick check in with my deskmates on the latest Deux Moi posts & Tik Tok trends

4:00pm – Last check of the office before end of day, make sure everything is looking good, ready for the next day

4:30pm – Last check of the inbox and get some sort of plan for tomorrow, adjust my to-do-list with what’s been actioned & what has moved priority wise

5:00pm – Out the door to begin my trip home, looking forward to my housewives.

5:45pm – I’m home and have about 15 mins to myself before Sonny comes home.

9:30pm – Last 3 hours have been a blur of dinners, books, baths and bottles. I collapse into bed where I promise myself I wont stay on my phone past 10pm…

ABOUT ME

Sport has always been a huge passion of mine. Growing up on the other side of the ditch in NZ I played nearly every sport under the sun, and many weeknights & weekends were spent training and competing. Naturally this led to a sports management degree at university, and with the addition of a marketing degree I’ve combined these with innate curiosity to work in the ever-evolving business side of sport. These days I’m more of a social athlete and couch coach/ref, and can be found surfing or testing my footwork on the touch field.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Up & at ‘em. Pack a quick lunch and jump on my bike to get into the office

8:00am – After a quick shower I dive headfirst into my inbox, reading the overnight reports and stories on the latest deals signed, and accepting meeting invites

8:30am – Monday Morning Meeting with the MEL & SYD offices, who’s presenting today? What’s the topic?

9:00am – Marketing Strategy WIP with the team, covering this week’s priorities and delegating tasks

10:00am – I pop downstairs for a quick coffee before getting stuck into the day’s work. This morning its some data analysis & deck building for a client who’s renegotiating their AFL contract

12:30pm – Time to stretch my legs and grab a famous Surry Hills schnitty sandwich for lunch. Back in the office to watch some NBA and make our playoff predictions – go Raps!

1:00pm – Back into it with some interviews with a crypto brand’s internal stakeholders, trying to uncover their ‘why’ for investing in sport

3:30pm – Quick regroup with Account Management and we present a PIR for a recent campaign for a government client, getting into the nitty gritty of what worked and where to for next year’s campaign

5:15pm – Close my laptop and jump back on my bike to head to a touch rugby game. Surely watching Benji Marshall highlights on YouTube will improve my footwork!

7:30pm – Home & hosed, ready for a feed. Time to put my feet up and watch some Netflix

ABOUT ME

I take pride in getting things done and solving problems in the most efficient way. Coupled with my passion for all things sports (especially basketball), Gemba is like the Miami Heat to my Jimmy Butler.

Being exposed to sports since young, I am equally passionate about sports as a business and as an entertainment. Outside of work, you’ll find me playing/watching basketball, cycling around Melbourne or doing random things that pique my interest (paddleboarding, taking salsa classes or tennis lessons). Oh, and I’m always up for food adventures (I’ve tried cuisines from 26 different countries and counting!).

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:45am – My first alarm rings and I quickly hit snooze

7:00am – l actually wake up and start getting ready for the day

8:10am – Check my email and meeting schedule for the day while I commute

8:30am – I’m in the office, immediately start working on the project update for a festival sponsorship strategy

9:00am – Strategy team daily check in to set priorities for the day

9.30am – Coffee run with the Strategy team

10:00am – Attend a project update meeting with a client to present commercial rights model and get their feedback

11:00am – Progress an expansion analysis final report that will be sent out to the client tomorrow

12:30pm – Lunch! Time to catch up with some Gembies outside the Strat team

1:30pm – Workshop with a group of rightsholders to figure out the program objective for the sport’s new junior participation program

2:30pm – Summarise output from the workshop, continue working on the expansion analysis final report

4:00pm – Snack and mini hoops time (I do better with normal sized basketball, but not for long!)

5:30pm – Finish up work and then off to attend a Pilates class in the CBD

7:00pm – Try a new restaurant with some mates

10:30pm – Catch up on NBA’s trade and free agency rumours before going to bed

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in Melbourne, I grew up surrounded by sport and am a die-hard, long time suffering, third generation Melbourne Football Club tragic. I also have a love for Horse Racing, and you’ll find me trackside at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Prior to Gemba, I worked in advertising for 8 years before making the jump to the sport industry. I’ve spent the last 4 years leading the Partnerships team at the AFL, working across several brands including Toyota, NAB, Virgin Australia and Wolf Blass. Highlights include campaign activations for NAB Mini Legends, Virgin Australia Greatest Ever Seat Upgrade and Wolf Blass ‘Here’s to the chase’ series. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Alarm goes off. Roll over, check my phone to catch up on all the overnight news and see what Melbourne weather has in store for today

7:30am – Activewear on and ready to walk to the office. A true crime podcast in my ears, I walk past the best stadium in the world (the MCG), along the Yarra River and through the Botanical Gardens

8:30am – Arrive at the office, get changed, eat a bowl of cereal at my desk and review what’s on for the day!

8:45am – Jump in an Uber en route to Toyota. This morning we’ve got AFL WIP and a pre-production meeting for the upcoming AFL Finals campaign

11:45am – Quick discussion with the client on last night’s episode of Survivor. What a blindside!

12:00pm – Grab a quick sandwich and Emma & Tom’s juice from the bistro at Toyota’s head office

2:00pm – Weekly WIP with my Senior Account Manager. It’s great to chat through what she’s got on this week, any priorities and what I can help with

3:00pm – Head into an internal review session for the upcoming Cricket Season creative approach

4:30pm – Try and tackle the emails in my inbox but get distracted by the lure of a cup of tea and a biscuit

5:45pm – Activewear back on and ready to walk home. I’m onto the next episode of my true crime podcast!

7:00pm – We’ve got friends coming over for dinner, so I have to quickly start prepping my go-to menu of BBQ butterflied lamb, roast potatoes and a salad

ABOUT ME

Despite growing up in a family with a nonchalant attitude to sports, living in Melbourne meant that sport would always find it’s way into my life in one way or another. As a mad Saints supporter, big tennis fan and an avid golfer, sports is now truly a huge part of my life (not to mention that I’ve now got most of my weekends sorted out during the year!).

With over five years of strategy consulting experience across a range of industries and sectors, I joined Gemba to get more involved and experience in the sports industry. This was an exciting opportunity to combine my strategy consulting background and passion for sports on a regular and impactful way.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:00 am – Alarm rings, wake up and roll out of bed

6:30am – Do my daily Wordle, check out who won the Master’s or Wimbledon overnight and motivate myself to get up

7:00 am – Make some brekkie and a morning coffee to start the day right

7:30am – Commute to the office, get a jump on overnight emails and any fires to put out

8:30am – Roll into the office and check in on the team, more than likely to get a cup of coffee

9:00 am – Daily Strategy stand-up to review priorities for the day/week

10:00 am – Present project update to a leading rights holder on their next growth strategy

11:00am – Jump on a call with a potential client who is looking for support to develop their next 5-year strategy

12:00pm – Food, lunch, and coffee

1:00pm – Lead a workshop with a client Exec. team to clarify their 10-year vision and strategic priorities

3:00pm – Check in with the Strategy team on progress and any roadblocks I can help resolve. Then off to grab some more coffee

3:30pm – Hour of power #1: review work, progress client analysis and respond to urgent emails

4:30pm – The home stretch – power through any outstanding tasks for the day and setup for the next day

5:30pm – Shut down the laptop, leave the office and head to play tennis, basketball or watch the mighty Saints come home with a win!

ABOUT ME

I’ve always had an insatiable itch to scratch when it comes to personal and professional growth and I’ve found immense gratification working at the intersection of creativity and business.

I started my industry experience in the TV world where I worked in Sports and Entertainment production before taking the leap to the sunny city of Los Angeles where I helped produce world class productions for the Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty industries for global brands.

Missing experiencing all four seasons (my visa ran out) I came back to Melbourne and joined Gemba to continue broadening my experience and developing knowledge across the Design and Creative spaces.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Stay Tuned…

ABOUT ME

From playing rugby throughout school and university, to being a current playing member of the MCC, and now taking my chances at AFL (cliché Melbourne expat), sport has always been a big part of my life. In fact, I’ve been playing sport since I could walk.

After growing up in England and working in London for two years, I made the decision to move across the world and pursue a career in sport and entertainment. So, what better place to move to than the sporting capital of the world, Melbourne!

Since moving, I’ve worked with some of Australia’s largest sports rights holders to evaluate their commercial partnerships, and I’m really excited to bring that knowledge into my strategy role at Gemba.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

5:45am – Roll out of bed and into the gym, time to get myself moving for the day

7:30am – Put on a podcast and stroll along the Yarra into work

8:15am – Catch up on any overnight emails and set up my priorities for the day

9:00am – Strategy team daily WIP to catch up on our current projects and plan the day ahead

9:30am – Grab a coffee and finalise the business case we have written for a client hoping to get government funding for an infrastructure development

11:00am – Check in with the Creative Team who are helping us develop documentation to assist an investment firm buy lower league sports teams across Europe

12:30am – Head out to Southbank and grab a sarnie, then fire up the daily newspaper quiz!

1:30pm – Check in with a global rights holder and update them on our progress on their new licensing strategy development and implementation plan

2:30pm – Put the finishing touches on a data strategy report we have developed for a client

4:30pm – Re-group with the team and bring them up to speed on today’s progress

5:00pm – Send out any final emails for the day and make sure I have everything ready for my morning meeting at The ‘G the next day

5:45pm – Time to pack up and head home, taking the longer route around the tan to make sure I am making the most of the sunny evenings

7:00pm – Rustle up some food and relax for the rest of the evening, catching up with friends and family back in the UK

ABOUT ME

A sports enthusiast who also enjoys outdoors and adventures, I have been learning kickboxing and hiking from many years, however my love for football remains constant. I have played various sports in my life which makes me very competitive but I also believe in teamwork. I like exploring new places and going music festivals and gigs.

Having studied my MBA in Marketing & Masters in Analytics, I believe Gemba is a perfect platform to showcase my passion, interest and skills in the sports and entertainment industries. Deriving meaningful insights which help clientele gives me sense of joy. Outside work you’ll find me either working out (includes playing a sport) or enjoying couple of beers with friends.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:30am – Alarm goes off, wake and make my favourite soy mocha!

8:00am – Leave for work, catch-up on socials, plan a gym class!

8:30am – Check on emails, organise tasks, set targets for the day/week

9:30am – WIP meeting with the team

10:30am – Have a quick breakfast!

1:00pm – Lunch with colleagues after getting my go to Vietnamese veggie box

5:30pm – Quick check in with Dan to close out the day, update timesheets

6:00pm – Have a nice walk through the city to gym. Get a good workout!

8:00pm – Cook dinner which mostly involves rice

10:00pm – Watch Netflix for half hour, play online chess for half prepping for next day

11:00pm – Off to sleep!

ABOUT ME

Ever since I was a kid, I have been sport obsessed. Whether it was swimming lessons, football training or watching Italy win the 2006 World Cup, sports have always been a part of my life. As I grew older and started going to concerts and festivals my love for the entertainment industry and live events also grew. (Pre-covid I would try to have at least 2-3 concerts lined up a month).

I graduated university with a bachelor of commerce majoring in both Finance and Economics, hoping that I can apply my love for sport and entertainment in a business context. It didn’t start out that way, working for a Fintech, where I learned valuable skills and gave me a taste for research and insights. I am extremely lucky to have landed a role at Gemba that allows me to combine my passion for sport and entertainment with my education and experience.

On weekends, if I’m not at my Sunday league game or at a festival I’m most likely hanging with friends looking for the next best place to grab a great bite to eat and have a drink.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:00am – Finally get out of bed after snoozing my alarm for the past 30 minutes. I catch up on the European football highlights while sipping my morning coffee

7:45am – Hop on the light rail, complete the daily wordle and catch up on some sporting news

8:15am – Order my second coffee from the café downstairs. (I’m really not a morning person)

8:30am – Get into the office and start to sort out my emails. I begin to organise my priority tasks for the day

9:30am – WIP meeting with the insights team, share my priorities, see what else needs to be addressed today

10:00am – I tend to get onto any data digging in the morning, whether it’s filling in the latest report or working on a data request for the marketing strategy team, pre-lunch is primetime to pump out a bunch of data

12:30pm – Lunch. If I’m not chowing down on some leftover pasta from last night you can probably expect to find me to be devouring some $5 dumplings from down the road

1:30pm – Scripting time! This time is spent scripting up surveys to make it into the field to gather data. Today I’m working on a survey for Racing Victoria. This time is also great to catch up on the latest music release that you might’ve missed

3:00pm – Regroup and re-check my list from the morning. Now is usually the time I’ll re-evaluate my priorities and see what needs to be completed by the end of day. I’ll often get a call around this time to give someone else a hand with a project or to clarify a question I had

5:00pm – Before finishing up for the day, I take time to book out my diary for the next day to make sure I’ve got enough time to finish any pressing tasks tomorrow. I also make sure any afternoon emails are addressed and surveys are in field with no hiccups

6:30pm – Football training! If it’s not rained off, I’ll head down to my local park and train with my team. Football is a great way to have a laugh and unwind after a big day