Here’s a series to counter stereotypes with reality. To defy disdain for age. To show that experience is not a hindrance.

Jane Emery has conquered agency life on the top tiers. Not for three years. Nor ten. That shouldn’t be something unusual. But is. Jen Sharpe, founder and managing director, Think HQ, explains why she has. “I think the world of Jane Emery.  She actually used to be my mentor, and then when she became available after she left her previous role, I jumped at the chance of getting her on board as a team member. Jane is so unique in the industry in that she carries so much wisdom, she is relentless in a good way, and she’s a great person with a big brain and a big heart.  Her presence in the office generates action, and it’s always noticeable and I always miss her when she’s not around.”

You rose to managing director of Grey Group Melbourne & Canberra. What skills and capabilities were most important to you in that role?

I was with Grey for 16 years. And MD of both Melbourne and Canberra offices for around 5 years. Across both offices there were over 100 people, and some terrific senior people who ran their own departments. Skills and capabilities? I was incredibly lucky to have two outstanding people that mentored me and guided me from account director through general manager and then MD. They truly believed in me and convinced me; I could do anything I put my mind to.

I’ve always been curious, have always asked questions of people from clients to people I work alongside. It can get very frustrating sometimes for those folks, but I have been told a few times, that often they’re questions colleagues have wanted to ask and haven’t. So I’ve learnt to ask them and not worry if they appear a tad dopey. Respecting others’ point of view from the youngest and newest members of staff to most senior is also a skill that’s critical to the roles I’ve had.

The ability to get stuff done is a skill that I’ve built over a number of years. It’s non-negotiable  for account service and new business. And finally, resilience is a must. I’ve had examples where I’ve been terribly upset by what people have said, but to succeed you have to develop that trait. And hand in hand with resilience is confidence.

Which of these capabilities have you brought with you to your roles as business development director, Lumin and now Think HQ?

I’ve brought all of them.  Resilience is key. New business is a numbers game, and you have to have a lot of balls in the air at one time. You can’t rely on that one big new business pitch for success. If we’re unsuccessful it could be for reasons we didn’t know. We might also have come a very close second – so we never ever give up. We’ve had instances where we might have been unsuccessful, but they come back 6-12 months later because of that earlier experience, together with keeping in touch.

Being curious about a client’s business and asking questions about their business and the brief. Even in all agency briefing sessions, we ask questions. It’s what you do with the answers that makes the difference. It can also be the first time the client gets a feel for how the agency operates.

What knowledge and skills have you added with experience?

To be more diplomatic. Think HQ has a culture that’s very different from anywhere else. The people make this business.  It’s a people business across all communications agencies. But Think HQ in particular.

I can be very blunt, frank, direct and not realise the impact I have in my manner at times. So, I have had to reflect at times to ensure I’m a little more diplomatic and curb that bluntness.

What would you advise young people hoping for a career in management in an agency?

You’ll often hear advice telling people to “believe in themselves” – which is good advice. But it’s only half the picture. Just as important is to find someone who believes in you. Find someone within the agency that believes in you and ask them to mentor you. Grow your network – you never know who you’ll need to contact in the future for help. Build your confidence in whatever way you can, so that if something doesn’t quite go the way you wanted, it will be ok on reflection.

What is it about agency life that gets you up in the morning?

It’s all about the people at Think HQ, and the wide range of business we’re able to work on. You get to tackle a portfolio of clients that’s truly unimaginable at other agencies – and to do it with a bunch of people who you simply wouldn’t find at any other agency.

What are you most proud of?

I’m particularly proud of the long-term behavioural change campaigns that have made a huge difference to people’s lives. I never worked on the TAC directly at Grey, but to see the road toll go from 800 to under 300, to be recognised at Cannes as the agency that had made the most impact on the road toll globally, was pretty amazing.

I’m also incredibly proud of the work I’ve done in the disability sector, from board position at Summer Foundation, and general manager of marketing at one of the largest Victorian disability organisations at the time NDIS was being rolled out. And it was an opportunity to work client side.

And one other stand out is Think HQ’s work for Watertrust Australia. This is a piece of business that we’ve worked on from Day 1. We helped in developing the name, brand look and feel, their website, content, and communications. An amazing organisation where we’re truly a partner in the amazing work they do improving how water and catchment policy decisions are made in Australia.

…and then there’s this, from Tilly Hammond, Communications Strategist at Think HQ. “Being asked to write an endorsement for Jane Emery is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s a rare treat to have the chance to shine a light on such a brilliant and generous colleague; on the other, you know before you write it that she will give you hell for embarrassing her the moment she reads it.

“And this is Jane in a nutshell – always looking for the chance to give others credit or a leg up, but rarely willing to take any praise herself. I know because I’ve benefited first-hand from her wisdom, her support and on more than one occasion from what you could politely characterise as her mischievous sense of humour. It’s so rare to get the chance to work with someone who has been blazing a trail in the industry for so long, but who remains as curious and creative as ever.

“What’s so rare, though, is Jane’s desire to learn and constantly expand her own horizons and experiences. Her fearlessness in asking questions others might shy away from is possibly the most impressive thing about her, and something that so many people in the industry would benefit from doing – and it’s what makes Jane the smartest person in the room, not the person in the room who wants to act the smartest.”