In Conversation with Janette Kendall
Janette is a leading Marketer with a depth of experience across multiple business categories including luxury hotels & resorts, property, fashion, retail, food & beverage and gaming brands. She has recently returned to Australia having lived in China for the past three years where she was Senior Vice President, Marketing for one of Asia’s leading luxury casino resort groups, Galaxy Entertainment Group. Prior to that she was Executive General Manager of Crown Melbourne, and part of the Executive team responsible for the $1.5B, five year property redevelopment plan, including the brand development and launch of new restaurants, bars, gaming rooms, and the Crown Metropol. Over the years Janette has held senior executive positions with leading global advertising agencies, including Clemenger BBDO, fashion and apparel companies across Pacific Brands, and digital companies including the start up Clemenger Digital, and emitch.
She has a depth of experience across all facets of Marketing with particular expertise in Marketing Strategy, Branding, and Digital. Janette is also an experienced Company Director and Fellow of the AICD. She is currently on the Board to Wellcom Worldwide, The Melbourne Theatre Company and MTC Foundation. Prior directorships include the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Clemenger BBDO and AURL (Foodworks).
Who (or what) inspires you?
Young entrepreneurs, especially women. Since returning to Australia I have met the most extraordinary women creating and running start up businesses across both the for-profit and not for profit sectors. Their energy, passion and commitment to create innovative, vibrant and creative businesses is inspiring. They also all share a global perspective. I’m inspired by their intelligence, self-belief and energy to take on the world. I also see this in many graduates – those that stand out from the pack share these characteristics. I’m inspired that they are creating a very bright future.
How did you get your first break?
I was working in the PR department at BHP, along with studying part time. My boss at the time, Ian Crawford was offered a role at USP Needham to establish a PR department. He asked me to join him. So I left the corporate world of BHP and got my first job in advertising. What was wonderful about this is not only did I start my career in advertising in a vibrant, successful agency, but also over a decade later Ian’s daughter Gilly joined me at Clemenger as my assistant. It was her first job in advertising.
Tell us what you are currently working on.
I’m currently working on many projects across my portfolio of roles. At Wellcom Worldwide the focus is very much on global expansion and continuing to drive innovation. At the Melbourne Theatre Company we are focused on building on the already successful subscription base, and raising funds to support innovative programs including the Women in Theatre Program. At Goldeneye Media we are working on many projects around the world, creating beautiful content across a number of sectors including property, hospitality and retail. We’re also further building on our China Digital offer. We developed and launched our GEM China team late last year and now nearly all of our campaigns are developed for both an English and Chinese audience. It’s an exciting time as we’re working with a number of clients developing their Chinese digital strategy, content planning and content creation.
Top tips on entering the marketing and media industry.
It’s a wonderful time to be in marketing. I believe marketing is undergoing a paradigm shift as all we dreamt of in the early days of digital is coming to fruition. This is creating new thinking, new opportunities and roles in Marketing departments and agencies around the world. With this shift comes greater accountability to deliver measureable results.
- Be inquisitive: about people, cultures, trends, and what’s happening in the world.
- Don’t stop learning: especially as the digital world transforms nearly everything we do and how we do it. Learning how we effectively connect has never been more important.
- Passion for customers: understand what they think, feel and need to ensure as marketers we make a real connection.
- Find a mentor: there is nothing like having a sounding board, someone to support and guide you.
- Build a network: not only in the marketing and media industry, but also in business more broadly.
- Work overseas: particularly China.
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