Talent mentoring a full-time role for Billy McFerran at ACE

‘You build a culture of being able to talk about anything.’

Billy McFerran was just 13-years-old when he got his break in radio, working on the night show at NEW FM in Newcastle. 

During his career Billy has worked as a producer at 92.9 in Perth and NXFM in Newcastle, now Hit 1069, where the show he produced held the number one breakfast slot for five years.

Billy’s first CD role was in Hobart spending five years with SCA before taking a break working his way back onto the radio radar.He was appointed CD in Newcastle for NEW FM and 2HD before  Mickey Maher and Leanne Hulm lured him to Shepparton. 

And now the Ace Network has lured Billy in a new role mentoring the network’s talent.

“I will be working closely with Mat Cummins on developing the company’s talent,” says Billy. “It will include weekly catch ups with breaky shows and getting into some programming and content elements.”

As CD in Hobart, Billy was responsible for two breakfast shows including The Kim and Dave Show, overseeing the transition of the duo from Sea FM to sister station Heart 107.3, now Triple M.

Kim Napier, who left breakfast radio in 2014 caught up with Billy to find out more about his new role and what it means to be a mentor.

How did you take the step into mentoring?
“I noticed that  in Hobart we took a chance on a producer of a talk show to start on air at Sea FM (after Kim and Dave moved to Heart). 

“Her name was Esther Woodhams and I knew that Woody had a great work ethic and would be great, but you have to take the time to make sure they can walk before they run. Woody wanted to run straight away.

“Over time, Woody moved from workdays into brekky and that was the point I realised that mentoring is just so rewarding.”

How important is a mentor?
“I still have a couple of mentors and I rely on their feedback and support. I think that you need to have trust in a mentor, you need someone who can give you the warts and all feedback. 

Sometimes not even about radio. Finding that right mentor is one of the best things, you can do for your career.” 

Who have you mentored and what’s required?
“You need to be open to tough conversations and be able to take on board the constructive feedback. I want our talent knocking down the doors for air checks and feedback. Those who shy away from a planning session or feedback are not ready to take the next step.
 
“One of my proudest moments was when Gemma Maddox came to the Goulburn Valley and now has a workday shift in Canberra. Gem constantly wanted advice and feedback and I knew that it would only be a matter of time before Gem got her first big gig. She is a wonderful person and has so much passion for the industry and music. 

“I loved working with Esther Woodhams in Hobart as seeing her grow as a breaky announcer and Jess Farchione who won an ACRA for best newcomer in 2017 before getting a gig in Newcastle breaky after 18 months in Shepparton.” 

 How did the ACE network realise there was a requirement for a mentor within their company?
“They have been doing it already for years and do it really well so it is not something that is new to them. I guess it is about putting more resources into the talent and that is what I love about the culture that Mark Taylor and Mat have created. A real focus on the team and growing their talents.”

What are the challenges when mentoring someone?
“It takes a lot of time to build trust. You have to be ready to have real conversations about your feedback and opinions but eventually over time, you build a culture of being able to talk about anything and nobody taking it as a personal attack.”

Billy finishes off our chat with a cheekiness that gave me many laughs during his time in Hobart, “...if only you and Dave had listened!”
 
 

Kim Napier

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