This is the 9th in a series of interviews exploring the career and life journey of women in the media industry. The aim of the series is to reflect on the wisdom they have gained during their journey.
So far we have had a cross section of women in different roles and career stages: Lauren Joyce, Laura Bouchet, Cathy O’Connor, Megan Smith, Kim Napier, Amanda Lee, Jacquie Riddell and Helen Tzarimas.
This week we profile Rebecca Ackland, who began her career in the tech and tourism industries before accepting a role as Chief People & Culture Officer at SCA.
1. Describe your current professional life and your stage of life.
I would describe myself as mid-career and deeply engaged in my work as SCA’s Chief People and Culture Officer. At this stage of my career, I’m hyper focused on providing the amazing people around me with access to the same opportunities to grow and develop that I’ve been fortunate enough to receive. These days, I spend a lot less time focused on my own career and more time helping others to grow theirs, as a way to ‘pay it forward’.
2. How did you come to be in this industry?
SCA was my first foray into the media industry. Prior to SCA, I worked in the Tech and Hospitality/Tourism industries – both very different worlds to media. When I joined, I didn’t know what had hit me! But now, I would like to think I’m a media lifer. I love the pace, passion and the people. The authenticity that people bring to work every day is rare to find.
I was given my first opportunity in media by Liz Saward (EA to the CEO, also a media lifer). I learned early that EAs run the show! Liz remains a lifelong friend and is still a colleague today.
3. What are your core beliefs? How are your values evident in the work you do or the life you lead?
One of SCA’s values is “Be Genuine” – something that resonates deeply with me. I believe in sharing your honest opinions, approaching others with genuine care for their wellbeing, and leading with humility.
Rebecca Ackland with SCA People and Culture Team
I try to behave at work in a similar way to how I behave at home, treating my team the way I would treat my friends or family by genuinely trying to help them grow, being honest when they need it, keeping their best interests in mind, and truly caring about them.
4. How did your education, formal and informal, enrich your life and career?
Neither of my parents, or their parents, went to university – so working hard at school and valuing education was something that was drilled into me and my sisters from a young age. For us, studying and learning has felt incredibly aspirational, and it’s not lost on me that I’m the first generation in my family with the opportunity to afford it.
Because of that, I’ve always been someone who really values academia and the impact it has on how we think and your view of the world. I’ve spent over ten years at university between my undergraduate studies and a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management and Industrial relations.
I’ve always loved to read and I try to finish a book every two weeks. More recently, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Senior Executive Programme at London Business School, thanks to SCA, and it was another life changing experience.
Education has deeply enriched my life and the way I approach work. It’s encouraged me to keep an open mind, read widely, and build a strong foundation of knowledge to draw from when navigating tricky situations.
Given my Executive career took off early, I credit my education with giving me the confidence in decision making, even when I didn’t have experience to fall back on.
5. What were your key decision points and how did they shape your journey?
Probably a ‘sliding doors’ moment in my career was when I was offered an opportunity outside of SCA. At the time, I was a Senior HR Business Partner at SCA and had accepted a senior leadership job in HR at another company.
A week before I was due to finish up at SCA, John Kelly and Grant Blackley both pulled me into their offices and encouraged me to stay, not in HR but in a new business unit we were developing. I had never considered working outside of HR and was genuinely excited about the role I was leaving for, but at the last minute. I decided to trust their advice and ‘say yes’ to the opportunity.
Soon after that, COVID-19 hit. Our HR leader left, and the new business division was put on hold due to the state of the world at the time. Grant and John asked me to take on the acting CPO role to get the company through COVID which I reluctantly agreed to. My dad called me “Stephen Bradbury” because I was offered the job when every other applicant had fallen over.
From there I threw myself into the role and did everything I could to support our people and the business through COVID. As a result I was offered the CPO role permanently. For me, that moment of saying yes to Grant and John because they believed in me and doing everything I could to prove myself was what really accelerated my career.
It wasn’t the path I thought I would take but it turned out better than I could have imagined.
Since then, I’ve tried to be less focussed on defining a specific future path and more focused on making the most of each opportunity, and saying yes when unexpected things come up.
6. What makes you happy? What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Sunshine and the ocean. My family, especially my niece Violet and nephews Oscar and Charlie, and spending time with my dad. Quiet moments reading in my apartment and feeling like I’m helping someone grow their career in the same way I was supported.
I also love growing and developing myself. Mentors like John Kelly (CEO) and Stephen Haddad (COO) have taught me so much, and I love learning from other people’s experience while developing my own style as an executive and a leader.
SCAs Stephen Haddad and Rebecca Ackland
7. Share your words of wisdom for others in the industry.
Work for yourself, not for someone else. Good bosses happen, bad bosses happen. Great companies exist and so do bad ones.
If you ‘work for yourself’, meaning you show up every day in a way you’re proud of, produce the best work you can and never compromise your own values, you’ll always be satisfied.
The most successful people I’ve seen have a genuine sense of pride in what they do that extends beyond the company they work for and expectations placed on them.
A great example is Jane Elliott, a mentor and colleague who encouraged me to write this opinion piece! Every time she submits work it’s 10/10 quality or she doesn’t bother. You can tell that she would operate just as well in any role or with any company. That’s something I really admire.
8. Describe your vision for the future of the audio media industry.
The big tech takeover and everyone’s obsession with their phones has its pitfalls but audio has a unique slice of that pie. For me, audio is the ultimate companion medium. Whether I’m listening to ‘A Life of Greatness’ podcast while walking around a park or lying on the beach and laughing along to the ‘Hamish & Andy’ podcast, audio is a way of incorporating technology into our lives while still being present, connected and experiencing the world around us.
Large audio players like SCA have a unique advantage because we’ve been creating compelling audio content for decades, we have the secret sauce. Spotify has shown that even with the deepest pockets big tech can’t develop shows and talent like we can.
Our biggest opportunity is focusing on shows, talent and the ecosystems around them – and becoming deeply embedded in those commercial ecosystems. I see the future of the audio industry centred on talent-led brands that people connect with and trust.
What Steve Bartlett in the UK or the Shameless team in Australia are building for me is the future of audio – connected ecosystems built from trusted brands with content that truly connects. Large Australian audio players should watch how they are developing loved audio brands into multifaceted businesses.
Just my opinion!
9. What role would you like to play in shaping the future of audio?
I see one of the most critical parts of my role as recruitment and talent identification.
Identifying the people with the right human skills, big picture thinking, creativity paired with commercial acumen, and the ability to effectively communicate ideas, who can help continue to evolve the business as the world around us continues to change.
If that sounds like you, please connect on LinkedIn – SCA is always looking to hire the best and brightest.
Rebecca on SCAs International Women’s Day Panel
Series compiled by Serena Ahern for radioinfo.
If you have a suggestion for someone to be considered for this series, please send a note to [email protected]
Previous articles:
Wisdom of Women in Media: Helen Tzarimas News Reader and Journalist Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Amanda Lee, Head of HIT Metro Content/Fox FM Content Director
Wisdom of Women in Media: Kim Napier, Breakfast Presenter ABC Northern Tasmania
Wisdom of Women in Media: Megan Smith, Senior Producer Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Laura Bouchet, Content Director Triple M
Wisdom of Women in Media: Lauren Joyce, Chief Audience & Content Officer ARN