2 minute read
mEdia agENcY risiNg star
A PhD in modern media agency leadership
Askilled marketing professional, Jamie Norgarb isn’t just dedicated to ensuring clients challenge the norm and grow their businesses; she’s also determined to foster and mentor staff. She believes it is critical to focus on how senior agency people can “help the next generation of marketers find passion and drive, to ensure the future of our industry”.
PLUGGED IN AND FLEXIBLE
Speaking about the qualities judges looked for in this year’s individual award nominations, Celia Collins, general manager Africa of the Omnicom Media Group, says that while discussions were deep, “we were all well aligned on who the candidates and the top three were. They stood out especially during a Covid-19 year. There were strong candidates who, prior to Covid-19, would have been in the mix, but for me they went quiet during a stressful time for the industry.”
For Norgarb’s boss, PHD South Africa CEO Anne Dearnaley, a pair of firm hands on the wheel, coupled with curiosity, commitment and a strong work ethic, is vital in a modern media agency leader. “She is plugged in and flexible, a key characteristic that makes her agile to adapt to the fast-changing media landscape. She is curious, open to learning and inquisitive by nature, always willing to delve into uncharted territories, which leads to interesting conversations.
“Jamie is a committed employee, solution driven and consistently strives to be her best,” adds Dearnaley. “She is hungry to learn and grow, and is exceptionally ambitious. Her strategy is of the highest calibre, and she consistently delivers on all aspects of media and the business. She is an asset to PHD as well as to the clients with whom she works.”
Norgarb’s commitment to mentoring and uplifting staff hasn’t gone unnoticed. “She is a supportive and encouraging leader, and has quickly gained the trust of our Cape Town staff,” says Dearnaley. “Jamie listens and actively empowers staff to do the best work they can, finding solutions for obstacles and always ensuring the loop is closed in terms of solving problems.”
Confident and strategic, Norgarb is trusted by clients, who value her input into their businesses, says Dearnaley. “She is kind, friendly and understanding. She’s a real people person – easy to get along and work with. On a personal level, Jamie knows how to have fun; she has a funny and light-hearted disposition, which can make for some good times when the stress of the day is done.”
One of Norgarb’s clients, Neo Media World client director Matt Wilke, writes of her: “I had the great fortune of working with Jamie while at PHD Media, and found her to be very thorough and focused person to work with. Her fantastic sense of humour goes a long way in ensuring those tense ‘media agency moments’ melt away, allowing the teams around her to get on with the task at hand and do what needs to be done to get the best results for the client.”
Dearnaley believes Norgarb is a deserving winner of the Rising Star award. “She would be very deserving of any award for which she is potentially in line. She has dedicated years of service both to PHD and the industry, she has shown passion and commitment at every step, and I think the industry and PHD are very lucky to have someone of her calibre pioneering new thinking and new ways of working.”
