This week we are SHINE’ing the Spotlight on…Brooke Bennett. Brooke Bennett, counsellor, child care minder, morale booster, caterer, mental health worker, taxi driver, party supply specialist, mediator and banker… yep… you guessed it.. she is lucky enough to be the Group Marketing Director and Business Development for 91.9 Sea FM, 92.7 MIX FM Sunshine Coast and Classic Hits 2CH Sydney. Following 14 years as the Marketing Manager of Kawana Shoppingworld, Brooke ventured into the world of radio in 2015 and has found her calling. 4 years down the track Brooke is instrumental in securing strong partnership opportunities for major events coming to the Sunshine Coast, including Noosa Tri, Mooloolaba Tri, Caloundra Music Festival, World Series Swims to name a few. While busy working full time forging her career, Brooke is also a mum to Jackson 7 and Carter 3.

Brooke, you’ve worked in marketing and promotion for some time… tell us about the highlights and why you gravitated into this area?

I started out as a 16-year-old trainee at Kawana Shoppingworld learning the ins and outs of Shopping Centre Management and I was drawn to the marketing side as it was the “fun side”, but also required a lot of strategy, implementation and organisation which I love. The highlight each year for me is our Give Me 5 for Kids campaign, and working hard to raise money for Wishlist and knowing so many people will benefit. Since I started in 2015, we have raised almost $2million, and over $5 million since the campaign started on the Sunshine Coast over 20 years ago!

In recent years, you and the companies you have worked for have won many accolades. Can you share some of the tips or secrets to your success?

Hard work and belief in your brands.You have to be champions for your brands and live and breathe them. The team that I work with are all so passionate about delivering great radio and the introduction of social media has really helped build radio’s profile, allowing listeners to “see” radio and put a face to the announcers. This has helped us connect so much more with our listeners and to share our passion on another level.

You would spend a lot of time working to deadlines… what systems or skills do you use to manage this and keep focused and on track?

I’m a very organised person, who still runs off handwritten to-do-lists and post it notes! I thrive on structure and organisation and it’s important to be able to prioritise what’s important and what needs to be done first. My boss told me a great thing once “Do the worst first”, so I start each day clearing my desk and mind of the “worst” job so I don’t spend all day worrying about it, which in turn would affect my productivity for the day. Radio can be very reactive, so without structure and organisation in place, we wouldn’t be able to deliver on strong reactive campaigns when the time calls.

Who are some of the most memorable people you’ve worked with over the years and why?

Having worked at Kawana for 14 years and now in radio for 4.5 years, I actually haven’t had that many different workplaces, but spending my days with one of the best CEO’s on the Sunshine Coast and in the radio industry is a highlight. John Williams is such a mentor and knows so much about not only the industry we thrive in, but also in general business. I’m very lucky to learn every day from someone of his calibre.

Also, Lisa Rowe, CEO of Wishlist. Lisa is not only a close friend, but she encapsulates everything that are my ultimate career goals. Her resilience, her management style, her leadership are all things I strongly admire and hope to be/have one day.

And what’s next on the agenda for Brooke Bennett?

Professionally, developing further in my role in radio, learning more about the industry I’ve come to love, including furthering my career in management. I want to continue strengthening our brands here on the Sunshine Coast, and also our station in Sydney with strategic marketing and direction, but also developing a better understanding of the other departments in our business and how they all come together to create the stations we have.

Favourite movie and why?

Anything with Mark Wahlberg, especially true stories (Patriots Day, Deepwater Horizon), and always Notting Hill/Dirty Dancing.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’ve just started renovating my home and turning it into my Hampton’s Dream so that’s keeping me busy. Also spending time with my partner and my two boys, Jackson 7, Carter 3. We love camping, fishing, beach, movies and just being home together.

Who do you look up to and admire?

My mum. She was a single mum of two girls who inspired me to be who I am today and I know I can do anything because she can and she instilled that in me. If I can be half the mum she is, I will be happy. She also taught me to work hard and be a good provider, and a good career woman while being the best mum. You can actually have it all and right now, I do.