Tag Archives: BKD Executive Leaders

Client Services Director @ carsales.com.au

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Got drive? You’ll fit right in

In 1997 we tried something new.  We’ve been doing it ever since – today we’re an ASX top 100 with world class technology and advertising solutions.  Not only are we the largest online automotive, motorcycle and marine classifieds business in Australia, we’re growing across Latin America and Asia.

carsales built its name in Australia and today our know-how and industry leading platforms extend across the globe.  We continue to broaden the reach of our operations with interests in leading classified marketplaces in high growth, developing markets in Brazil, South Korea, Chile, Mexico and Argentina.  We leverage our world-class technology and IP to accelerate the growth of our eco-systems in each market to deliver world-class customer-centric solutions which help all customers buy, sell and own with confidence.

The dynamic media team at carsales enables brands to understand, engage and influence relevant, active and in-market consumers across Australia’s #1 automotive website.  carsales is the clear auto market leader, with the largest audience of in-market car buyers and the largest auto marketplace in Australia.

The role

Use your marketing savvy and project management prowess to bring our media products to life, delivering digital campaigns that connect the world’s great car brands to our massive user base, while delighting our client and agency partners with the results.

In this rewarding and results-focused role you are responsible for implementing and optimising our growing suite of innovative brand and retail products for our many advertising partners.  You will put your awesome people and communication skills to work, engaging a range of external and internal stakeholders, including product, sales, insights, ad operations, editorial, design and development.  You’ll also deliver advertising products that drive incredible outcomes for our clients, sustainable revenue growth and repeat business, while supporting our product and sales teams.

Key responsibilities:

  • Post sale implementation of key products including Clearance Centres, Pre Launch campaigns and Content Marketing solutions, working closely with our product managers and tribe lead
  • Own the client-facing day-to-day delivery of key commercial partnerships
  • Find ways to iterate and improve our products and processes to drive better results and improve operational efficiency
  • Work closely with MOC Tribe Lead to define, document and deliver evolving tech requirements and capabilities
  • Work with insights and ad-ops to implement best-in-class reporting that demonstrates exceptional ROI, value and iterative optimisation
  • Help create client-facing communications including best practices, specs, case studies and go to market materials
  • Gain client insights to inform the product planning process
  • Deliver incredible results for our clients and wow them with service level unlike any other publisher
  • Liaise with client partners directly and coordinate stakeholders to deliver products in line with briefed objectives
  • Help drive sustainable uplift in revenue through return business and satisfied clients

What we’re looking for

  • Experience in marketing campaign or account management either agency, media or client side with an emphasis on campaign execution
  • Proven track record in a fast paced digital marketing environment with a specific focus on online advertising
  • Tech savvy with strong understanding of media, measurement and user journey best practices
  • Strong influencing and stakeholder skills with excellent verbal and written communications
  • Ability to drive projects forward with proven success delivering service-based outcomes

About you 

  • Highly motivated, with strong sense of ownership and accountability for your work
  • Results focus, resilient, able to work under pressure and juggle competing priorities
  • Enthusiastic, outgoing people person with a flair for communicating effectively
  • Desire to be a part of a high performing, supportive and collaborative team culture
  • Learning mindset, actively seeks to improve knowledge, skills and results
  • Interest in advertising effectiveness, measurement & performance optimisation
  • Proven ability to work independently and within a team
  • Resourceful, with ability to prioritise own work and troubleshoot issues
  • No nonsense project manager, who has a sharp eye for detail

Why apply?

carsales offers extensive opportunities to learn and evolve in a diverse, fast-paced and dynamic environment. We are committed to our people through many ongoing initiatives associated with culture and benefits, career development, health and well-being, community, work-life balance, reward and recognition. We continually strive to attract and retain the most talented people through a number of programs designed to support learning and development. When you work at carsales you don’t just have a job, but you have a rewarding career.

carsales is an equal opportunity employer who prides themselves on providing a diverse workplace that brings out the best in its people. We encourage everyone of all ages and background to apply. 

Expressions of interest, which may include a cover letter and CV, can be emailed to sophiedeligny@bkdexecutiveleaders.com

Lessons from trekking to Everest Base Camp – for life and coaching

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Having recently had the great privilege of three weeks of trekking through the Everest and Goyko valleys in Nepal, I have taken the time to reflect on some of the insights and learnings that came from this journey. In this post I summarise my ten most prominent learnings and over the next few weeks I will expand on each of them. While these are based on my experience of the trek most link back nicely to the Positive Performance Coaching model we use at BKD Executive Leaders. I will also encourage readers to reflect on whether there is anything that they can draw on that will assist them with their own performance and development. But first, some background to the trek.

Why go to Everest Base Camp?

The decision to trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) was the result of an on-going fascination with the challenge taken on by the brave few who push the limits of human endurance and resilience by climbing the worlds highest peak (8848m). Having a strong interest in the psychology and physiology of human performance I have always wanted to see Sagarmatha (Nepali for Everest) for myself and contemplate what it must take to climb it. As a former athlete I understand the need to physically push your limits but I recognise that an 8000 plus metre summit requires a totally different level of discipline and mental toughness. The consequence of a failed climb is quite possibly death. YouTube has plenty of videos highlighting the challenges of climbing Everest.

Given my interest in Everest, when my friend Steve Chitchester floated the idea of a trek to Base Camp to mark his 50th year, I was in, as was his best mate Jason Elias. What I wasn’t so keen on was trekking in late January / February when the Himalayan winter is at its peak. Nevertheless, this was the most convenient time for us, so off we went.

Day 1 of the trek. Departing Lukla through the gates dedicated to the first Nepalese woman to summit Mt. Everest – Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. Unfortunately she lost her life on the descent.

A big thankyou to our lead guide from Trek, Guide, Ski Nepal, Gyan Tamang (summited in 2018) and Lukpa Sherpa (6-time summiteer), and our porters Nimah and Born. Their support made a challenging trip (big dumps of snow and regular temperatures below -20’C) manageable.

My top ten lessons

Having returned home safely from a great trekking adventure, here are my top ten learnings and personal reflections.

  1. A clear purpose supported by a well thought out plan provides you with the focus that will drive your best behaviours and performance
  2. We should take time out to challenge ourselves regularly – done well it encourages a positive mindset, feeds your confidence, self esteem and personal belief
  3. Invest in your health – it repays you by opening the door to experiences you can’t have without it. No doubt there is some good fortune involved in individual health but investments in your health are well worthwhile.
  4. Humility is a value of mine and on this trip two things reinforced its importance – seeing the reality of life in a developing country, and being exposed to the grandeur of nature.
  5. Reflection is an essential catalyst to change and progress. As a psychologist and coach I have long subscribed to the value of reflection as a tool for driving personal development and change. This trip emphasised the need to set aside real time for genuine reflection.
  6. Family is the clear priority in my life. The same for my trekking partners.We noted that we spent around half of our time talking about family in one way or another. I’ll explore why that was important for us to recognise and what can flow from that and how a little bit of creativity can open up communication.
  7. Men do talk, especially when trust is there and time is set aside to allow conversations to evolve organically. ‘Men don’t talk about personal issues’ is a common refrain. There is some truth in this day-to-day but on this trip I observed that trust and time appeared critical to open male to male conversations.
  8. When you are feeling the pressure (e.g. you’re on a ledge and you dislike high ledges), having the skill to relax your mind and body is a critical coping skill. Best of all it’s available to all of us.
  9. When you are struggling and being tested, be it physical or mental, breaking the challenge down to ‘the next most important step’ is essential to progress. It zeros your focus in on where your future momentum will come from.
  10. I am very fortunate to have been born in Australia. Even more so to live in Australia. Having spent 2 weeks touring Japan in January, and then trekking Nepal, I have a stronger appreciation of the advantages this country provides. A few areas for improvement were also highlighted.

My ‘clear plan’ is to elaborate on each of the ten reflections and pose some questions that will encourage readers to reflect and consider what if anything is relevant to you, your work and your family. I encourage reflection as it promotes insight and awareness which are pre-conditions to building the motivation for development and change. Insight, motivation, development and change are all central elements of our coaching practice at BKD Executive Leaders. If you are interested to learn more I encourage you to contact me at robkerr@bkdexecutiveleaders.com

For a laugh / gasp, enjoy this brief video of the hard landing at Lukla airport, the gateway to the Himalayas and one of the worlds most dangerous airports.