Page 6 - AdNews Sep-Oct 2021

Editor’s Letter
Ugg boots in the time of the pandemic
This is a call out to the generous members of the industry who opened virtual doors to AdNews to show their working-from-home habits.
The WFH Diaries, which started running daily during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, reveal makeshift work-
spaces, including kitchen
tables, bedrooms and cupboards.
The idea is to share sim- ilar challenges and hacks to problems.
Some claimed regular exercise regimes, others just promised to do better.
Many took advantage to dress down, at least below the waist during Zoom calls. Others swore by routine and dressing to office standards.
Justin Graham, group CEO at M&C Saatchi Group AUNZ: “I get dressed in my running kit and hit the pavement, before picking up a coffee on the way home and preparing for the day ahead in my home office. My WFH attire is almost identical to my nor- mal office wear.”
The loss of personal contact and banter was often highlighted.
Michael Stephenson, chief sales officer, Nine: “I love the energy of the team, the banter, the ideas that come from collaboration and the posi- tive competition that’s inherent in a high-perfor- mance sales team.”
The savings in commuting time was acknowledged. Melissa Fein, CEO, Initiative, who usually
chooses a swim or yoga. “Now I can use the com- mute time to do both.”
Children and homeschooling add another dimension.
Lisa Squillace, national sales director, Network 10 Viacom CBS: “My alarm clock is my three-year-old daughter soIcanbeupanytime between 5.30am and 6.30am.” Keeping to a schedule is important — a way to keep track and not get lost in non-business
tasks or thoughts.
Charlotte Valente, chief
marketing officer, Seven West Media: “My day starts at 5am, without fail. Lockdown or not. I am a sucker for routine.”
And relationships become a spotlight.
Jeremy Bolt, CEO, Hearts & Science: “My biggest distrac- tion is online shopping deliver- ies. My wife is on constant Zoom calls and cannot hear the doorbell from her home office. She is also a prolific online shopper. This combination is not ideal. Suggestions welcome on how best to manage this. I
have tried the ‘maybe less shopping’ suggestion and had to run for my life, but did stay within 10km of the house.”
But experience wins.
Emma Montgomery, the new CEO at Leo Burnett Australia, returned to Australia from Los Angeles. She spent all of 2020 in the US in lockdown.
“Today I have shoes, but normally I have ugg boots,” she says.
But Emma always puts on makeup. “It makes me feel like I’m ready,” she adds.
EDITOR
CHRIS PASH
www.adnews.com.au | September/October2021 6