Wavemaker Globetrotters

We care about the future of our people. We are an international network located in 90 countries in the world and we are committed to creating opportunities for our people to grow, personally and professionally.

Marlot van der Stoel

1. Tell us what you do at Wavemaker?
I work as a senior account manager for the Hong Kong Client Solutions team. I am responsible for managing the overall workstreams for a couple of our clients across the APAC region as well as driving learnings from the industry across the markets.

2. What’s your story that has brought you to where you are today?
I am born and raised in The Hague, the Netherlands. Right after high school, I moved to New York City, which is where my curiosity in different cultures and perspectives was awakened. Back in Holland, I moved to Amsterdam to study Marketing. I always had a great interest in media, since this is a sector a big part of my family works in as well. During my college years, I’ve had side jobs at different media-related company’s (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision and several production houses) and I soon found out that the media agency’s business was the best fit for me, because it combines the use of data with creativity.

3. Where did you move from, to and how did it happen?
After three years in the Wavemaker Amsterdam office as a media specialist (first MEC) I moved to Hong Kong in November 2018. It was always my dream to work and live abroad one day and I never had hidden that fact to the people I worked with. I was extremely lucky that I was introduced to Allison Coley by Rogier Leliveld and that there was a job opening fitting my profile in the Hong Kong Client Solutions Office! In November I packed my bags and moved, together with my boyfriend, to Hong Kong, which was also the first time we had ever visited the city. It was really jumping into the deep! That first day is one of the best days of my life: Sitting in a taxi from the airport and realizing that we were going to build a life in this new place.

4. What’s the most interesting thing(s) that has happened to you in your new country?
I think the fact that I now have to consider “elevator waiting time” (the Hong Kong office is on the 37th floor) is one very interesting aspect of my ‘new’ life. Additionally, I also learn a lot of new skills: I am very excited to join the GroupM Hong Kong Mahjong competition as the first non-Asian.

5. From your experience, what advice would you give to those considering moving to another country?Do not wait any longer! It’s truly an amazing adventure. I am 100% sure that this is one of the most interesting and instructive steps someone can make and it will definitely contribute to your personal and professional growth. The thrill of moving somewhere, starting to build a new life, making new friends, working with different cultures and learning from new people is a very special experience. Also, read the book ‘Culture Map’ by Erin Meyer. It is a real eye-opener and super relevant when you work with a lot of different cultures.

Garett Healy

1. Tell us what you do at Wavemaker?
I assess the impact and suitability of different types of media for targeting a specific market/audience that my client wants to reach.

2. What’s your story that has brought you to where you are today?
I worked for a TV network in Dublin. The rationale behind making the 26 hr flight to Australia was the same as most people; more sunny days (than the 4 we get in Ireland) and the chance to work with more positive, outgoing people. What local media buyers in Australia took for granted (knowing what TV stations skewed older/younger, what digital offerings were available (e.g no Pandora), Australian media plans had FIVE markets), was a learning curve for me. I did a stint with an OOH vendor but realized that the comradery of GroupM was more aligned with my working style. I took a role at Maxus as a hybrid digital/offline buyer on Danone Nutricia then moved to the state government account, as the Client Comms Manager. After 4.5 years in Australia, it was time to challenge myself again and try to take on a new market.

3. Where did you move from, to and how did it happen?
I moved from Sydney to New York. I spoke with people internally, I flew to New York and caught up with the HR team who arranged interviews with teams with potential roles. After a week of talking to people, I received an offer from the L’Oréal team. The HR team made the process straight forward and painless and 6 weeks later I was flying to New York

4. What’s the most interesting thing(s) that has happened to you in your new country?
Coming from Ireland (which has its fair share of unique people), people watching in New York can be at times better than TV. I saw a well-dressed man fling his backpack as hard as he could up a crowded footpath, only to pick it up and throw it again, each time letting out a cheer if he broke his record.

5. From your experience, what advice would you give to those considering moving to another country?
You have to want to make the move and be committed. Be diligent, follow up and don’t get disheartened, you will find the right role. Notice periods in US market is only 2 weeks so roles pop up at a moment’s notice.

Sasha Hudson

1. Tell us what you do at Wavemaker?
I am an Account Manager in the Direction team, working across two clients; Vodafone and NFL. In Direction we tend to be the first point of contact for clients and oversee projects and work streams across the business, liaising with other teams within CS. My day to day role varies by client, with Vodafone being more of a global coordination role, working with 20 local WM markets on reporting requirements, management of global campaigns and distributing global comms. NFL is a far more hands-on role where we plan, implement and report on a digitally focused campaign to generate sign ups to NFL’s subscription-based platform, Game Pass, across Europe.

2. What’s your story that has brought you to where you are today?
I was born in the UK but spent the majority of my childhood abroad. My family first moved abroad when I was 8 years old, initially relocating to The Netherlands, living in The Hague for 6 years. We then ventured out to the Middle East where we spent two years in Dubai, studying my GCSEs, and then moved to Qatar for my A Levels. I began university back in the UK at the University of Surrey and in my 3rd year I had the option to take a year out of studying to work. Having done various internships in the marketing industry I wanted to explore this further and spent 10 months at Mindshare London working in the international department. This great experience cemented my desire to work for a media agency and having been brought up abroad it seemed natural to go back to Qatar after university, where I initially joined Wavemaker (then MEC) as an Account Executive.

3. Where did you move from, to and how did it happen?
Although my experience working in Qatar was a great opportunity and allowed me to get hands on experience planning and buying at a local market level, I realised the market was considerably immature compared to somewhere like London. Although the initial plan was to move to the regional hub, Dubai, which my colleagues fully supported, I soon realised this too would be immature compared to the UK so I decided to look at moving to the London office. Due to my experiences abroad and at Mindshare I was fully focused on joining the global team. Although my colleagues warned me a transfer can take a considerable amount of time due to the availability of positions, my CV was instantly passed onto HR at WM CS and I had a phone interview scheduled within a few weeks! Following two phone interviews I was offered the role. The process was seamless and happened a lot quicker than expected, I served my noticed in Qatar and then took a few weeks off to relocate back to London.

4. What’s the most interesting thing(s) that has happened to you in your new country?
Since I essentially came back home to the UK, I’d definitely say the best experiences happened whilst living abroad as an expat – I would recommend that lifestyle to anyone! Having said that, career-wise coming back to the UK was absolutely the right decision and I have developed my knowledge and experience across multiple clients and industries since moving back.

5. From your experience, what advice would you give to those considering moving to another country?
Do it!! Living abroad is the best experience, it’s an opportunity to meet new people and experience a different culture and way of life. Although it can be a daunting concept, most expats I have met usually say they’ll live abroad for 1-2 years, but virtually always end up extending! Moving with Wavemaker as an internal transfer makes the process a lot smoother and easier.