Kiran Suryanarayana speaks to industry professionals and former CMA award winners about their professional journey
Jen Mitchell – WAA Chosen Account Director
Jen Mitchell receives her award as Emerging Agency Star of the Year at the 2022 Gala Dinner, flanked by BABSI CEO and CMA Awards Judge, Justin Ratcliffe (left) and the award-winning comedian and host for the night, Paul McCaffrey.
Could you describe your role?
I’m an account director, responsible for leading the strategic planning and deployment of ATL & TTL communications for clients in WAA Chosen’s dedicated Trade & Construction department.
What did winning the CMA awards mean to you and to the agency?
It was such an honour to be recognised by a panel of experts within the construction sector, especially given that the nomination came as a surprise. It has reinforced my drive to achieve on behalf of my clients and WAA Chosen’s talent development program. It was also an added bonus that I won in the same year that WAA Chosen was awarded the CMA’s Agency of the Year.
Given that you have become a great asset at WAA Chosen in such a short time span, how has the company helped you?
I pretty much kick started my career here; I was offered a two-week internship where I worked in their creative department. It almost felt like a full circle because after fifteen years, they were recruiting for an Account Director and thankfully I already had a relationship with their Head of Talent so the stars aligned and now I’m back where it all started.
Since the age of 15, I knew advertising was what I wanted to do. I loved the thought of being in a creative industry where every day felt different, but it was also an industry that had the ability to move people by persuading them to act. How brands influenced us on every level, how we see ourselves, or how we view the world has always fascinated me. So right after graduation, I wrote to dozens of agencies in and around Birmingham but was met with radio silence. The industry seemed so inaccessible and there was no education about creative pathways.
“I pretty much kick started my career at WAA chosen, and now I’m an account director here. It almost felt like a full circle,” – Jen Mitchell, emerging agency star of the year 2022.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I think the best part is that no two days are the same. From being the project lead on Speedy Hire’s first-ever national TV campaign to developing Jewson’s most successful social media stunt ever, it’s just exciting.
In the last twelve months, I have been given the opportunity to undertake 70 hours to training including industry and client immersion, which has been fundamental to delivering category-changing work for my clients. It’s only through WAA Chosen’s outstanding approach to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and their Platinum Accreditation from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) that we can commit to this professional learning. It’s just one of the many reasons I love my job.
What’s your next challenge?
A few more award-win goals are definitely on the list. Apart from that I’m just focused on growing the department, elevating our team and the expertise we have, and being a part of whatever is in store with my clients.
Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
I’m unashamedly ambitious, but I’m having a lot of fun right now; I’m also learning a lot, which is always my thing. The minute you stop learning, you’re done right? I’m currently doing the type of work I’ve always wanted to do which feels like a dream come true.
However, I’m a huge champion for diversity and inclusion in the industry. I feel very privileged to have had the cultural upbringing I had growing up in Birmingham. Today, I find myself in a position to open doors for some of the individuals who don’t have the same sorts of opportunities that I have, so I’m passionate about pushing for equality of opportunity.
