Charlotte Colgan is a Marketer of the Future finalist in the YouTube NZ Marketing Awards 2026.
The winner will be announced on September 2.
Name: Charlotte Colgan
Job title: Marketing, digital & communications executive, MediaWorks
Tell us about your career so far – how did you end up in the marketing industry?
A bit of an unusual route!
My working life has always focused on people: managing hospitality and events, running music festivals with my friends and doing marketing for events on the side, as well as doing online qualifications to expand my marketing skills and knowledge.
In 2022, I decided I wanted a more focused career (and a day job), so I began at MediaWorks in the Wellington sales support team. After immersing myself in the world of NZ radio and our wonderful music brands for a few years, I felt the creative call to step into a new role and area of the business that better aligned with my skills and passions.
I went networking crazy, trying to get all the info I could to propel myself into the creative space I knew I was destined for! After many applications to different roles, rounds of feedback and learning how to better market myself, I finally found the right path and here we are today!
What does it mean to you to be a finalist for Marketer of the Future at the YouTube NZ Marketing Awards 2026?
It means the world to me.
I had a really tough few years in my personal life before beginning this role and felt a bit hopeless for the future and a bit directionless. I came into this role pretty blind, never imagining how much I could learn, achieve and thrive in this industry.
Now, having this nomination from my peers and seeing the caliber of talented individuals who have also been nominated not only solidifies my confidence, competence and passion in marketing, but it also reflects my dedication to personal growth and has helped me work through some serious imposter syndrome (realising that my ADHD is actually my greatest superpower).
I really have never felt more proud of myself and inspired by those around me. The future feels bright!
What do you love the most about working in marketing?
It’s the people! It always has been for me, in any job I’ve held.
I’ve always had a really strong sense of empathy and making really meaningful human connections is what drives me the most. What we do as marketers has real, tangible impacts on the people around us and being a part of that is both a privilege and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
Seeing the success of our initiatives, being inspired by the excellence displayed around me and feeling the deep connection to our communities makes every day feel worth all the hard mahi.
What are you looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to growing exponentially!
The learning and development I have undertaken in the last 12 months has felt nothing short of miraculous and beyond my own expectations for myself. Being surrounded by industry experts every day is really inspiring and I can see the many possible pathways ahead of me.
I am thinking about going back to study computer science to really expand my capabilities in the digital marketing world and use that knowledge to develop considered and focused digital strategies.
Aside from that, I’m excited to make new connections, to see where the future of marketing and media goes in Aotearoa and to understand how we can work alongside AI with an nuanced, ethical and considered lens.
