Grace Chittock, Media Planner for Spark Foundry and Deputy Chairperson of First Five Rungs, looks back at her first five years and the upcoming five.
When asked what a media planner’s job looks like day-to-day, Grace Chittock simply says, “We do a lot.”
Tucked away in a little room in Spark Foundry’s Auckland-based office, she manages media campaigns from the planning stages to booking in and finally implementing the ads – all while keeping a long line of stakeholders in the loop.
It’s clear Chittock likes to be busy.
And boy, is she busy. From taking care of clients such as Westpac to holding breakfast events for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, it’s all in a day’s work.
As if that wasn’t enough, earlier in 2024, Chittock was appointed Deputy Chair at First Five Rungs, a Comms Council initiative to support people in their first five years in the industry. She says this position is her biggest career achievement so far.
“That is something I am really proud of, because helping people is something I am quite passionate about. I would like to be a people leader.”
Though she’d always been interested in marketing, Chittock didn’t know much about the world of media. But she thought it was “really cool”.
There was a lot of jargon and concepts she couldn’t wrap her head around when she started in the industry, and First Five Rungs really helped her find her feet.
“When I first started out, there was a lot that I didn’t really know about the industry. So when I found out about First Five Rungs and went to some of the events, I found it helpful and also just inspiring,” she says.
“A lot of the events are educational. Hearing speakers that are more senior, looking at where you could be in a few years’ time – that’s what made me want to join the committee.”
Now with a few years as a media planner/buyer under her belt, Chittock says her position as Deputy Chair at First Five Rungs came at the perfect time.
Part of her role includes hosting networking events for her colleagues.
Still in her early 20s and yet to clock up five years in the industry, Chittock knows what others are going through and what they need.
“You’re closer to where they’re at and because you can relate to them, you know the best ways to help them.
“I wouldn’t want anyone to be struggling, so knowing I can help is definitely rewarding. I am just trying to be the person that I needed or that I had when I first started.”
Looking ahead, Chittock says she wants to take more opportunities and is hoping to lead campaign strategies.
Chittock has another bright five years on the horizon.
This was first published in the 2024 June-July NZ Marketing Magazine issue. Subscribe here.
