Dynamic Duos: How reinforcement during a pitch kindled a winning partnership
This week in Dynamic Duos, 303 MullenLowe Perth's chief strategist, Matt Oakley, and executive creative director, Sara Oteri, share how they immediately gelled after Sara was brought in to assist on a tricky pitch.
In Dynamic Duos, Mumbrella each week asks two colleagues with a professional and personal affiliation to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly hybridised world of work.
Matt Oakley:
We first met when we were in the second round of creative concepting for a bit of a tricky pitch brief and needed a bit of fresh perspective. Sara gave us that and then some.
Our relationship is built on our respective heritages (my British pragmatism, order and a penchant for bad language, and Sara’s Italian passion, flair and penchant for bad language). It’s the perfect balance.
The context in which we work makes our relationship unique. We’re not only on the tools and heads of our respective departments, but we’re leaders of the business. It means we’re always trying to do what’s best for our people and the bottom line, but also the brands we work for. Our perspective is all the richer for it and means the work we strive for is all the more purposeful.
Sara Oteri:
We first met when I was brought in to crack a fast turnaround pitch. We immediately jelled. When I realised he wasn’t just laughing at my jokes to be polite, I knew he was a good egg. We love brutal honesty and inappropriate jokes. Matt and I have a great working relationship and it’s been that way since day one. We share a similar work ethic and drive for ‘what good looks like’, based on a close understanding of each other’s craft and what drives real results to clients.
Our ability to be vulnerable with one another in our approach to getting bang on strategy and killer creative, quickly makes us unique. I can only speak on behalf of our working dynamic but Matt and I are very fluid throughout the strategic and creative process. It’s not a traditional ‘I’ll do my bit’ then pass it onto the next person to do their part. We unpack problems, human behaviours, trends and research together as well as how executionally that translates. As an ECD, I think it’s vitally important creatives understand the human problem to solve, intimately get to know who they’re talking to in the context of their world before they put pen to paper.
Matt on Sara:
Most memorable moment with Sara: Agency profile photo day. I’ve never seen two people with such contrasting degrees of comfort with a lens being pointed at them. You couldn’t have got me out of there quicker, whilst Sara’s media experience clearly paid off!
Best word to describe her: Contradiction. Sara’s hard on the work, but an incredibly kind soul. She’s typically stimulated by the emotional, but can be equally as compelled by reason/logic. And she’s small in stature, but big in personality.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Sara prefers Powerpoint to Keynote. What’s that all about?!
Sara on Matt:
Most memorable moment with Matt: When we won our first pitch together, we were told while eating lunch. I think we both choked on our food before standing up, giving one other a big hug and doing a celebratory dance.
Best word to describe him: Considered. Matt’s very intentional with his words and his approach to people and problems.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has: It’s probably somewhere between being annoying and endearing. Matt (coming from the UK) is an encyclopedia of British ads, culturalisms and quote, most of which I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about. In exchange, I’m introducing him to Carl Barron…
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Lauren McNamara was the associate editor at Mumbrella. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left Mumbrella in August 2025.
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