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.
June Cheung:
I first met Jo over a decade ago when she joined Big Ads in 2013.
Jo stood out from the beginning. She had an unfiltered energy and gutsiness about her that was immensely likable and impossible to ignore. She stood out for all the right reasons.
It was back in the ‘year of the mobile’ era when the industry was innovating and experimenting. This meant there was a real sense of ‘all being in this together’ as we collectively tried to figure out how best to leverage this newish advertising medium.
Along with Jo and I, there were two other women in sales and instead of falling into a competitive trap, we chose to support each other, creating a uniquely collaborative team. This spirit of cooperation has been the foundation of our relationship.
We kept in touch after she left Big Ads in 2014 and continued to run in the same professional circles. In fact, when Jo was general manager at Eyeota and I was VP at Grapeshot I ended up hot-desking in her office space. Clearly, we were destined to work together again – and I was thrilled when I was able to make that happen last year.
I joined Scope3 in the second half of 2022 as head of JAPAC and after nine months of dynamic growth it was time to hire a head of ANZ.
Jo was the first person who came to mind as I needed a rock-solid and relentless operator. In fact, when I first talked to her about my impending move to Scope3 she was immediately excited by our purpose.
Since joining, she’s brought tremendous value to the team. Jo brings passion, vibrancy and a positive forcefulness to her roles. She’s a phenomenal deal closer and is always pushing things forward.
We also have a great synergy. She’s a terrific storyteller and has a real knack for explaining the complex with simplicity while I’m more analytical with an eye for detail and the ability to bring conversations to the macro level. We just ‘work’ as a professional duo.
Our close work friendship has spilled over into outside of work; in fact Jo and her two young kids were some of the first to meet my second baby in early 2023 which was very special. I’m excited for our second decade of professional and personal friendship.
Joanna Georges:
From the moment I stepped into Big Ads, June stood out. To me, she was the queen of the company, leading from the front and absolutely killing it when it came to revenue generation. Watching her in action was a masterclass in getting to grips with the mobile industry, which I was eager to learn about. June wasn’t just a leader; she was also an inspiration, and I soaked up every bit of knowledge I could from her.
Our paths continued to cross even after Big Ads. When she was at Grapeshot and I was at Eyeota, we found ourselves doing similar work, hustling and handling everything in the lean, start-up world. We connected over our shared experiences and the understanding that when something needed to get done, it simply had to get done.
Consequently, I jumped at the chance to work with June again. When I was pushing her to spend money with me while she was at Oracle, she confided that she was soon to take up the JAPAC leadership role at Scope3. From the get go, she was highly passionate about Scope3’s mission (to decarbonise the media industry) and her conviction is infectious. It’s impressive to see her advocate for collective industry action; she’s collegiate but persistent.
When I joined June at Scope3 I had just come back from maternity leave. In our industry, there can often be a disconnect between what companies say about supporting working mothers and the actuality, but I had confidence that Scope3 walked the talk as June was appointed to lead JAPAC when she was six months pregnant.
As we’re both mothers to two very small children, her support and understanding is invaluable. We have each other’s backs when it comes to ensuring both family and work commitments are fulfilled.
June and I compliment each other in opposite ways, especially when we’re talking about simplifying complex ideas and turning them into actionable steps. While I might go rogue with ideas, June will bring the ideas to global. And I think she appreciates the energy and drive that I bring to the table; even if she sometimes has to harness it!
It’s a fabulous dynamic that spills over outside of work. For example, early in our relationship, we discovered that my (future) brother-in-law was in June’s circle of friends. It seems that in all areas of life we’re birds of a feather.
I’m grateful for June’s mentoring and friendship and excited for what the future holds for us.
June on Joanna:
Most memorable moment with Joanna: Her ability to stand behind her beliefs.
Best word to describe her: Effective. Jo always gets things done.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Jo is a talker extraordinaire. This can be both endearing and annoying depending on the situation in hand.
Joanna on June:
Most memorable moment with June: June networking an entire room within an hour and leaving without a soul knowing.
Best word to describe her: Approachable. June is a terrific listener and sounding-board.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: She finds it hard to switch-off from work. I get it. I’m the same. But on a recent European vacation she could have benefitted from getting off email!
