Dynamic Duos: ‘There was something about the 17-year-old intern that always stuck in my mind’
This week in Dynamic Duos, organic's managing partner, Annabelle Gigliotti, and head of entertainment, Nathan Dann, reflect on how meeting as a PR assistant and intern, respectively, led to them becoming full-fledged colleagues 20 years later.
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.
Annabelle Gigliotti:
Nathan and I have known each other since literally our very first days in the industry. We first met when he was a seventeen-year-old intern and I was a 21-year-old PR assistant. It was my first PR job, and I was working with the legendary Sally Burleigh on David Jones, and a young Nathan Dann had talked himself into an internship in the DJ’s comms team.
From there we met again when he was working at the Hilton Sydney at the height of the Zeta Bar days. Zeta was the place to host PR events for a time there and we’d often find ourselves at a Zeta Bar client function.
Even though we were both young, it was obvious Nath was going to be a force, he’s one of the most loved people in the industry for a reason. When you talk to him you can tell he is really listening, he makes the effort to follow through on what he promises and really puts in the time to keep up connections, whether it’s a check in, a birthday message or a share of a funny story.
We both always loved entertainment, so I suppose it was no surprise we both ended up finding our way into that space, and although I was overseas for many years, when I came back to Sydney and started building organic there was something about the 17-year-old intern that always stuck in my mind, I knew he had to be a part of it in some way. Two late night phone calls quickly bridged the gap of the years and now I’m lucky enough to work next to him every day.
Nathan Dann:
I remember meeting Annabelle when I was 17 years old. I was a fresh-faced teen from Port Stephens who somehow managed to find my way into the fashion PR space for a few days as an intern for David Jones throughout one of their ever-famous fashion events. It was like a scene from The Devil Wears Prada, and I was terrified.
And then I met Annabelle, who was just starting out as well – a warm and friendly face that made me feel so welcome, we hit it off instantly and it made my foray into the world of PR a great one. I then moved into the lifestyle and entertainment space and our paths continued to cross at events for years to follow, it was always so great to hang out and talk about our new directions and celebrate each other’s success.
Annabelle is constantly joyful. No matter if she is stressed, late, on a deadline, juggling tasks, or functioning on little sleep – she does it with a smile on her face, and her vibe is always a good one. As many know, managing a team through the topsy-turvy world of agency public relations can be emotional, and she likes to keep those emotions positive.
Annabelle on Nathan:
Most memorable moment with Nathan: My most memorable moment with Nath is probably the series of late night phone calls we had that formed his job interview for organic. Nath was on tour with Barbie, I was building a whole new team for Netflix while still running the agency, and so most of our interview happened late at night, over the phone, as we chatted about what it would be like to actually, finally, after 20 years, work together.
Best word to describe him: Nath is such a rare blend of sassy and meticulous. He is almost disarming in how he can make everyone feel at ease, crack the quickest joke and make a day at the office feel like a hang out with mates. But scratch beneath the surface and he is a man who will not let anything drop. From budgets to big ideas, Nath can recall the smallest detail or executional component in a moment. He also has the neatest desk you have ever seen.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has: Nath is never afraid to make fun of himself for the sake of a laugh. It has always been one of my favourite qualities in people, it shows his self-awareness and humility but is also a part of his genius – everyone always feels at ease in a room with Nathan because even though he’s brilliant, he’s not afraid to show his vulnerability.
Nathan on Annabelle:
Most memorable moment with Annabelle: My most memorable moment would have to be finally signing on to work with organic under Annabelle’s management some 20 years after our first meeting. It was a full circle moment for me. And I am still shocked how fast those 20 years went. Since then, we have had many memorable moments working with incredible clients, in a growing agency. It’s been a wild ride.
Best word to describe her: Joyful. Her ability to maintain a cheerful demeanour and spread good vibes, even in the most challenging situations, is one of her best assets and sets her apart as a successful leader and a source of inspiration for us all. Our team and clients benefit from her infectious energy as it allows us to be relaxed and our unique ourselves, which sparks the best kind of creativity.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Annabelle and I are so similar it’s scary, we generally have the same response to most things, we think along the same lines, we problem solve the same way, and we often make the same remarks. However, Annabelle seems to deliver it better than me most of the time. So, her most annoying habit is she generally has the same answer, idea or response with better execution, and I am left scrambling!
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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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