I ❤ my Job
Anna Widomska, Account Manager @ Corus Entertainment Inc.
In our meaningful work series, we get curious about why people love their jobs and what brings meaning to their work.
Do you love the work you do? We’d love to feature you!
We had a chance to chat with Anna Widomska, media buyer turned media seller who spends her off-office hours with the cutest dog on earth — Tucker.
Tell us your career to date
As I sat in front of my TV as a kid wondering how (and why) the commercials between my favourite programs existed, I never thought I’d be the one to put them there 20 years later. I graduated from BCIT in 2006 from the Marketing Communications Program and was hired straight out of my internship by Boulevard Media where I learned so much more than media. From there I worked at a boutique media agency, Barlow Media, and then an international agency, Vizeum. In case you don’t know what a media agency does: they plan, buy and execute advertising campaigns for clients. They help discover insights, see what motivates customers and translate these insights into multi-media, cross-platform advertising campaigns that elicit specific responses. Media agencies don’t develop the creative, they ensure the creative is seen on the right channels.
What does work look like right now?
Over 1.5 years ago I left media buying and joined the media selling side. I now sell advertising for one of the largest media companies in the country, Corus Entertainment Inc. We consist of brands like Global TV, HGTV, Food Network, History, Rock 101, CKNW, CFOX and many more local and national properties across the country. My day-to-day is working with various clients planning and executing multi-media campaigns including TV, Radio, Digital through sponsorships, content integrations, talent endorsement, news integrations or just straight :15 or :30 second TV spots.
What do you love most about the work you do?
I know that this might sound a bit corny, but it’s the people and our brands. Our people are some of the best in the business, we are constantly collaborating and busting through walls to create the most impactful executions. We all love content, I love content, the amount of content that our brands deliver on a daily basis is amazing. Have you ever actually thought about how the news all comes together? Think about it, 1–3 minute segments that fill a 30 min to 1hr program. That’s a lot of people power getting a ton of content, whether it’s tragic realities or heartwarming feel-good stories! Most importantly, I love my clients. I really do have the best job ever, I get to work with various agencies and direct clients that represent products, brands and important charities that truly make a difference. Sometimes we even get to be a part of helping launch or propel big movements such as the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month.
As a manager, how do you keep your team motivated?
Motivation is a funny thing, as a manager not only do you have to stay motivated yourself but through the everyday hustle and bustle, you have to remember your team needs motivation too, and they need it from you. My “tactic” is to always keep the lines of communication open, if the team knows why their part is so important to the bigger picture, it gives them energy and brings back excitement. The worst thing you can do to your team is keep them in status-quo. Also get to know your team members. I currently work with four wonderful team members that couldn’t be more different if they tried. Know their personalities, discover their strengths, and cater your direction to the individual, not the position.
How do you keep work-life balance in check being in a sales role?
I think we all struggle with this and to be honest, sometimes I don’t do a very good job balancing it at all. But realizing that I shouldn’t just work all the time, I added a new family member, a Border Collie/Lab/Rough Collie X (aka lovely mutt) called Tucker. Through sheer necessity, he forces me to get outside in the morning, at night, and on weekends. He also gives me the perfect excuse not to stay out too late. He has this uncanny ability to make me laugh, to calm me down, or to raise me up. The perfect companion for any professional!
Make a step towards finding the job you love. On May 15, join Talent Collective for a special job search webinar to help you find your dream job. Get all the details here.