Young Guns: Maddison Caputo at oOh!media

 

Time in current role/time at the company: 

Just over three years.  

 

Close to four years. Before oOh!, after I finished university, I ran a marketing business helping a few small businesses develop their website and social media presence. 

 

How did you get here? Was this always the plan? 

Not at all – but it has worked out for the best! I studied a Bachelor of Business Marketing with the thought that it could get me into many industries if I wanted/needed. I took a little longer to figure out what I wanted in the business marketing space but with a referral from a friend to apply at oOh! it just seemed like the perfect fit. My Dad has worked in sales for most of his life, so the fast paced and social aspect of media and Out of Home really attracted me to the role.  

 

I’m super lucky to work in the tight knit group in the satellite market of South Australia, so the whole team really do guide me each day and I have learnt so much in these last few years from every single one of them.  

 

I must however give a special shout out to the person who does literally sit on my right-hand side... my group sales leader, Bree Tassell. Bree has been a mentor to me since starting in my role, possessing a lifetime of media and industry knowledge. She has been a great example of a woman in a leadership role. Starting at oOh! with very little experience in the Out of Home industry, Bree was pivotal in teaching me not just the out of home landscape but also how to navigate the world of media and sales. Bree has been my biggest cheerleader since I started and has provided me with immense opportunities to develop my knowledge and grow in my career.  

 

What’s the best thing about the industry you work in? 

It is hard not to mention the people and the social aspect of media, being able to create close relationships internally and with clients is something I cherish. Working day to day with people (and the best people) is the motivation that makes me want to come to work every day. Well, that and having major FOMO of what I will miss out on in the office. 

 

However, I do also love the admin and working behind the scenes aspect of my role too. I am a super organised and structured person, so being able to keep my busy brain on task and forward plan is super satisfying to me. To be able to put together a successful campaign and manage the end-to-end process is something I know my clients appreciate and I find pride in providing.  

 

A big day to day challenge is creative. For a lot of brands and campaigns creative has seemed to be more of an afterthought. Getting clients to think creatively first and use the media to enhance this idea is the ultimate goal. Especially with smaller clients, you want their campaigns to always make an impact and for them to get the bang for their buck. oOh! and our creative and innovation hub POLY are on this journey, educating the market in the best creative for the Out of Home industry.  

 

If we’re talking dream job, then I would love to be in the shoes of Steph Clare Smith or Laura Henshaw, who have launched businesses from their personal passion points. I would love to do similar but with my own area of interest, like women's sports, fashion or health. 

 

Talking more realistically I want to continue being in an industry I can see growth and a positive output. I want to keep improving, moving forward and developing new skills.  

 

I find inspiration in many places! In my workplace, I have won the leadership lottery with our team, being a continuous source of inspiration. In sport playing netball on the weekends with incredible team members and in family constantly looking up to my older sisters and parents.  

 

I really loved the Telstra “Hello Christmas” campaign from a few years ago. I thought it really stood out, not only through media platforms they used, but also through their use of emotion and seasonality. Tying this advertising into being able to make in person calls to Santa is genius. Contextually relevant creative is such a powerful way to connect with an audience and I think they nailed it!  

 

Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?  

We are very social in the office and being one of the office yappers I don't think there is much my work family don't know about me. However, for other colleagues interstate, something that not everyone would know might be that I am a country girl. I was born and grew up two and a half hours North of Adelaide in Port Pirie. I moved to Adelaide when I was 18 to study at university. I spend a lot of my time on the roads travelling back and forth between the two, for my partners football, my netball and to see family.  

 

I always struggle to picture myself in five years' time, but I do hope to continue learning and growing my knowledge of the outdoor media space and the media industry. Living in the smaller market of SA I would love to create a name for myself in the industry and be someone that people can easily approach and trust.