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Claire Carroll, Digital Media Strategist, neo@Ogilvy

Company: neo@Ogilvy launched earlier this year as a centralised team of digital specialists to service the Ogilvy Group in Ireland.  Our approach differs as we consider the full digital mix on receipt of the client brief which involves working alongside client service, creative, planners etc. We see media and creative as being inextricably linked when it comes to digital and those considerations are what drive results. It’s the process and planning that allows us to do this successfuly.

Job Description: Digital Strategist. It’s a great  job and a very interesting role although it’s quite a broad spec! Essentially, it’s my remit to understand the many facets of the digital world and how people use technology throughout their lives.  My background in digital media planning plays directly into this area and is pivotal in terms of understanding consumption trends and behaviours . Luckily, I have a high degree of curiosity when it comes to the area of digital and the overall impact it’s having on society. The pace of the industry is fast so being nimble and adapting to change are prominent characteristics of working in digital.

Likes: There is a great vibrancy within the agency and the calibre of talent working here is excellent. It’s great to have good colleagues and managers where there is a real team spirit. Everyone is enthusiastic about how digital is evolving within the agency. What I really enjoy is the fact that we get to work at the cutting edge of the communications sector and have access to award winning teams through the global Ogilvy network.

Career Ladder: On leaving college I worked for Heineken USA in San Francisco and Miami  - a brilliant experience. I then returned to Ireland where I joined Pigsback.com which was a great place to work as regards the team and the development of the website. From there I joined Net Behaviour working in Business Development and I gained a significant amount of experience with that team. I then moved to Strategem where I was Head of Digital.

Qualifications: BA in Marketing & French from Portobello College. Diploma in Advertising & PR from DBS.

Working Hours: It varies a lot but I’m usually in for 8.30am and try to leave by 6pm!

Breaktime: The office is in Ely Place in the centre of Dublin so it’s a great location for a selection of places to eat or to take a walk in Stephen’s Green.

Social Media Credentials: I won’t list them all but suffice to say I’m immersed in the developments and tools within this area. You have to be if you’re responsible for advising clients on how to employ them.  I use the tools extensively and enjoy trying out new online networks, tools, apps  and seeing how they all interconnect etc.

To some degree I feel the term ‘social media’ is somewhat redundant as media is inherently social.  I think it’s also slightly misleading as it doesn’t really encapsulate the gravity of the technology, the adoption by users and how these tools are enhancing their lives and social connections.

News: The ongoing news and updates from the International Ogilvy network  are a fantastic resource. I stay up to speed with several other sources, a few of whom include: The Guardian, Mashable, NYTimes, Digital Buzz Blog, iMedia Connection.  Some of them I get on feeds via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn whilst others I’ll receive via email or an app across several devices: laptop, iPad, smartphone etc.

Onsite or Offsite: A nice mix of both.

Why do you love Mondays? Because on an ongoing basis I put a lot of effort into ensuring I review the status and progress of ongoing and upcoming work.  I try to plan and prioritise as much as possible. Doing that helps defuse the stigma often associated with Monday mornings (!) and allows me to get on with yet another week of diverse digital work.

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