#KatieTalks: Turning the Tables – On Winning Australian Marketer of the Year

2026-03-19

This episode is a little different… and a little more uncomfortable (in the best possible way). For the first time on #KatieTalks, Katie is in the hot seat. Interviewed by Ike Levick, this is a sharp, honest and slightly cheeky unpack of what it actually takes to win the Australian Marketing Institute Certified Practising Marketer of the Year award. And… very timely, given entries for this year’s awards have just opened. No pressure. Spoiler: it’s not about playing it safe, being polite, or wait...

This episode is a little different… and a little more uncomfortable (in the best possible way).

For the first time on #KatieTalks, Katie is in the hot seat. Interviewed by Ike Levick, this is a sharp, honest and slightly cheeky unpack of what it actually takes to win the Australian Marketing Institute Certified Practising Marketer of the Year award.

And… very timely, given entries for this year’s awards have just opened. No pressure.

Spoiler: it’s not about playing it safe, being polite, or waiting your turn.

In this conversation, we get into:

Why applying for awards (even when your inner critic is having a full-blown moment) is a strategic move, not a vanity exercise
The real reason bold, future-focused marketing wins… when it’s anchored in commercial reality, not just pretty ideas
Why your point of view isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s your edge, your leverage, your difference
How to think well beyond the brief (and then calmly work backwards to make the “impossible” happen)
A standout case study: a TikTok-led grad campaign delivering 300% uplift on a ~$1,600 spend
Fractional leadership and why smart organisations are increasingly buying sharp thinking, not just headcount
The non-negotiables: curiosity, networks, and staying uncomfortably close to what’s next (yes, AI — whether you like it or not)
Why lifting the standard of the marketing profession — and backing the next generation — is not optional if we want to be taken seriously

It’s part strategy, part career reality check, and part gentle (read: not that gentle) nudge to stop playing small.

Because the work that gets noticed, funded and talked about?

It’s usually the idea someone almost didn’t say out loud.

🔗 Resources mentioned