Jac Phillips, Chief Creative Officer, JacPhillips.com
Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jac Phillips Executive and Leadership Coaching, I recently stepped away from a 25-year corporate career across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. As well as coaching 'Rockstars' in business, marketing is my jam! As a long-term leader, I elevate the customer experience and personally amplify the company brands I represent.
With many years of marketing and communications expertise in both traditional and online environments, I am a highly effective senior marketing communications and channel advisor to a broad range of stakeholders locally, regionally and globally.
Areas of focus have included leadership and coaching of high-performance individuals and marketing teams, strategic and data-driven marketing and communications, PR, branding, research, events, advertising, digital and media platforms.
A particular passion for conducting business across the Asia Pacific, along with improving diversity and creating inclusive and future workforces. Extensive international experience across wealth management, banking, technology, FMCG and retail industries. I've led functions and high performing teams in advertising and at IBM, ANZ, Westpac Group and Visa Inc.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
There are two which I am equally engaged in every day. First, LinkedIn is a great platform for growing professional networks, sharing thought leadership and gaining insights. Second, Instagram is visually inspiring and a great platform for amplifying interesting and creative people and brands.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I have recently stepped away from a 25-year corporate career across Australia and Asia to become my own boss and set up my own business jacphillips.com, focusing on my portfolio career across three different areas, such as Executive and Leadership Coaching, Marketing and Business Advisory, and Non-Executive Board Director.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I have a simple purpose; to unlock the potential of people and brands using creativity, curiosity and collaboration, so they thrive. My new portfolio career allows me to live my purpose every day, coaching leaders, advising start-up entrepreneurs and supporting the governance and strategic direction of listed organisations in Australia.
It's such an interesting time in business, globally and nationally, so to be speaking daily to inspiring leaders across different companies and industries is both a joy and a privilege. I learn an immense amount every day.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
If you're not winning, you are learning.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
So much! The farm I bought a year ago allows me to engage with nature and my horses every day. It is a great reminder of how regeneration occurs, how impactful the seasons are, and every hour I am in awe of the different light and how it makes me feel. I also love art, music, design and creativity. I make sure I have access to these things regularly; they make my heart sing.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Madeleine, 25 years old and Louis, 23 years old - my kids! They are awesome and teach me something new every single day. Like most their age, they are creative, empathetic, non-judgemental, super smart, digitally savvy and such fun to be around. Both are intent on making a difference and are fast becoming impressive young leaders.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I get my energy from others, and as long as I can listen and communicate, then I enjoy meeting new people via Zoom, phone or in-person. Sadly thanks to the many lockdowns and restrictions we have faced in Australia, the past 18 months has meant growing my network has occurred predominantly via digital platforms and not physically. This just means it is something to look forward to physically connecting with new people in the future!
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
My curiosity and authentic interest in learning about others... especially their back story, and we all have great stories! I tend to make connections quite quickly and have a healthy sense of humour (which comes from laughing at myself daily!) so, that has served me well. If I had to prioritise what has been most helpful, it would be my constant love of learning and, of more recent times, my growing self-awareness, so I continue to develop as a leader in both my executive coaching business and in the boardroom.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
How to be an active listener and listening to understand, or deep listening, when you listen to what is being communicated, and you wait until all parts of the messages are digested before you start with your response, taking all parts of the message into account. I will have learned way more if I have mastered this skill at a young age.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
So many people! Malcolm Gladwell, Rishad Tobaccowala, Jacinda Ardern, my husband Rich Phillips, Megan Quinn and Jack River, aka Holly Rankin. Each of these people are so impressive across philosophy, journalism, leadership, academia and creativity.
They are all highly intelligent, extremely talented, courageous, purpose-filled individuals who continue to challenge the status quo, and each has high expectations of themselves, their tribes and most of all, of the leaders of our big businesses and our nations.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Reading about leadership and people who are making a difference. Great food and wine with wonderful friends, and meeting new people to engage in insightful conversations, so I learn really excites me. Spending time with my kids on our farm with our horses brings me the ultimate joy, as does travelling (which is something I really yearn for, having not done so for the past 18 months in the pandemic!) to new and exciting destinations - some well known, others yet to be discovered.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
I am an optimistic person who sees the glass half full (preferably with chardonnay!), and I have been able to bring my two passions to life during this pandemic - living and working in regional Australia on my farm.
I left my last corporate gig at Visa just four months ago to start my own business, and that has gone incredibly well, thanks to technology enabling me to coach, advise and run board meetings from anywhere I want to.
I have also made many new connections and identified new opportunities to support leaders in lockdown during this time and have been able to draw on my own lived experience leading high performing teams across different countries via virtual platforms.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have many mentors, and I have mentored many people. Every role in business I have had, someone has been generous enough to guide and advise me. Each shared a similar characteristic of being kind and supported my authentic style without dampening my spirit.
I have often been described as high energy and a force of nature, so no doubt scared a few off! Most of these mentors in the early stages of my career in media and advertising were males, however as I gravitated into corporate roles in the past ten years in tech, banking, finance and digital payments, more and more women became my mentors.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
To be an effective leader is to be an effective coach. The two go hand in hand so learn how to coach. Learn how to grow your self-awareness as early as possible. Listen deeply and always have a point of view.
Women especially need to have a voice - an intelligent and confident voice, so surround yourself with people in environments who encourage and support this so you can thrive.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
They feel alone in their quest to succeed. When you have a partner or sponsor, whether it be your coach who is outside of your organisation or someone at work who is willing to back you, your confidence grows, and you are more likely to give things a go again and again.
Important to remember that to move forward, you have to take the first step and then another and another... it's a numbers game, and the sooner you realise that, the better so you can draw energy to keep going. Remember, if you're not winning, you're learning ;-)
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
There are two actually
"Leadership is a behaviour, not a title."
"People won't always remember what you said, and they won't always remember what you do, but they will always remember how you made them feel."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
There are many. Splendour in the Grass is Australia's largest music festival which does so much good across many levels for local and international artists. Like youth, public discourse, popular culture, and of course connecting with 40,000 other people all "high on the music and creativity" is one helluva joy!
And all businesses that are B Corp certified impress me as I know what that requires to achieve! Bank Australia and Kiwibank are two unusual industry players that come to mind.
And social impact organisations who live their purpose and really do deliver a difference every day deserve massive amplification and support - Allbirds, Who Gives A Crap, Fitted for Work are some that I think are terrific.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
"The quality of your conversations dictate the quality of your relationships, and the quality of your relationships dictates the quality of your life" - actively focusing on positive and healthy, joyous relationships with my family, friends, colleagues, clients, past and present, and all those I will meet in the future, is what I define as success. And how we listen, learn and respond is the catalyst for building deeper, long-lasting and trusted connections with others.