Bec Brideson

Business

Venus Advertising (Open this link in a new window) - Advertising Agency. We create all kinds of advertising from TV, radio, newspaper, point of sale and digital work for clients all over Australia. We work in FMCG, fashion, services, retail and Government. We have a specialisation unlike any other ad agency in Australia, marketing to the world's largest consumer audience, women.

Tell us about your AHA! Or Lightbulb Moment (when you first connected with your passion and felt like you were 'in the zone')...

It was 1999. I realised that women make all the decisions about buying things. But I was surrounded by men in the advertising industry. That's when I realised there was a disconnect between the people buying products, and the people trying to sell them. It's an inverse proportion and for no apparent reason other than advertising being traditionally, a very male industry.

Can you recall a Go Ahead and Jump! Moment? - we call this a Chutzpah experience, it's the Big Moment when you had to feel the fear and do it anyway

It was 2003. I felt there was a glass ceiling. The most respected Creative Director in the world declared that year that “women creatives are crap and they should go suckle something” which is indicative of attitudes towards females in the ad industry. I couldn't continue to underestimate my worth. I couldn't compromise personal and professional standards anymore, so I started my own business rather than sell my soul.

What about the 'I Have Arrived' moment (when you knew you were doing it right or you had a big success).... What did it look like? How did it feel?

I was presenting at a global Marketing to Women conference in London. It was exciting but terrifying.
It made me grow because instantaneously I realised that when you think you have arrived at your ultimate dream, you suddenly understand there is still so much more you need to do and learn.

A helping hand along the way... a couple of examples of mentors, teachers, friends, parents and how they helped / why they matter so much to you

My parents were there for support financially ( I had to move back home because I couldn't pay my mortgage) as well as being there emotionally too.

Two mentors that I had throughout my career became disappointments to me because I was now a competitor to them. Later, it dawned on me that mentors are usually there for a reason. But sometimes you have to accept that people who inspire you and make a massive impact in your life, are just passing through it. I hope I can have the same positive effect on people as my mentors have had on me. I'm hoping for a mentor now, and they say that the teacher appears when the student is ready. So I'm hoping that I'm ready soon!

My friends are always there to emotionally support me and believe in me when I feel like a failure and even when I have been too busy to water the garden of friendship they still understand. How lucky.

And my husband, without him, I would not have made it! I had the business for 12 months when we got together. His belief in me was what salvaged my resolve to keep trying. Being from the same industry he understood everything I was doing. He used to cut work and spend all night helping and weekends to come and pitch clients with me. Eventually he joined the business when we were big enough. He's amazing.

If you could give advice to yourself when you were 16 what would you say to that kid you were?

You are worth it. You are allowed to be successful.

Leading Lights: Who inspires you - in any field, at any time in history?

I can be inspired by many people, mostly people who have overcome adversity.
People who have suffered and made it through their pain inspire me. To be successful in spite of difficulties and challenges is a real test and in my experience, the harder you've suffered the more successful you are. It is as if resilience prepares you for the inevitable highs and lows of business.
In business, I have been inspired by Anita Roddick the Founder of the Body Shop. And, Mary Wells Lawrence, she was the founding president of Wells Rich Greene, an advertising agency known for its creativity and innovative work, and the first woman CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The 3 most important things you need to be a successful young entrepreneur....

  1. Resilience
  2. Hard work
  3. Great Ideas

What really matters to you, what gets you out of bed each day ....

Rave on... Anything else you want to add....

Sometimes I want to give up, some days are so hard, or I can't sleep because I am really worried about something. Then a phone call comes through, one of my staff does something amazing, or a client has a great success and our work has truly netted results and it all feels worthwhile. It's a bit of a rollercoaster at times, but it's an amazing experience.