Research shows most people will change careers three to seven times and changing jobs is more common than ever before. In a stimulating discussion about these career trends in media, the Women in Media National Conference on August 9 will explore this rising diversity in our working lives in a session titled, Pivots & Portfolios. Career pivots, job diversity, and the gig economy will be covered, promising a stimulating and thought-provoking discussion any woman in the industry won’t want to miss.
The panel will feature media strategist Anisha Khopkar, who left her role with the ABC to start her own business; Walkley award-winning columnist and author Jane Caro AM; and The Daily Aus co-founder Zara Siedler. Moderated by journalist-come-board director Megan Brownlow of Houston Consulting, the session will speak to research that has drawn interesting insights that are relevant to us all:
You will change careers at least once in your life, and if you are anything like the average person, you will do it three to seven times over 45 working years.
The younger you are, the higher the number of career pivots you are predicted to have.
Job diversity is becoming a norm with job insecurity, the gig economy and revenue-sharing platforms that enable people to set up their own small businesses.
There are an increasing number of 'portfolio careers', especially within media, where people are curating their own paid activities and revenue streams.
Kym Middleton, General Manager of Women in Media says,
“Women working in media are familiar with short contracts and having to be multiskilled and flexible to be employable.”
“This brings challenges but also lots of opportunities that different generations are seizing. It will be wonderful to hear how this impressive trio of women manage their professional pivots and portfolio careers.”
Don’t miss out on joining a cross-generational panel and explore how to best prepare for a life of job diversity and career changes at Pivots & Portfolios at this year’s Women in Media Conference.
Anisha Khopkar is a media strategist with expertise in digital media transformation, creative content development, and leadership spanning 17 years. She has led the digital transformation and new audience strategy of award-winning national and global brands and productions, including triple j, 7.30 Report, Australian Story, Four Corners, ABC Queer, ABC International and BuzzFeed. As the Editor of the ABC’s Innovation Lab, Anisha has also been at the helm of commissioning and piloting future-focused and audience-centred content formats, workflows and team models. She recently established McAuliffe & Khopkar, a media consultancy specialising in content strategy, development, digital transformation and young audiences, with business partner Laura McAuliffe.
Jane Caro AM is a Walkley winning columnist, author, novelist and social commentator. She appears regularly on Today Extra, and ABC’s NSW Drive, Western Plains and occasionally The Gruen. She writes a regular column for Sunday Life and her work often appears in The Saturday Paper. She is in demand as a speaker, MC, facilitator and panellist. Recent highlights include interviewing Miriam Margolyes at the Sydney Opera House, and Bryan Brown at Cremorne Orpheum. In October she will be interviewing international bestselling author Jodi Piccoult. Jane has written 13 books, her latest being the bestseller, The Mother. She’s writing another (also a bestseller, she hopes).
Zara Seidler is the co-founder of The Daily Aus, a social-first news service that engages over half a million young Australians. Coming from a background in independent politics, Zara has worked as a crossbench political adviser to independent federal crossbencher Dr Kerryn Phelps and campaign manager for an independent Lord Mayoral campaign. She's also worked at Sky News, Research Australia, and did a research stint at Georgetown University. In 2022, Zara was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30. The Daily Aus' first book with Penguin Random House was released in 2023.
Megan Brownlow is an experienced strategist and non-executive director who, over the course of her 30-year career, has held senior leadership positions in marketing and management for large media and consulting firms. Megan started her career as a journalist and news producer in television and radio before moving into governance. She now holds many roles including: Managing Director and board director of Housten Consulting; Deputy Chair of Screen Australia, and chair of their Audit and Risk Committee; Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for UTS’ School of Communications; and a director of the Media Federation of Australia.
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