Meet The Team: Rachel Iskander, Programmatic Account Executive.

Allow us to introduce you to Rachel Iskander, our stellar Programmatic Account Executive based in Sydney.

Rachel's advertising career started at a boutique agency where she quickly became fascinated by the intricacies of media planning.

With a bubbly and infectious personality, she naturally was drawn to sales which led her to join our team a few years ago. She now plays an integral role in the success of our programmatic team.

Sporting one of the catchiest nicknames in the office, Rachel or Risky as we know her, received her unique nickname back in the day. However, it made a resurgence in her agency days and has stuck with her ever since.

Curious to learn more? Read on.

How did you find yourself in the advertising industry, and what’s been the best part of your journey at VMO so far?

I discovered my passion for advertising in an unexpected way. With a background in PR, I was searching for the right career path when I came across a unique opportunity to take on a media coordinator role. Though unfamiliar with the position, I embraced the challenge and landed my first role in an agency. From there, I quickly fell in love with the industry. Colleagues often told me I had a natural talent for sales, which landed me a sales role at VMO. It has been an incredible journey ever since, and what has really stood out is the incredible connections I’ve been able to make with our interstate teams by attending our annual conferences.

If you could swap roles with someone in the business, who would it be and why?

I would choose Paul MacGregor, our director of strategy and marketing. As someone who strives to be an engaging presenter, I really admire his presentation skills and would ultimately love to achieve the same level of strength in presenting.  

Share one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self starting out in your career.

While skills can be learned, being part of a supportive team that you enjoy working with is crucial and allows for creativity, productivity and resilience to be fostered. So, look at the culture of a company closely as it’s essential to success in your career.

Tell us one work tip or hack you swear by that makes your day smoother?

I send myself a Microsoft Teams message after every meeting as I want to ensure every follow-up point is captured. It’s a simple way to stay organised and keep things on track.

What would you do differently, if you were given the chance?

If I had to change one thing in my career, it would be to spend more time in an agency as my agency experience has proven to be invaluable when working on the publisher side. It has given me a deeper understanding of client needs and how they operate, ultimately strengthening our communication and collaboration efforts.

If you could master a new skill instantly, what would it be, and how would you use it at work?

I would love to become a graphic design whiz and ultimately be crowned the queen of creating mock-ups. I’d love to use this skill to craft realistic yet creative imagery for all of Val Morgan.

What’s the most unexpected thing in your work bag or on your desk right now?

I’m known to have the ‘Mary Poppins’ style bag in the office. From mints to makeup (and everything in between) I am always prepared for every event.

Any hidden talents?

I fancy myself as a soul singer from time to time.

The best book or podcast you've consumed recently and why?

The best podcast I’ve recently listened to is ‘One Purpose’ with Jay Shetty. The podcast discusses the importance of a sense of self and purpose to be the kind of person you strive to be in all aspects of your life.

Finally, spill the tea (or coffee): What’s your go-to coffee order?

My go-to coffee order is a skim piccolo. It’s not as heavy as a latte and not as intense as an espresso. It's efficient at getting the job done.