Santosh Murthy and Anna Wright
A two-week internship with a media agency opened the door to a full-time role for Anna Wright before she had finished university.
The 22-year-old commerce and media student received IPG Mediabrands’ inaugural Woolyungah Indigenous Scholarship.
Wright said the experience provided a behind-the-scenes look at how an agency develops strategies and creates campaigns.
“Before the internship, I had very little understanding of what it would be like to work in such a large team, let alone in a media agency,” she told AdNews.
“I was surprised by how many different moving parts are involved, and I hadn’t realised how agencies work so closely with partners.
“One of the highlights was getting to spend time out of the office at SBS and TikTok, which gave me an amazing glimpse into the partner side of the media world as well.”
The scholarship, valued at $10,000, is annually awarded to an undergraduate student of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
It includes an internship in IPG’s Sydney office with a dedicated mentor, plus financial assistance to cover travel, accommodation and meals.
Wright, from Gerringong on the NSW south coast, said the opportunity was one she “couldn’t pass up”.
“The internship was an amazing chance to meet new people and make industry connections – something that can seem hard when you come from a small town,” she said.
“It also felt like a good stepping stone toward my big goals of eventually moving to Sydney and working within a bigger organisation.
“I’d been looking for experiences like this but was struggling to figure out how to make it work living far from the city. The scholarship eased much of the anxiety I felt about how I could make the move.”
After receiving an email from the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre at the University of Wollongong, Wright submitted an application including her personal information, career goals and resume.
“It was a few weeks wait to hear back, which was both nerve-racking and exciting,” she said.
“When the scholarships team from the uni called me to tell me that my application was successful, I was so happy that I cried. I called my parents immediately, I was so excited.”
Wright said learning in a culturally inclusive environment boosted her confidence and gave her insights she wouldn't have got from classes alone.
“The day I spent with the partnerships team really resonated,” she said.
“In the morning, Simon (Grace) walked me through the role, explaining not just what to communicate with partners, but how and when to do so.
“Later, I had the opportunity to sit in on a meeting and everything he had explained earlier clicked into place. I hadn’t been in many ‘serious’ meetings before, so watching a media professional handle the conversation with such confidence and knowledge was super impressive. It made a big impact on me and really showed the level of professionalism and skill required for the job.”
Wright joined Identity Communications as partnership executive last month.
“I didn’t expect for my internship opportunity to turn into an actual job,” she said.
“I love that the work isn’t just about helping clients meet their communications and business goals, but also about reaching and engaging diverse communities. It’s about ensuring important messages and updates reach the people who need them most.
“I am looking forward to moving to Sydney after I graduate so I can join the team full time.”
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