Meet Montarna Pitt, the Founder of The Audience Agency - a full service communication & media agency in Sydney, Australia. They're known for their bold & unique events, ideas, strategies & campaigns & since launching just 6 years ago, they have worked with clients such as Tinder, Revolve, Rachel Gilbert, Penfolds & many more. We caught up with Mon for a workspace tour & to chat about balancing being a mum & a business owner, her career story, & how she stays organised.  

First things first, how did it all begin & what was that light bulb moment when you decided to start The Audience Agency? 

I was in my early twenties and I’d been in the PR industry for a few years. Some of my contacts asked if I’d take on their PR as a freelancer and it got me thinking about doing my own thing. I mulled it over for a few months and talked through with my nearest and dearest – they all advised me to go for it, so I took the plunge. The Audience Agency was launched from my parents basement when I was 23, with me and one team member sharing a computer. How far we’ve come!

Talk us through your career prior to The Audience Agency. What was your background? 

I interned and worked at agencies while I was finishing my degree in communications. I started out being trained in traditional PR and then the digital shift happened and suddenly I was launching a fashion labels’ first Twitter profile and writing a blog for a retail company. I count myself extremely lucky to have this breadth of experience – I can create influencer campaigns and build engaging social media content, but I’m also a stickler for a well written press release and conventional PR strategy. After graduating I was headhunted to run the marketing department at Belinda, The Corner Shop and MARNI at the age of 23, an amazing career moment and a role that strengthened my marketing experience and also gave me an insight in to the world of fashion retail.

You're biggest career highlight with The Audience Agency to date?

We’ve had so many rewarding projects over the years but the one that stands out is the partnership between Tinder and Mardi Gras Sydney in 2018 where we created the ‘All Types, All Swipes’ parade float and launched Tinder profile settings for people of all gender identities. Seeing this campaign come to life in that landmark year for same-sex equality was one of my personal career highlights.

And what has been the most challenging moment to date?

I think I’m right in the middle of it! Being a mum and running a business is full on.

You recently became a mother to beautiful Parker Pitt. As a businesswoman, a mother, & a wife - how have you found the balance?

This is something I’m working on; it’s been a real struggle and I think I’ll always be chasing that elusive work life balance especially now I have a family. Parker is developing and changing so quickly, so just as I feel I’ve got some form of routine down she hits a new development phase - I’m trying to get used to that and learning to roll with the punches. My identity is also so intrinsically part of The Audience Agency and it’s been hard to step away and figure out who this new person is. It definitely puts life into perspective.

What would your advice be for other businesswoman who are about to venture into motherhood? 

Give yourself plenty of time to recover post birth, and be kind to yourself. Don’t have any expectations on how it’s going to be because it’s different for everyone. And it really does take a village – say yes to all offers of help.

As a business woman & a mother, it's important to have a strong support network - who's yours? 

My amazing team at The Audience Agency and close family and friends. I haven’t felt ready to leave Parker with a nanny yet, so our family on both sides have all pitched in to help me juggle work and mum life for the last six months. And the agency team have all adapted their workloads and schedules to accommodate the erratic schedule of a newborn baby. I couldn’t do it without them.

What is the first thing you do when you get to the office.

I used to be straight in, head down to crack on with work but now I start the day chatting to the team catching up on all happenings professional and personal – it’s exciting to talk to adults after a morning of baby chatter! Then I deep dive straight into my emails.

Top 3 ways you organise your life?

 
I live by my icalendar - if it’s not in my calendar it won’t happen. Nowadays I choose work outfits that can take me from feeding Parker to a day in the office and out for dinner, just in case I run out of time to go home and change. And I try to prioritise sleep so I have the energy to juggle whatever the day throws at me.

What are your must have desk essentials?

How do you keep your workspace organised?

It’s all about the storage! I can’t focus surrounded by chaos so my desk is an OCD dream with everything filed away in shelves and drawers. I try and be as paperless as possible but I always have a leather notebook for hand to pen creative notes.

What are your goals for the next 12 months / what are you most looking forward to? 

The Audience Agency is going through some big changes in 2020 and I’m looking forward to the next exciting phase. We’re moving offices and a different environment will give us fresh energy to deliver our upcoming campaigns and events. I’m also adding new services to our offering and collaborating with like-minded agency partners on creative projects. On a personal note, my goal is to settle in to the role of working mum and continue to grow The Audience Agency while spending precious moments with my daughter.

FOLLOW Montarna & The Audience Agency:

Instagram HERE & HERE / Website 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

Hannah Roche