ELISE BRANDO // NEXT WAVE

Name: Elise Brando
Handle: @elisebrando
Job Title:‍ ‍Ambassador & Influencer Manager at @myer
Workplace: Myer
Location: Melbourne, Australia

What does a typical day in your life look like as Head of Strategy & Growth at Day Management?

IEvery morning starts with a coffee with my fiancé, either on the balcony or in bed, followed by opening my phone to what feels like a million notifications. I can’t properly start my day until they’re cleared, it’s a bit of a ritual!

I’m also a huge list person. I can’t focus unless my to-do list is up to date, and I combine my work and personal lists into one master list. Everyone around me knows about “Elise’s list”! Work-wise, no day is the same, but there’s always a mix of reporting on influencer content, creating influencer target lists, managing lots and lots of internal and external stakeholders, following up talent and managers, planning approaches for upcoming campaigns or brand launches, strategy and, of course, lots and lots of meetings.

After work, I like to shower the day off, cook dinner and plonk myself on the couch to watch whatever I’m bingeing at the time. I’m also a hot Pilates girl, so I’ll usually squeeze in a class with my partner.

Influencer marketing is still a relatively new career path. What roles or experiences helped get you to where you are today?

Starting out in traditional PR was the perfect foundation. Straight out of university, I worked as a PR Coordinator for a small retail brand, right around the time bloggers were starting to emerge. I remember suggesting influencer gifting to the owners and they were completely against the idea, which made me realise I wanted to be somewhere that embraced new ways of thinking.

I moved to a PR agency that had begun integrating influencer marketing alongside traditional PR, and I pretty quickly realised this was where I wanted to focus my career. From packing hundreds of PR boxes to finding the right talent for campaigns, building relationships and using social media to connect with creators, I loved every aspect of it. It felt like the perfect blend of creativity, communication and relationship-building.

Who did you turn to for career advice when you were leaving high school, and what advice would you give your younger self now?

I had an older friend from my first job when I was 15 who worked in PR and communications, and she was the first person who really helped me understand what that career looked like. I’d always been told when I was younger that I’d thrive in PR and communications, but I didn’t really know what that meant at the time.

Every career test I did in high school pointed me towards communications, and they weren’t wrong. The role I have today didn’t even exist when I was studying PR, so if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to play to your strengths. I’ve always been a talker, I’ve always loved meeting people and building relationships, and looking back, it makes perfect sense that I ended up in a career centred around exactly that.

What's one skill you've developed in your career that wasn't taught in a course, degree or at school but has become essential to your role?

Genuine relationship-building. This industry is built on people, and I think others can see straight through someone who isn’t authentic. Being personable, approachable and genuinely invested in relationships has been one of the most important skills I’ve developed, and it’s something that can’t really be taught in a classroom.

If you were hiring for a junior role tomorrow, what would make someone stand out, even with little experience?

Personality and authenticity. Skills can be taught, but being genuinely curious, personable and easy to work with goes a long way. This industry is all about relationships, so I’d always choose someone who is enthusiastic, kind and eager to learn.

What are some of your favourite projects you've worked on in this role and others?

Show your personality! I likely already loved your application and thought your experience was super relevant for the role if we’re at the interview stage. So I’m now interested to know more about you and see if you’d be a good fit for the team culture! Try to be yourself and share some fun and unique things about you, your interests or what you feel you can bring to the team in terms of culture and vibes.

How do you structure your day and week so that you leave Friday feeling accomplished?

Launching Fenty Beauty into Myer was definitely a career highlight. Being part of bringing such an iconic brand into the business was incredibly exciting.

I also spent seven years at Untitled Group, so watching Beyond The Valley evolve from its very first year into its tenth anniversary last year was really special. Seeing the growth over that decade and being part of the journey was something I’m incredibly proud of. Leading the team at Underscore was also a massive highlight. Growing something from the ground up, managing all processes, operations, client management, pitching, winning clients was some of the greatest learnings and experiences. Very grateful for my time there. 

Another standout was during my time at Cotton On, where I worked on an influencer trip and campaign shoot in the Northern Territory. Spending time with the talent and crew, exploring some of the most beautiful parts of Australia and creating content together felt less like work and more like one big family experience.

What's the difference between an influencer partnership and an ambassador partnership?

I see ambassador partnerships as long-term relationships. Ambassadors become an extension of the brand and work with you consistently over time, helping to build familiarity and trust with audiences.

Influencer partnerships, on the other hand, are usually more campaign-based or one-off collaborations designed to support a specific launch or moment in time.

What's been one of those "I can't believe this is my job" moments so far?

I’ve had so many moments like that throughout my career that it’s hard to choose just one! Most recently, launching Fenty Beauty at Myer was definitely one of them.

Earlier in my career, working on major campaigns across music, sport and entertainment also gave me plenty of pinch-me moments. From projects with Tennis Australia and the AFL to the incredible experiences I had during my time at Untitled Group and Underscore, I’ve been lucky enough to work on some truly memorable campaigns. Looking back, those are the moments that remind me just how fun and rewarding this industry can be.