Jane Power is one of a number of new additions to the Medialab team in 2024, joining as a Client Managing Director in June. With experience across both independent and big network agencies, we first asked Jane what sets independent apart from network agencies.
Jane summarised the key differences in three Ps – proximity, pace, and passion. The fact that Apollo sits at the heart of the agency means that everyone is close to the details – campaign performance data and results are available in real-time to both us and our client partners, which means that decisions can be made quickly and collaboratively, with daily conversations about optimisations and opportunities. Everyone has a crucial role to play, and there’s a certain level of passion that’s really visible in an independent setting that you often don’t see elsewhere, as you often see the immediate impact of your work, which is really rewarding. At Medialab, the collaboration and close-knit environment is remarkable – we have the agility of a small company but the output and quality of a big one which makes it a really exciting place to be right now
From starting her day with a strategic client meeting to immersing herself in campaign planning, Jane’s focus is always on the finer details and delivering impactful results. Here’s what a day in her life looks like:
Pre-Morning Routine
Every workday starts the same for me – up and out at 7am with my dog Dora; a ritual that helps me start the day on the right foot come rain, hail or shine. On WFH days I make the most of the lack of commute by taking her out for a longer trot around the common, but I’m in the office today so it’s just a short stroll as she’s out with the dog walker later. Then it’s onto the tube to head to the office. I use my commute to reply to a few personal messages, prep time to review my diary for the day and have a look at the latest Campaign headlines. Once in the office, it’s straight to the coffee machine – an essential to jump start my day.
Morning at Work
Mornings for me are about checking in with the team and clients to see how things are, if there are any major updates, and ensure projects and campaigns are on track. It’s a big team with a variety of great client partners, so there’s always a lot going on. This morning, I have my weekly CMD meeting – a chance to align with the other Client Managing Directors on projects that span across our three teams.
Today we’re drafting a shortlist of campaigns to enter into upcoming industry awards and finalising an update on progression and training to present at this Thursday’s Collablab. The rest of my morning is spent in meetings – one internal and one external. The first is a run through of a Q4 response to brief, with a focus on building on a successful regional test. We have some exciting activation ideas to drive standout in the run up to Christmas! The external one is a senior client fortnightly call; we’re evolving how we work with the different product teams to drive greater integration ahead of our annual planning cycle, so today’s focus is agreeing the RASCI and timeline to make sure we have all the right stakeholders involved at the right time. It’s a meeting-intensive morning, but what I love about working in an independent agency is the pace and the hands-on involvement—it’s fast, dynamic, and brimming with creativity.
Lunch Routine
I’m a big believer in the importance of work/life balance and making sure to get away from screens at lunchtime is a must. Our office location means we’re spoilt for choice for lunch options. My current favourite is Frank’s Coffee House, a classic local café that serves big freshly made sandwiches – the pesto & mozzarella focaccia is my go-to. I head back to the office and join a lively team chat about different interests and hobbies. We’re off to a pub quiz as a team social tonight and we’re a competitive bunch, so we’re trying to figure out what our strong suits will be – sounds like it’s Taylor Swift and flags of the world!
Afternoon
Afternoons tend to be a mix of informal check-ins and strategic planning. Today, I’ve got my monthly catch-up with the Apollo team to discuss what’s on the horizon – we’ve got a real variety of projects on the go at the moment, so these sessions are crucial for staying aligned on ongoing and upcoming projects. We review the initial results of an econometrics model refresh with the planning and strategy leads so we can add the implications for media planning before presenting the final work next week.
Today is unlike any other Medialab day though; Medialab made the Media Week Agency of the Year shortlist and today is the day that the judges come into the office for a presentation as part of the judging process. It’s fuelled a lot of excitement, with Medialabbers from Bootcamp to Board level involved, as we immerse the judges into our client activity and our people in our transparent Medialab way. It was a fast-and-furious 30-mins presentation which produced a lot of engagement from the judges!
One thing I love about Medialab is that everything is underpinned by data. The Apollo team are the brains behind this and are always forthcoming with new process suggestions and training to make sure that both our team and our client partners are armed with the right intel to make effective decisions. The day ends with a check in with HR and our Talent leads to finalise a job spec – some recent new business wins mean our team is expanding.
Evening Routine
Evenings are all about winding down. I aim to get home at a reasonable hour, and my partner and I take turns cooking dinner. If I can, I squeeze in a Pilates class—it’s the perfect way to relax. The day usually ends with another walk for Dora, a nice moment to reflect and decompress.
If You Weren’t at Medialab, What Would You Be Doing?
I nearly ventured into finance after university as I’ve always had a knack for numbers, I have two sisters who are accountants so it must be in my DNA! It’s been a pleasant twist of fate to land in a creative role where I still get to work with data. Alternatively, I could have seen myself working in the charity sector— I feel really fortunate to have found a place like Medialab that beautifully blends these interests.
What’s One Piece of Advice You Would Give Someone Trying to Get into the Industry?
Stay curious and proactive. Dive into self-learning, stay updated on industry trends, and don’t be shy about reaching out to others for advice. The TV Masters course by Thinkbox is a fantastic resource for learning from home—I highly recommend it!
