Balancing the Grind With Sheree Gover, Group Marketing Director at Icon Visual Marketing

Sheree Gover is the Group Marketing Director at Icon Visual Marketing and Orange Canvas. With over 20-years experience working across all facets of marketing, Sheree has seen all the ups and downs in her career.

Balance the Grind spoke to Sheree about her diverse marketing career, her role as Group Marketing Director, writing in the early mornings, and more.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your background and career?

My career started in the best way possible, with a mentor and role model who is still a friend and whom I have, 20 years later, started working with again.

I didn’t go to uni straight from school, I didn’t know what I wanted or where I wanted to be. It was only through working in Local Government and running some local PR campaigns that I got interested.

My career has had huge ups and downs, starting work as an untrained school leaver during the recession to working for a luxury brand when the GFC hit, I’ve had my moments.

My career is a ying and yang, high highs and low lows, client side, agency side, I’ve have had it both ways, every way and I’ve loved all the craziness.

For the past 10 years I have worked for a family owned, growing marketing agency where I have the opportunity to do it all.

Launch digital marketing, launch content marketing launching social marketing, manage a hugely talented creative team all the while managing clients and growing the agency around us. I love the flexibility and agility to jump from stone to stone while doing some awesome work.

2) What is your current role and what does it entail on a day to day basis?

I am the Group Marketing Director at Icon Visual Marketing and its sister company Orange Canvas.

My remit is varied and I love it that way. I have some direct clients that I have amazing support with, I have indirect clients who I consult on strategic and creative direction on and I have my business development role to make sure Icon & Orange Canvas, are being marketed right.

My theme song in life is “everyday I’m shuffling.” I have a young family, live an hour from the office as well as am in demand every minute of the day. I love the chaos, but some days would love a switch off. But really, drama and crisis are my remit; its when I respond best and I kick into another gear.

Daily I have no less than 6 hours of meetings, whether working on the business or in the business. I have an amazing team around me who just get it, they are a pleasure to work with. I love the speed and agility of an agency, I talk fast, we can move fast and we can respond fast.

3) What does a typical day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

I am an early riser but I never need an alarm clock. I am generally up by 5am to catch a start on the day before life overtakes. I get a few hours of work in before “morning” takes up my time. I love the quiet of mornings as its that most peaceful time when I think you are at your calmest, smartest and most serene so writing is one of my morning jobs.

When I get to the office, that’s a different story. I’m in fight or flight mode and just “on” for the next 6 – 8 hours. Don’t get me wrong, “on” is my happy place, it’s where I feel most useful and energised.

4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you prioritise your workload?

I tackle the hard jobs first and use the fun jobs as a reward. Otherwise, the hard jobs are never tackled. I also have learned to share the problem.

While I am head of the Problem Solving team, I work with so many smart people, it would be remiss not to engage them – so I have no problem forming team to solve a problem. No one should ever think they can do it all.

5) In between your job, life and all your other responsibilities, how do you ensure you find some sort of balance in your life?

I love my job and I love the energy, but I also like to take time out. The gym is a natural place for this, who can be in pain exercising and thinking about work at the same time.

I love to cook, mostly to get myself ahead of the next week, and the next. I am not a relax and chill kinda kid, but high energy relaxation suits me.

6) What are some of the things you do to take time out and recharge?

I don’ t like to make plans on a weekend. I like to wake up and go where the mood takes me.

My kids love the surprise of a Sunday morning and we are going to brunch, on a bus ride to Sydney in the rocks. I love exploring new things and learning histories I didn’t know before. I hope to instill that into my girls

7) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?

Getting up earlier to give you a head start on the day, truly gives you a head start. We all have people in our lives that use us for sounding boards, but I don’t have time. At the start of the conversation, I ask what do you want from me out of this chat? It shortcuts it quite a bit.

My best habit is not to be passive, or aggressive, be honest, open and transparent with what you expect and need from every transition.

8) Are there any books you’ve read that have helped you with work-life balance?

I’m more of a follow others examples than read about them. I have had many strong women as mentors in my career and they have been my guide to work-life balance. I think as female managers, we need to always be mindful of our influence and to make sure we are sending a positive work-life balance,

9) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?

I have an old fashioned to do list and I love to see the ticks. Although these days I have a weekly to-do more than a daily as my plans are more at a strategic level. I don’t sweat the small stuff, and know how to navigate the difficult conversations.

I will be the first to admit I don’t have work/life balance just right, it’s a hard formula to come across. I love what I do and I do It well, but I also love my family – hence the balance. It’s a hustle everyday, but I hope I am doing it OK.

If you’d like to have a conversation with Balance the Grind about how you manage work, life and balance, feel free to get in touch with us!