Balancing the Grind with Victoria Minell, Senior Marketing Manager at Equalution

Victoria Minell is the Senior Marketing Manager at Equalution, a company specialising in science-based, customised nutrition.

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

I’ve been working in marketing for eight years, across a range of different companies and industries.

I started off at HelloFresh as their Social Media Manager while I was studying at UNSW in 2015, before moving on to Bumble in 2017.

There I was part of a tight-knit team of three within Australia as their Marketing Manager, where together we grew the app’s awareness and overall downloads by 3 million in a 2 year period.

After being a part of Bumble’s expansion in Australia, it was time for my next challenge.

I began as Local Area Marketing Manager at Menulog in 2018 where it was my role to help grow brand awareness and deliver the “Did Somebody say Menulog” campaign across focus regions within Australia. 

All of these incredible experiences led me to my latest at Equalution as Senior Marketing Manager, where I’ve been leading the Marketing strategy since March 2021. 

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

We currently have a hybrid work agreement, so on the days I’m not working from home and going into the office I will wake up at 6 am and head to my 6:30 am boxing class, come home to shower and make a smoothie to give me an energy boost for the day ahead.

Then I’ll drive to the office (through Sydney’s crazy traffic) and grab a coffee once I get there with one of my colleagues. I like to share the love and grab coffees with different people in the office so I can learn more about what’s happening in their departments’ world.

Then the day begins! Emails, Google Meet calls, scheduling and executing campaigns. One of the best parts of our workplace is the culture. I am so lucky I get to both laugh (and a lot) and learn with my team. We foster such a fun, collaborative environment that allows us to truly create our best work.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

We have a hybrid work environment. This means I’m in the office two days a week and three days working from home. I love the flexibility Equalution offers, it helps me feel as productive as possible and facilitates that work-life balance vibe.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

Work-life balance is extremely important to me as it allows you to prioritise your values between the demands of your career and personal life. Being able to balance work and meeting deadlines whilst having time for friends, family and your hobbies can sometimes be a struggle. I strongly prioritise personal life outside of work hours.

Obviously, these hours sometimes change with the demands of your job, however I think it’s important to dedicate time where you can “clock off” or dedicate time to other things that are important to you. Turning notifications off or putting your phone on do-not-disturb while you’re doing the things you love outside of work really helps you be present in the moment.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

Over the last year, I’ve focused on creating connections with new people. I love exchanging ideas with like-minded people but I also believe the more you surround yourself with people whose lives and careers differ, the more you can learn and be introduced to new perspectives.

I’ve even hung out with people who have given me a new outlook on things like productivity or work-life balance and I always hope to give them something similar. It’s just such an enriching experience and meeting new people can open doors.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna West was really a life-changing read for me. The book is packed full of, you guessed it, essays that explore pursuing purpose over passion and how ideas can change your life.

One podcast I’m really into at the moment too is The Psychology Sisters. Hosted by Kat and Aimee, a registered psychologist and psychotherapist/counsellor respectively, this poddy delves into so many aspects of psychology but makes it consumable and understandable.

We recently collaborated with them on one of our Equalution 8 Week challenges and their content was so insightful not only for our members but for myself and my team too.

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

Spotify without a doubt. Music is really important to me and both my working and personal life. I am constantly listening to music as I work for example, and it really does lift my mood and motivate me to work productively. 

And how can I not mention Equalution! This app really is a game-changer in the nutrition space. It really transformed my own life when I tried it for the first time and opened my eyes to how I can eat the delicious foods I love and maintain a healthy lifestyle that’s maintainable. You should really check it out if you haven’t already! The recipes really are AMAZING. 

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?  

I would love to learn more about Shonda Rhimes, for sure. I have always loved the TV shows she directs (Scandal, Greys’ Anatomy) and look up to her success and ability to juggle her jam-packed, busy career with her personal life. Also how she comes up with these incredible creative storylines for her shows.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

Prioritise your values and concentrate on what is most important to you. Always take time to nurture yourself and your relationship with others as this will help build resilience and how you cope with stress.

Always set aside time to do the things that you love, and that makes you, YOU. Whether that’s cooking, exercising, having a drink with friends, or watching your favourite TV show. It will allow you to reset and reward yourself for hard work.

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