Goal setting
Although she realised she was more interested in media while studying accounting, Caroline said it has stood her in good stead for management positions within media organisations.
“Without the foundations of a business degree, I feel now I wouldn't have been able to get into the general management roles I’ve been in.
“Despite a lot of my career having been in media and in editorial, being astute about financial statements has been very important. And being able to also say, ‘I have a Bachelor of Business’ has been really handy and has helped to position myself into some of the roles I've done.”
RMIT - more than just study
Studying at RMIT means more than just attending classes and turning in assignments. The university has a wide range of clubs, societies and activities to suit many interests and promote social and professional connections.
For Caroline, it was SRA (Student Radio Association), the student radio that once operated from RMIT before it merged with SYN FM in 2000.
“RMIT gave me an opportunity to explore many different areas of interest, both as part of my formal learning but also via other activities like my radio show on SRA FM,” she said.
“Myself and two friends had a regular radio show on SRA FM. I really enjoyed this, as it was fun, but also gave me early opportunities at producing a live show. I went on to produce live news for CNN later in my career in Hong Kong and London.
“It also opened up the ideas for me to pursue a career in media, despite studying accounting at the time.”
Practical experience was career-shaping
While studying the Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Caroline had a year of practical work experience. Not only did it hone her interests, but it led her to the job that kick-started her career.
“The ‘sandwich’ year was invaluable for me to genuinely understand where my interests lay,” she said.
“Afterwards, I returned and took media and film electives, and my first full-time job was at The Age newspaper as a result.”
When she took on the job in 1995, the internet was just emerging as a new media and Caroline became one of the newspaper’s first online reporters as well as an early blogger.
“I was employee number two of The Age website,” she explained.
“I ended up writing for both The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and then I also did one of the world's first blogs, which again was really bad, but it was in 1996 or '97 I think.
“And that was how my career started in media and in innovation and technology.”
An upward trajectory across the seas
After a foray into photography where Caroline tried her hand at RMIT’s Bachelor of Arts (Photography), she went on to take a position at CNN.com based in Hong Kong.
Three years in London as a CNN journalist followed and then Caroline switched to WarnerMedia, where she worked in both London and Hong Kong.
Next came a senior role at A+E Networks UK, a network of TV channels, where Caroline was responsible for digital strategy, content, marketing, technical and product development including mobile, social and web.
This role drew on her business background, as did her next string of appointments.
“After some time I was approached for a job in Sydney at Yahoo7 and so I moved back to Sydney for three years and was part of the executive team, where I looked after editorial and product and marketing and a few other areas,” Caroline said.
“I moved back to London where I started to work in blockchain and crypto consultancy, before moving to Mastercard as the VP [Vice-President], innovation and consumer experience for several years and now Moody’s Analytics, where I’m the GM [General Manager], customer experience and innovation.”
RMIT’s official UK Alumni Chapter launches on September 28, 2023. It will be managed and driven by alum volunteers across the UK including a core leadership team headed by inaugural Chapter President Alumnus Steve Watson.
This new chapter will enable RMIT graduates to connect with each other digitally and in-person, share ideas, offer support, and continue to strengthen RMIT’s global alumni community.
Story: Kate Jones
