Loreto Marryatville Old Scholar Profile – Andrea Ingham

A Loreto education is a formidable tool. One that crafts distinguished, proactive and knowledgeable women and men worldwide. Loreto Marryatville past pupil, Andrea Ingham, is one such example. With a raft of achievements under her belt, including Sales Executive of the year, CEO Magazine (2017), No.1 most read industry profile, Ad News (2016),
Sales Winner, B&T Women in Media award (2014), and Founder of Senior Women in Media and Marketing (SWIMM), it comes as no surprise that Andrea has landed on her feet as Vice President of Business Partnerships at BuzzFeed Australia.

Andrea, who continues to be involved in the Loreto Network, shares her inspiring career story:

After graduating from Loreto Marryatville in 1989, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I started applying for work experience at a few advertising agencies which sounded interesting and fun – think 1980s Mad Men. One of the agencies offered me a job on reception which I graciously accepted. I was earning roughly $17.5K a year, which back then, seemed like a lot to someone fresh out of school.

I moved quickly from reception to account management, and then into the media buying department. I developed strong relationships working closely alongside media sales teams within media companies who felt like ‘my kind of people’.

Although this was the path I felt I was destined to persevere, a quarter life crisis at the age of 25 saw that dismantle very quickly. I decided that I didn’t want to work in media buying anymore and wanted to pursue a career in media sales instead. I was very lucky to be hired by Digital Media Group (DMG) in a role at FIVEaa, Adelaide’s commercial talkback radio station.

Not long after this, DMG successfully bid for and bought the rights to a new radio license in Sydney where I was part of the inaugural Nova radio team. Over the next 15 years I worked in various sales leadership roles at 2UE, Nine Network and Southern Cross Austereo.

I made the move into the exciting and crazy world of global digital companies in 2015, heading up sales for Spotify Australia & New Zealand, at a time when most people didn’t use or understand music streaming and were still buying songs via iTunes. It was a big culture shock going from a corner office and personal assistant to open plan, flat structure and a MacBook on my desk – yikes!

After three years at Spotify, I moved to BuzzFeed Australia, the world’s largest digital publisher, where I have been for the past 12 months as the Vice President of Business Partnerships. It has been mind-blowing having an insight into and being part of this incredible fast-growing global phenomena.

Although a busy career woman, I am also a mother to two beautiful children – Hunter who is 12 and Isadora who is 10. My husband Greg and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in March.

I am honoured to be presenting as one of the guest speakers at the Loreto Federation 2020, held at Loreto College Marryatville. I look forward to walking the College grounds and reflecting back on where it all began.

“Have a plan and be the captain of your own ship” – Andrea Ingham

Author: Andrea Ingham
Vice President of Business Partnerships, BuzzFeed Australia & Loreto College Marryatville Past Pupil

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Andrea Ingham graduated from Loreto Marryatville in 1989. Her achievements to date include:

• CEO Magazine – Sales Executive of the year (2017)
• Ad News – No.1 most read industry profile (2016)
• B&T Women in Media awards – Winner, Sales (2014)
• Founder SWIMM – Senior Women in Media and Marketing, connecting and supporting women in the industry via events and mentoring

Cover image source: somemeans – stock.adobe.com