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Under the leadership of Lauren Oakes, Megaphone has firmly established itself as a beacon of innovation and excellence in the global marketing landscape. Since stepping into the role of CEO in 2019, Lauren has transformed the agency into a dynamic hub for personal and professional growth, fostering a culture where individuals can thrive and deliver exceptional results for clients.
Lauren's journey at Megaphone began as a Junior Account Manager, and her ascent to CEO is a testament to her ambition and innovative mindset. Her vision for Megaphone is twofold: to create the best workplace in Australia and to develop an environment where employees can become the best versions of themselves. This belief in constant personal improvement as a pathway to company success has been the cornerstone of Megaphone's growth.
Since January 2022, Lauren has overseen the exponential growth of Megaphone, expanding the team from around 70 to over 100 employees. The agency's client base has roughly doubled over the past 5 years, and revenue has remained strong and consistent – a formidable achievement when global and local recessions are forcing countless Australian businesses (agencies and otherwise) to shrink or collapse. A huge reason for this sustained level of revenue is Lauren's willingness to be adaptable and take necessary risks in challenging economic times; in a time when other companies go into defence, Lauren has pushed Megaphone to be in attack — her innovations such as partnering with Pixis (global AI disruptor) and being the first full-service Australian agency to introduce Amazon marketing are just two examples of her ambitious and strategic mindset in action.
Another key part of Lauren's exceptional leadership is her focus on nurturing and developing her team, so that they can be all-stars. Lauren's selfless dedication to staff development is evident in her initiatives such as one-on-one mentorship, book clubs, and leadership workshops. These efforts have resulted in a culture of continuous learning and innovation she has cultivated. This culture has been instrumental in Megaphone's post-2022 success.
Lauren ensures that employees have access to extensive training, educational resources, and mentorship. Her efforts have led to Megaphone's recognition as Australia’s Leading Digital Marketing Agency in 2023, as well as a SmartCompany Top 50 Workplace company – and the agency continues to set industry benchmarks for engagement, diversity, enjoyment and learning.
Lauren's leadership has been widely recognised too. Since the beginning of 2022, she has received numerous accolades, including the Gold Award for Woman of the Year - Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations (2022 International Business Awards) and the Female CEO of the Year in the 2022 Globee® CEO World Awards. She was also shortlisted in the B&T Women Leading Tech awards in the Executive Leader category. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in Megaphone's 73% female leadership representation. Her most cherished award is the Australian Achiever Awards for Excellence in Customer Service (which Megaphone has been recognised for 5 years running).
Lauren's influence extends beyond the corporate world. She has coordinated partnerships with not-for-profit organisations like Make-A-Wish and OzHarvest, and she has been offering one-on-one mentoring for women in business since 2019.
Under Lauren’s visionary leadership, Megaphone has received numerous accolades, including:
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Digital Agency of the Year, Social Media Agency of the Year, Best Agency Culture, and Marketing Agency of the Year
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Global Content Marketing Agency of the Year (2022)
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Most Innovative Company of the Year (2022 Silver in the Stevie International Business Awards)
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Australia's Top B2B Firms (#1) by Clutch in 2023
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Top Digital Marketing Company in Australia by The Manifest in 2023
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And dozens more.
Lauren’s relentless drive to innovate and inspire has been the catalyst for Megaphone's remarkable achievements. Her leadership continues to propel the company towards new heights, ensuring both the agency and its employees reach their fullest potential.
And the cherry on top – Lauren now does all this as a new mother to 6-month-old Piper!
Nomination Title: Lauren Oakes
