We caught up with Nosipho Nyembezi (@nosinyembezi) and Zach Louw (@Diaryofzach) two Cape Town Grads in our o25 programme. They gave us insight into their experience at Ogilvy so far. From the perks of 2 ply toilet paper, to mysterious office crushes.
NOSIPHO NYEMBEZI
Nosipho is a 22-year-old graduate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) with a degree in Media Communications and Culture. She was born a Durbanite but this nomad has lived in Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, and spent seven and a half years in Newcastle, England. She’s now settling into Cape Town life and sharing her fun-loving, easy going and compassionate personality with Ogilvy.
Q: What’s a common misconception people have about you?
A: Some people think I’m a bit of a pushover but I’m not. I’d say I am assertive when I need to be and I like to treat people with fairness and integrity.
Q: Why did you choose advertising?
A: It seemed like the logical meeting point of all my skill-sets. The industry encompasses things that I’m good at, but now that I’m actually here, I realise that I’m still figuring things out. The less obvious answer is that advertising is so much bigger than all of us and there are so many parts which no one can fully control. It’s just magic. I guess I wanted to be a part of something bigger.
Q: Why did you apply for THIS grad programme instead of any other?
A: Honestly, because of Ogilvy. I didn’t know much about the programme but if there’s anything that I went off of, it’s the company behind it.
Q: Go back to your first week at Ogilvy, how did you feel?
A: I went through 100 different emotions. Week one was overwhelming, but I don’t think I realized it until afterwards. There was a lot of discovering new people and new scenarios.
Q: What is the best and worst thing about agency life?
A:The Worst:
How ‘humbling’ it is. It puts you in your place and you realise how much you still have to learn and how even experienced people are still learning. It’s a little bit jarring to think about how long the journey is.
The Best:
There is 2 ply toilet paper in the bathroom. Do you know how hard it is to find 2 ply toilet paper in a company?! Especially a company of this size. Also the free coffee before 8am, the bar, and on a less superficial note, the people-centred nature of the job. I didn’t think I’d enjoy that, but it’s been rewarding to have such a social job and not a ‘sit at a desk all day and stare at a computer screen’ job.
Q: What have you been up to in Account Management?
A: I’ve been seeing how the business functions at its core. From financial things like: Recons and Cost Estimates and seeing how a project kick-starts.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment at Ogilvy so far?
A: Surviving. Jokes, actually, I’ve already been able to handle a crisis quite well. I didn’t think that was something I would be able to manage this early on with the limited experience that I have. I’m quite proud of that.
Q: What are you hoping to achieve at Ogilvy?
A: Honestly, I’m hoping to just be resourceful. I want to feel like I was a key player in keeping the ball moving. If I can say that at the end of the day, then I’ll be really happy and feel like I’ve made a big contribution.
Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
A: I haven’t fallen down the stairs (yet) but something happened that isn’t embarrassing to the average person but it was for me. I was queueing for the vending machine but was short of coins and only realised halfway through the transaction. I had to ask the guy behind me for a Rand, it was so awkward. It was the first or second week of working so I couldn’t be like, ‘hey man, can I get a rand?’
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met?
A: Yoh, exposing people here. I think the person who stands out is Rasta from the Buzz. He’s super random (in a good way).
Q: If you could be anyone at Ogilvy for a day, who would you be?
A: If I was a guy, it would probably be Martin, because he has the best clothes. I would literally wear his clothes. Like literally.
Q: How has Ogilvy affected your relationship with caffeine?
A: Coffee and I are definitely friends, and the whole arrive pre – 8am coffee incentive doesn’t help.
ZACH LOUW
Zach is a 24-year-old graduate from the University of Cape Town with a degree in Business Science Marketing. He was born in Macclesfield in the UK and spent 4 years there before moving to Johannesburg. Zach is optimistic, excited about life and loves to keep himself busy.
Q: What’s a common misconception people have about you?
A: That I’m not relaxed.
Q: What’s the one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: I have an identical twin brother.
Q: Why did you choose advertising?
A: It’s the perfect mix of creativity and business.
Q: Why did you apply for this grad programme?
A: It takes a lifetime to build up a reputation and a moment to lose it, and Ogilvy has a great reputation so it must be doing something right. I wanted to be a part of that.
Q: What have you been up to in PR?
A: Community Management. I was doing a lot at first, but now everything is slowing down.
Q: Go back to your first week at Ogilvy, how did you feel?
A: I was nervous as Hell! I felt like I knew nothing. It’s difficult going into a situation where nobody knows about you and you have to build new relationships in an environment that you’re unfamiliar with. It’s scary. But the people in PR are super friendly and nice. PR is the bomb.
Q: What has been the biggest surprise about working at Ogilvy?
A: How much I don’t know. The outside world’s pace is two steps behind that of Ogilvy’s and one thing that’s been hard for me to grapple with, is my individual pace adjusting to Ogilvy’s pace.
Q: What is the best and worst thing about agency life?
A:The best:
You’re never bored, and it’s because you’re always coming up with cool ideas.
The worst
When clients don’t take those ideas.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment so far Ogilvy?
A: Making friends in OPR. Well I think they’re my friends…
Q: What are you hoping to achieve at Ogilvy?
A: I want to stay uncomfortable in what I’m doing. Especially in this Graduate Programme. There are two aspects of being comfortable: one is the job that you’re actually doing and the other one is the work that you put out. As long as I get to a stage where I’m comfortable with the work I put out rather than being uncomfortable about what’s coming my way, I think, will be fine.
Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
A: I asked my team how I log my lunch hours.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met?
A: Awie.
Q: If you could be anyone at Ogilvy for a day, who would you be?
A: I think I’d be Ernest.
Q: Do you have an office crush?
A: Why would you ever expose your office crush?
Q: How has Ogilvy affected your relationship with caffeine?
A: I don’t drink coffee.