For the last 20 years I have been building brands and solving big business problems with creativity. During this time, I’ve seen the landscape of advertising shift immensely and have honed my skills accordingly. From developing and crafting traditional through-the-line advertising campaigns to executing highly targeted social media and digital campaigns, I create work that matters, work that changes behaviour, affects culture and transforms the fortunes of businesses.

Merging creativity with a focus on utility has been key to my success. My experience spans the likes of Coca-Cola, Huggies, U by Kotex, KFC, Hahn SuperDry, Vodafone, Hyundai and Kia Motors, Honda, Pantene, Bonds, Transport for NSW and more.

Most recently, I championed an idea from a young female creative team to help change the face of Australian advertising; a nation-wide data visualisation experiment that allows advertising agencies to see exactly how diverse they are, and how they compare to the rest of the industry – ultimately encouraging positive change in the way the industry currently hires and promotes staff. With my support we raised funding to create the online platform, recruited a tech partner (Microsoft), a media partner and rallied support from industry leaders. I’m happy to say that changingtheface.com.au is now live and helping Australian advertising agencies to create a more diverse workforce across all facets of diversity, not limited to gender.

I was also instrumental in launching Coca-Cola Australia’s biggest packaging transformation ever, making Australia the first country in the world where all Coca-Cola bottles 600ml and below will be made entirely from 100% recycled plastic on an ongoing basis – directly contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal of Responsible Consumption and Production.

I believe that leadership isn’t just about leading, but that it’s also about making positive change. Always seeking ways to influence and support equality in my agency, the industry and beyond, I’m an active mentor, and a Miami Idea School instructor.
My constant goal is to keep learning. The solutions we offer are limited to our own capabilities, so it’s more important than ever to be and to surround yourself with multi-disciplinary thinkers.

“Some people can learn to be great leaders, some are born with the instincts. Jenny Mak is a born leader.  Over the years I have watched the incredibly effective way J Mak draws people towards her. Her leadership style is natural and inclusive. She’s a great listener and always has a point of view. Women like Jenny are changing the face of the industry and that makes me very excited for the future.”

 – Esther Clerehan, Creative Talent Specialist. 

“Jenny is someone people lean in to listen to, who wins the trust of clients and builds her team up with empathy and emotional intelligence. She cares passionately about the brands she works on, the people she works with and the industry she works within. She’s a fearless creative leader who takes pride in being tough on the work, but gentle on people to create a more inclusive industry. She is the epitome of modern creative leadership.”

 – Gavin McLeod, Chief Creative Officer, CHE Proximity.

“Jenny has been an integral part of the team that has built Huggies and U by Kotex into iconic brands that are loved and trusted by Australian (and NZ) consumers. Brands are built over years, and Jenny has been with us every step of the way. She has guided U by Kotex on its journey to category leadership with the “Period or not, she can” big idea. She set us up to leverage social media before it became the norm and helped build a loyal following by giving women a platform to have their voices heard on issues that matter to them. Jenny is a trusted partner for our marketing team – we challenge each other to deliver the best and meet the needs of our consumers.”

 – Rahul Asthana, Senior Marketing Director, APAC Business Transformation, Kimberly Clark Asia Pacific.