The CEO Magazine: Tell us about Leo Burnett and what you do.
Pete Bosilkovski: I am Managing Director at Leo Burnett Sydney, Australias number one ranked and most awarded advertising and media communication company. We have recently won a number of prestigious accolades, including AdNews Australian Agency of the Year and AWARD Australian Agency of the Year, as well as Leo Burnett Worldwide Office of the Year. Leo Burnett Sydney is currently the seventh most creative agency globally with one of the highest staff engagement scores at 89 per cent. Leo Burnett Sydneys full service offering includes brand, digital, social, PR, shopper and retail marketing, and media planning.
My role involves ensuring the company remains number one in the country by maintaining our creative reputation, growing the business through new client acquisitions, protecting and driving the agency culture, developing and managing our client relationships with some of the most widely recognised brands in the world, leadership across the agency and, most importantly, ensuring our company offering is industry leading. In my current role and throughout my career I have taken much pride in being regarded amongst my peers, clients, and staff as a highly passionate and brave impact leader.
What does it take to be successful in your role?
Passion for the people first, not the bottom line. Success for me is creating the best place people have ever worked.
Do you have advice for others wanting to take the same journey?
Act like a leader before you are one and dont chase titles.
What has been a key challenge and how have you overcome this?
Protecting the company culture during record growth and expansion. Weve overcome this challenge by living and breathing our company values in everything we dopeople, product, profit (in that order).
Who helped you get to this position?
I owe a lot of my success and growth to my mentor and boss Todd Sampson.
What does it mean to be a finalist in the Executive of the Year Awards?
It was a real honour to be recognised in one of Australias most prestigious business award shows. The calibre of nominees is extremely high and to be recognised was a humbling and proud moment in my career.