People of Journey Further: Nyall Novakovic
Behind every great piece of work at Journey Further is a talented person with their own story, perspective and path into marketing.
In People of Journey Further, we’re getting to know the people behind the work and hearing about the experiences that have shaped their careers at Journey Further.
This time, we’re catching up with Nyall Novakovic, Paid Search Senior Manager, who started out at our Leeds HQ, then moved to London, progressing through the ranks from an entry-level role to becoming a Senior Manager. Nyall shares what he’s learnt along the way, how the agency has evolved, and why staying curious has been key to his career.
I gained a year of experience in the industry at another agency as part of a college internship. I’d heard some great things coming from this new disruptor agency in Leeds (where three of my colleagues at the time had left to work), which I knew I had to check out once I’d finished my studies!
Way back in 2020 in an entry-level role in Paid Search, just before Covid happened. I was lucky to be at an agency that put its people first because the economy soon restarted and we were working on brands that grew massively throughout that time… I’m grateful for that experience as it was a huge learning curve because the brands we worked on put a huge amount of media spend into channels.
It seemed too good to be true to be honest. The energy and talent was, and still is, great to be a part of. The growth plans we were told at interview stage back then were ambitious: Open multiple offices (including New York), launch new services and win top brands, all while maintaining our enviable culture when going from a 20-person headcount when I first onboarded to 200 now. But it was easy to see how that could be a reality from our people when I first arrived. It was great being amongst a team who are genuinely passionate and curious about growing the brands we work on, all while having fun at the same time.
I’ve stayed in the Paid Search team, growing along the following path: Grad > Exec > Analyst > Senior Analyst. Staying in the Paid Search team here at Journey Further doesn’t limit your scope of work though. Our T-shaped approach to skills has allowed me to work closely with all departments on campaign delivery. From testing the incrementality of Search with the Organic team, to launching awareness activity with our Programmatic team or discussing our clients’ unit economics and profitability in depth, you don’t just stay in your lane here, you have the freedom to learn across roles, which is what makes the work fulfilling and rewarding.
I then moved from our Leeds HQ to our London office with the business, getting closer to some of our London-based clients.
The pace of an agency and constant change in the industry builds your experience quickly. I’m grateful to have worked on some of our biggest brands and develop a true understanding of how businesses grow. I think the peaks and troughs that come with agency life allow you to grow with humility, which is an important value for our client partnerships.
Be curious, get involved in every opportunity and be open to change to learn and grow fast.
In People of Journey Further, we’re getting to know the people behind the work and hearing about the experiences that have shaped their careers at Journey Further.
This time, we’re catching up with Nyall Novakovic, Paid Search Senior Manager, who started out at our Leeds HQ, then moved to London, progressing through the ranks from an entry-level role to becoming a Senior Manager. Nyall shares what he’s learnt along the way, how the agency has evolved, and why staying curious has been key to his career.
Where did you initially find out about Journey Further?
I gained a year of experience in the industry at another agency as part of a college internship. I’d heard some great things coming from this new disruptor agency in Leeds (where three of my colleagues at the time had left to work), which I knew I had to check out once I’d finished my studies!
What was your first role here at Journey Further (and when was that)?
Way back in 2020 in an entry-level role in Paid Search, just before Covid happened. I was lucky to be at an agency that put its people first because the economy soon restarted and we were working on brands that grew massively throughout that time… I’m grateful for that experience as it was a huge learning curve because the brands we worked on put a huge amount of media spend into channels.
What did you think of the agency when you first arrived?
It seemed too good to be true to be honest. The energy and talent was, and still is, great to be a part of. The growth plans we were told at interview stage back then were ambitious: Open multiple offices (including New York), launch new services and win top brands, all while maintaining our enviable culture when going from a 20-person headcount when I first onboarded to 200 now. But it was easy to see how that could be a reality from our people when I first arrived. It was great being amongst a team who are genuinely passionate and curious about growing the brands we work on, all while having fun at the same time.
Tell us a little bit about the roles you've had since starting at Journey Further (and the different offices you've been in).
I’ve stayed in the Paid Search team, growing along the following path: Grad > Exec > Analyst > Senior Analyst. Staying in the Paid Search team here at Journey Further doesn’t limit your scope of work though. Our T-shaped approach to skills has allowed me to work closely with all departments on campaign delivery. From testing the incrementality of Search with the Organic team, to launching awareness activity with our Programmatic team or discussing our clients’ unit economics and profitability in depth, you don’t just stay in your lane here, you have the freedom to learn across roles, which is what makes the work fulfilling and rewarding.
I then moved from our Leeds HQ to our London office with the business, getting closer to some of our London-based clients.
How do you think you've changed since being at Journey Further?
The pace of an agency and constant change in the industry builds your experience quickly. I’m grateful to have worked on some of our biggest brands and develop a true understanding of how businesses grow. I think the peaks and troughs that come with agency life allow you to grow with humility, which is an important value for our client partnerships.
If you had one piece of advice for your younger self starting at Journey Further, what would it be?
Be curious, get involved in every opportunity and be open to change to learn and grow fast.
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