Meet & Greet: Brendan Johnson, Global Team Leader, Awin Global

In this week's Meet & Greet interview, myGwork member and Awin Global's Global Team Leader, Brendan Johnson, provides an insight into his role and career journey at Awin Global. He also discusses the importance of having a workplace where people do not feel compelled to hide parts of themselves and their identities.

MyGwork: Hi Brendan, thank you for taking the time to sit down and chat with us, Can you tell us a bit about your career journey to date?

Brendan: I have been at Awin for seven years. I started in an entry level role as a Campaign Assistant, and worked my way up to Account Management and eventually as a Team Leader in 2021. In that time, I have worked on affiliate campaigns for several Awin clients, including John Lewis, UNIQLO, Vodafone and giffgaff. Since 2021 manage and oversee a team of Campaign Assistants and Interns, using my experience to work with them and develop and grow.



MyGwork: What's the most challenging aspect of managing people right now?

Brendan: Since the pandemic, Awin employees have enjoyed a hybrid and flexible working structure, where we can choose between using our local offices or working from home. As I manage junior staff that are spread across the country, sometimes it can be challenging when it comes to onboarding and training, as different people have different learning styles, and it can be difficult to assess someone’s needs remotely. Weekly 1-2-1s with all team members have helped to ensure that I am regularly checking in on their progress, and I encourage them to speak openly about challenges and flag any concerns.

MyGwork: What attributes do you look for in new recruits and why?

Brendan: The roles I recruit for are entry level, so I am not usually looking for a great deal of industry experience. Instead, the focus is on whether the candidate has a positive and enthusiastic attitude, shows real interest in the company and industry, and has potential to build a career at Awin.

MyGwork: How important is LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace for you personally?

Brendan: As an openly gay man, I don’t want to compromise any part of my identity in order to fit in to a company I work for. This has not been the case at all at Awin, as it is an organization that values diversity and promotes an inclusive and forward-thinking culture. I have been given the autonomy and resource to get involved in Pride-related campaigns over the years, which culminated in the establishment of Priders, Awin’s network for LGBTQ+ staff and allies. These activities have led me to feel not only included within Awin’s culture but empowered. I strongly believe all organizations should promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, so employees are not only encouraged to be their authentic selves in the workplace, but are celebrate for their diversity.

MyGwork: What's your favorite inclusion campaign to date and why?

Brendan: Within Awin, the inclusion campaign that I am most proud of to date is the panel I took part in to celebrate Pride month in 2022. We discussed topics such as the importance of being openly LGBTQ+ in the workplace and how other staff can be proactive allies. The panel was broadcast to all Awin employees and received great engagement. It felt like a formative moment, as myself and the other panellists went on to form our Priders network only a few months after.

MyGwork: How do you encourage staff to have a worklife balance, especially with the increase in remote/hybrid working?

Brendan: Awin has been pioneering in its introduction of the flexi-week, which means all staff work 4 days across a normal working week. Employees can choose when they take their day off, and can even split it across two half-days. We have introduced a number of processes, including automation of certain tasks, which means that the flexi-week has not had an adverse effect on productivity and we are still able to service our clients to a high level. Awin employees have been overwhelmingly positive in their feedback on the flexi-week and how it has improved their worklife balance, giving them time back in the week to focus on hobbies, catching up on life admin and spending time with families.

MyGwork: What's the biggest highlight of your career to date and why?

Brendan: As an Account Manager I often got to work on some high-profile affiliate campaigns with exciting brands. It was always great when this work received wider recognition, and I had the opportunity to submit several entries for the Performance Marketing Awards, which I view as akin to my industry’s Oscars. All of these entries were shortlisted, and one was the winner of the category it was submitted, so it was a proud moment to get on stage at an awards ceremony and represent Awin.

MyGwork: What podcast series are you listening to right now for your career development? Are there any DE&I-related podcast series you would recommend?

Brendan: I am not hugely into podcasts, although I definitely need to make time to listen to more, as I’m always getting recommendations from friends. A podcast I enjoy is Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. Jonathan is such a likeable and inquisitive host, and they explore a very wide range of topics with experts in their respective fields.

MyGwork: What was the last book you read? Any interesting take-aways and would you recommend it to fellow leaders?

Brendan: I definitely prefer reading fiction over non-fiction. I am part of a book club with a few friends and the latest choice was Victory City, the new novel by Salman Rushdie. It follows a protagonist partly inspired by a historical, fourteenth-century princess-poet, who is given a 247-year lifespan and wills into existence an empire in India through her magical powers. I definitely enjoyed the novel – it had an engaging story and thoughtfully explored themes such as female empowerment and colonialism.

MyGwork: What was your last holiday destination and where do you plan to visit next?

Brendan: My last holiday was to Chamonix in France with a group of friends. Although it is a popular ski resort, we went in the summer. We stayed in a chalet that looked out on Mont Blanc, took a cable car up a mountain and did a lot of countryside walking, which was idyllic. I don’t have any trips booked currently, but I’d love to do a European city break this year.

MyGwork: What do you do to relax at the end of a hard-working day?

Brendan: I like winding down after a hard-working day by catching up on Netflix or reading. If I’m feeling social, I will likely be at a local pub quiz with friends. We are competitive but it is still a relatively sedate activity in usually a warm and friendly setting.

You can connect with Brendan here.

Check out some of myGwork's other recent Meet & Greet interviews, including:

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