How I Got Here: CEO and Founder of Fifty Acres, Jo Scard
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Admit it, we’ve all been there – stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you want to know about the secrets of career success.
Jo Scard is the Founder and CEO of Fifty Acres, an Australian communications, advocacy and government-engagement agency working with not-for-profits, social enterprises and purpose-driven organisations across Australia and internationally.
A trained lawyer and former journalist in both the UK and Australia, she has more than 20 years’ experience spanning government, policy, communications and social-impact strategy. She has also served as a senior adviser in the Rudd and Gillard governments, as well as the British Labour Party.
Here’s how she got here.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
I am Jo Scard, and I am Founder and CEO of Fifty Acres. We work with not-for-profit and impact organisations across government engagement communications.
Most of my career has been spent in politics. I have been an adviser to the former Rudd and Gillard Governments, with formative years spent as the President of Young Labor.
I have also spent time campaigning for the UK Labour Party in my early 20’s. I am a trained lawyer and former journalist in both the UK and Australia.
Nowadays, I spend my days as a lobbyist, small agency owner, and board member with impactful organisations, including Full Stop Australia, a national organisation dedicated to ending sexual, domestic and family violence.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
I always dreamed of having an impact. My earliest memories were about being a criminal barrister or a politician. Getting involved and helping people is important to me.
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
I joined a political party at 15. I came from a political family over many generations – who had always been involved with social causes, and trade unions, working class poets and painters, and artists
I have always been surrounded by people interested in the world, and that inspired me to think about what I might do. I did a Law degree from there, which segwayed into working in a political environment.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
Whilst I have pivoted several times during my career, I have never been in the mindset where I wanted to chuck it in. Usually, a facial, a pedicure, or a holiday can fix moments of frustration.
What was your biggest break?
Being promoted in my mid 20s to running the British Labour Party, London campaign in a general election, when I was in charge of a large budget and a team of people. Here was this Australian girl, arriving in the UK with a backpack and a few years later was given an opportunity which can only be described as extraordinary.
There were lots of pinch-me moments in that work, from the cast of The Bill singing me happy birthday to meeting all manner of important people.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I have been lucky to have worked with many strong, female mentors who have given me years of support and advice along the way. Having them involved in my life has been a privilege.
They have given advice along the way, and I have learned. One of my most memorable mentors was the Former President of the Upper House, Meredith Bergmann.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
What I love about what we do at Fifty Acres – no minute, no hour, no day is the same, no client, no issue, no challenge is the same. It means that I have to use every ounce of my creativity, common knowledge, instincts and experience to help with all of that. I am very lucky to have that as my job.
Sometimes problems are not solved as quickly as I might like, but it probably means I redouble my efforts, which could sometimes be a bonus
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
Obviously, HerCanberra – being a local. In addition to that, I am a news tragic, so I largely listen to the ABC radio and television, and also when there are big international stories, I will tune into BBC or CNN, and also keep in touch by looking at various news platforms.
This is in addition to receiving updates from some of the platforms we use as an agency, and sometimes, word of mouth.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Still doing what I love. And we are planting a bigger vegetable garden, so let’s see where that goes.
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
As a woman, I have benefited from the advice of other women who have gone before, and have passed on that wisdom, and I look to pass on that wisdom to those coming ahead of me.
Rather than following in my footsteps, I hope to encourage others to join the parade of people doing good things to make the world better.
What advice would you give your past self?
If you have an idea to do something and you think it’s unattainable, it probably isn’t, so think about how you might be able to do it
