许玲玲（Lynn）是安索帕上海办公室的AAD，于今年10月开始了她Route500到澳大利亚墨尔本的安索帕办公室交换的旅程。Lynn从2010年5月加入安索帕业务部，主要服务的客户有可口可乐，后来也陆续服务过强生中国和一些金融客户。Route 500的旅程过半，我们和她聊了聊，让她和大家分享一下到目前为止的感受。
Lynn Xu is AssociateAccount Director from Isobar Shanghai, and currently on a Route 500 exchange program to Isobar Melbourne. She joined Isobar in May, 2010, and has served clients such as Coca-Cola, Johnson&Johnson, and a number of financial clients. Now half-way through her Route500 journey, and we would like her to share with us her unique experience.
Q：你是怎样获得Route 500和去澳洲交换这个机会的呢？
A：我的老板Jennifer推选并支持我去申请加入Route500。当时的初选是我们需要填写一份书面申请表，从各方面去体现自己具备加入Route500的高潜质。通过初选后就到了最关键部分：向评审小组进行陈述。整个过程历经了大概三个月时间。
我把这个过程想象成一次对客户的pitch：你会接到brief，你需要准备credential（你的简历），然后你需要做presentation。只不过这一次你卖的不是idea，而是你自己。
Q: How did you get this great opportunity?
A: Actually my boss, Jennifer, recommended and supported me to apply for the Route 500 program. First I submitted the application form, explaining why I am a good candidate for this program. The second round required me to present in front of a judging panel,which is was more critical. The whole process took about 3 months.
I considered the process as a pitchto clients: you get a brief, then you need to prepare the credential (your resume), and then you present. The difference is that this time you are selling YOURSELF instead of an idea.
Q：获得这个机会后你的第一感受是什么样的？后来又经历了什么过程？
A：我记得Route 500Exchange Program公布的时候是在2013年下半年，当时我已经是Route 500的一员了。我的第一个感觉就是非常兴奋，我相信其他Route 500的成员和我的感觉应该是一样的。我们可以申请的交换地区是在亚太区，最长时间为三个月。有些人申请了日本，有的申请了泰国或者新加坡，而我申请的是澳大利亚。
我选择这里的原因很简单，因为我觉得澳洲是价值观、环境文化都和我们很不同的地方，而正是这种不同，让我觉得值得一试。身边蛮多人劝我换一个地方申请，因为综合看下来，澳大利亚之行成功的难度是最高的，我也确实动过这个念头。但很幸运的是，我身在一个“Ideas WithoutLimits”的公司，正是这样的一种企业文化，我在申请之初就得到了CEO Jane的极大支持，并且在我因为各种原因而想申请换国家的时候，Jane依然非常坚持让我继续。我很庆幸有Jane的坚持和远见，最终我能成行。事实证明，isobar Australia真是一个非常棒的公司。
我觉得整个过程就像一个通关游戏，而我是幸运的，因为无论在哪个关卡，我得到的都是“YES”和“HELP”。你能想象这么幸运的游戏吗？
Q: What did you feel after you gotthe opportunity? And what have you been through thereafter?
A: I remember that the result for Exchange Program was announced at the end of 2013, and by then I was already amember of Route 500. I felt very excited, and I believe the other Route 500 members felt the same. The destinations for the exchange program were within AsiaPacific, some applied for Japan, some for Thailand or Singapore, and I applied to go to Australia for three months.
The reason why I chose Australia was simple: I think the values and culture of Australia are so different from China, and the difference is a good learning for me. Some people suggested that I apply for elsewhere, given the low possibility of a successful admission, and I did hesitate. Fortunately, because I work for a company with “Ideas Without Limits” as its motto, I received great support from our China CEO Jane Linbaden. She insisted that I should stick to my initial plan, and finally it worked out. It has been proved that I made the right choice and Isobar Australia is amazing.
It was not easy at all, because the whole process for exchange took a whole year, with Isobar China supporting me throughout the process. Wherever there was an obstacle, I was provided with “Yes” and “Help”. Can you imagine that?
Q：你走开的这段时间，上海办公室的工作怎么办了呢？
A：我的老板和团队都非常支持我的澳洲之行，所以我感觉就是一次远行，然后做好交接，剩下的无需担心，因为有他们在。
Q: What about your work in Shanghai when you are away during this period?
A: My boss and team are very supportive of my exchange program to Australia, so they helped ensure a handover process for the time I am away. For me it feels like an excursion, and all I did is to hand over my work well.
Q：公司或者你的团队有给你饯行吗？如果有，是什么样子的？
A：在公司大会上，公司送了我一本大大的相册，让我把在这边的记忆放到相册里面去，所以在澳洲，同事总是看到我这拍拍，那拍拍。
Q: Was there af arewell party for you?
A: At the company gathering, I received a huge photo album. They wanted me to keep my memories in the album, so now I’m in Australia, I take lots of photos.
Q：你带了多少东西去那边？有什么是你觉得带对了的，有什么是你觉得不需要的，有什么是你觉得你忘了没带的？
A：我带了很多东西：衣服，药，各种生活必需品都带了，为此买了好多东西。到了之后发现其实根本没有必要，当你到了一个新地方的时候，购物是一种心态，所以我觉得没有必要提前准备好所有东西，因为你还是会再买，这是本能。
Q: What did you bring with you toAustralia?
A: I brought a lot of stuff with me: clothing, medicine, and other necessities. And then I realized that it wastotally unnecessary, because when you are somewhere new, shopping is actuallyp art of the lifestyle. You’re going to shop anyway!
Q：踏上澳洲后的心情如何？你如何来描绘墨尔本这座城市？
A：“Open-minded” ：友善和礼貌是当地人的特点，而同时的，他们也非常乐于尝试生活的点点不同和惊喜。
“Space”：虽然国土面积略小于中国，但人口只有两千多万，所以行走在这个国家，你会觉得空间无限大，心情无限的广阔。
“Nature”：动物在这里都像豢养在野外的宠物-有自由，但同时不输居家的舒适。你会看到很多很多鸟类（很肥）走在街道上面，一点不会因为你的靠近而受到惊吓。
“Great Coffee&Wine”: 在墨尔本，咖啡无处不在。星巴克在这边基本见不到，因为无法与澳洲成熟的咖啡文化抗衡。这里的葡萄酒品质非常不俗，喜欢喝酒的人到这里就有福了。
Q: How did you feel when you arrived in Australia? What’s the city of Melbourne like?
A: “Open-minded”: Local people arevery friendly and polite, meanwhile they are also willing to try different things and add adventure to their life.
“Space”: Because the population is only 24 million in Australia, and with such a big territory, it feels so spacious compared to China, and it makes you feel good about it.
“Nature”: Animals are just like pets raised wildly. You will see a lot of FAT birds on the streets, and they won’t be terrified by your approach.
“Great coffee and wine”: Cafes are everywhere in Melbourne, so you don’t see Starbucks at all, because it can’t overcome the mature coffee culture in Australia. The quality of wine is also outstanding. You are lucky here if you like to drink.
Q：到目前为止你在墨尔本办公室主要做什么样的事情呢？Route 500是怎样来规划你的这三个月的？
A：据我所知，这是中国Route 500成立以来第一次做交换项目，所以大家都是慢慢在摸索看如何进行是最合适的。在墨尔本办公室，一开始我被介绍给每一个team，而每个team也会视乎情况邀请我参与到他们的一些工作中去。这当中包含了Holden，Australia Post，Porter Davis, MMG,MCC, Dulux, Heinz，Create4Charities这些客户和项目。而Australia Post，Porter Davis，MMG和MCC的同事后来还邀请我参与了他们与客户的会议，让我获益良多。
Q: What’s your main responsibility at Isobar Melbourne? How did Route 500 plan these three months for you?
A: As far as I know, this is the first time Route 500 has incorporated an exchange program, so it’s a learning process for all of us. At the Melbourne office, I was introduced to each team at the beginning, then each team invited me to join their work accordingly. So far I have worked on clients and projects including Holden, Australia Post, Porter Davis, MMG, MCC, Dulux, Heinz, Create4Charities. I’ve even been invited to join their client meetings. I really benefited from that.
Q：你觉得墨尔本办公室和上海办公室的工作状态和方法有什么不同，有哪些地方可以互相学习？
A：我觉得墨尔本办公室在Work & LifeBalance这点上做得非常好：这里的同事每天9:30前都会准时到公司，很多甚至在8点左右就开工了，而到了下午6点夕阳正好的时候就准时下班，享受傍晚的生活了。正因为全公司都有这种时间观，所以可以看到他们每天的工作节奏非常快，精神状态也非常饱满。和他们聊天的时候，他们告诉我这样的规律也不是一朝一夕就有的，是公司历经了很多改变后才形成的。他们的timesheet每周催缴得比我们还严格，一旦项目超出预估时间，都需要进行review看看问题出在哪。上海办公室从今年开始一直希望在这方面也有所推进，我在墨尔本这里看到了真正的效果，也看出了公司推动这些的意义所在。
Q: What are the differences between the Melbourne office and Shanghai office in terms of working style and method? How can we learn from each other?
A: I think the Melbourne office does very well for work/life balance. People come to the office at 9:30am in the morning, some even start work around 8am, and they will leave at 6pm to catch the beautiful sunset. They are very energetic and maintain a good working rhythm. Of course I was told that it also took them a while to establish such a good balance. They are very strict on timesheets, and will review the project once it runs behind schedule. The Shanghai office has also been working on this issue from the start of this year, and now I have a better understanding of the importance of this by witnessing real effectiveness here in Melbourne.
Q：Route 500到目前为止带给你的最大挑战是什么？最大成长是什么？
A：这次交换最大的挑战还是在文化价值观上面。无论是在哪个市场，广告就是要和消费者进行沟通，不了解当地消费者，就很难深入。所以我也发现，澳洲的市场和中国市场真的非常不一样，但正是这些不一样刺激了我的思考，开阔了我的眼界，我觉得整个交换对我成长的影响是非常深远的。
Q: What is the biggest challenge Route 500 has brought to you so far? What is your biggest learning?
A: The biggest challenge is experiencing the different values and culture. No matter which market you are working in, advertising is to communicate with the consumer. If you don’t understand the local consumers, you can’t do a good job. While I am working here in Melbourne, I can see how different the Australian market is from Chinese market, and it stimulates my thinking, opens my eyes, and will have avery long term impact on me.
Q：墨尔本办公室的同事们和你有什么样的互动？
A：墨尔本的同事都非常有趣和爱玩，我记得有次和Konrad（安索帕澳大利亚执行董事总经理）聊天的时候，他开玩笑说：“ 可能你走的时候能记得的都是Party。” 哈哈，所以喝酒聊天是我们经常会做的事情。墨尔本的办公室有一个很大的吧台，标志性的东西是一个啤酒龙头。每周五下午，吧台上面都会摆满了吃的和各种类型的酒，然后音乐响起，大家在这里放松聊天，或者打打桌球和抛抛橄榄球。
一起喝咖啡也是我们喜欢做的事情。墨尔本的咖啡无所不在，光是办公室附近就可以找到六七个，每个同事都会带我去他们最喜欢的咖啡厅，并且用的都是类似于” I know abetter one”的语气。
Q: How do you interact with your colleagues in Melbourne?
A: They are very funny and playful.Once I chatted with Konrad (Managing Director Isobar Australia), and he joked that all I will remember when I leave is how to party. That’s true, because we socialise a lot here. There is bar in the Melbourne office with its signature appliance: a beer tap. Every Friday afternoon, the bar will be filled by all kinds of snacks and drinks. People will chat and relax here with music. Some of them will play football and snooker.
We often go for coffee. Cafes are everywhere in Melbourne, and there are several of them around the office. Each colleague will take the team to his/her favorite one, and everyone insists that “I know a better one”.
Q：有机会好好感受下澳洲和墨尔本的文化吗？都参加或者自己进行了哪些活动和旅行？
A：我来的时机很巧，正好赶上了墨尔本杯赛马嘉年华（同事强烈建议我来参加这个）。这个赛马活动被称为“The race thatstops a nation”。整个赛马节持续一周，这一周的时间里面，男士们会穿着传统的赛马服装或正规西服，而女士则必须要佩戴各式争奇斗艳的帽子。周二的墨尔本杯是公众假日，所以我选择了这一天去。刚开始还担心搭错车，后来发现当满城都是鲜花礼帽的时候，你只需要尾随着众人就可以了。而周四是Oaks Day，也被称为Ladies Day，这一天公司的女生则会打扮得很漂亮上班，并且中午的时候再聚餐小酌一番。可以说整一个周，墨尔本到处都是节日的欢腾。
周末我会自己到处走走，也会参加一些一日游，比如去Dandenon，Yarra Valley等。但我觉得在墨尔本最有local感觉的，是和当地人一样享受走路和运动的乐趣，偶尔躺在草地上或者在露天咖啡厅晒晒太阳。
Q: What have you done to explore the local culture?
A: It was Melbourne Cup Carnival whenI first arrived, and my colleagues highly recommend it. This horse racing event is called “The race that stops a nation” and lasts one week. During this week, men wear traditional horse racing clothing or formal suits, and women wear all kinds of fabulous hats. Thursday is Oaks Day, also called Ladies Day. Girls will dress beautifully on this day to come to the office, and will meet for a drink during lunch time. Melbourne is in festival mood for the whole week. The whole city is packed by flowers and beautiful hats.
On the weekend, I often walk around, or take a day tour to places such as Dandenong, the Yarra Valley, etc. I do feel like a local person when I am in Melbourne, lying on the grass fields, enjoying the sunshine at a cafe, or simply walking.
Q：最后，想对上海办公室的同事们喊话吗？
A：有什么要买的赶紧说！
Q: And last, anything you want to sayto your colleagues in Shanghai?
A: Let me know if you guys want tobuy anything!
“Route500”是安吉斯针对全球高潜质员工设计的一项人才培养计划，该计划高度提倡员工的个人驱动力，以帮助员工开发其将来担任领导岗位的潜能。
Route 500 is our high potential development program for all Aegis Media employees globally. The aim of the program is to identify our future leaders and help them to build their capability and perform at a higher level.
