AIMA's early career development programme.
AIMA membership has always skewed senior compared to the holding companies, but it can leave our junior up and comers with few peers to connect with. Earlier this year we set out to change that, launching AIMA Friends in March to bring together early career talent from across the sector. Sixty members and partners turned up, and the energy in the room told us we were onto something worth building on.
To make sure whatever came next was genuinely useful, we surveyed attendees on their confidence, career progression, sense of community and AI readiness. 43 people responded, and the results shaped everything that follows: 86% are positive about their current role and 65% say the industry has been better than expected, so the ambition is there.
What's holding people back is confidence, not capability - imposter syndrome and not knowing their next career step were the top barriers by a wide margin. And when we asked what kind of support would help, the answer was clear: real, in-person connection over passive content. Natural networking, practical workshops and facilitated sessions topped the list.
That's what became Up Next, a programme for the people coming through the media industry now, giving them a place to connect beyond their own team, build confidence, and hear from people who've been there. We've contracted Ben Dufty of INJCTR to facilitate, bringing two decades of industry experience from TVNZ, FCB and WPP.
Phase one kicks off with 90-minute Skill Sprints on Difficult Conversations and Basic Negotiation Tactics, alongside a mentoring pilot for our yet to form Advisory Group - recruited from early career personnel to help keep the programme genuinely relevant.
AIMA is proud to make the programme open to members and partners, knitting our industry community together for the next generation. Dependent on demand, AIMA will roadshow the programme in Wellington and Christchurch too.
We'll keep your nominated AIMA representative updated as developments unfold.