Biographie de Dawn Klatzko
Hi, Thank you for being curious about my background. I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and entered the working world immediately after completing high-school. I attended night-school to secure a Higher Diploma in Marketing Management (a long time ago!). I am admittedly a lifelong learner and have obtained several qualifications along the way including a Private Pilots License and Indoor Spin Instructor (which is now my hobby job).
I make a point of trying to learn something completely new every year. My most recent acquisition, Certificate of Competency in the Foundations of Executive Coaching, was obtained through the University of Cape Town. My second job ever was with a small advertising agency in Johannesburg - the start of a 30 year ad career. Starting out as a Junior Account Executive, I was fortunate to form my grounding with numerous international agency groups such as FCB, McCann and Ogilvy where, even though I come from a very creative family, I was attracted to Account Management.
My journey included working my way up to Executive Management reaching the position of Deputy Managing Director of a highly creative agency within the Ogilvy group. My ambition and vision led me to break out of the security of the big agency groups to start my own ad agency in 1990, just as the announcement of Nelson Mandela's planned release was announced. Klatzko & Waldron flourished over the next twenty years and grew to incorporate partnerships in a film production company as well as an Experiential Marketing agency.
The diversity expanded my skill-set as a marketer, strategist and entrepreneur. I sold my agency when I was approached to lead a dynamic young advertising agency. Here I spearheaded their expansion into Africa where and was responsible for opening a full service agency in Uganda. Other than a few career deviations, such as a three-year break to work as stewardess to see the world, during which time I obtained my private pilots license, and a stint in pure marketing, my focus had been single-mindedly on advertising.
In early 2012 I chose to step back and review my future plans. Following a 6 month sabbatical, at my second home on the Amalfi coast of Italy, I returned to begin a process of self-reinvention. My newfound aim is to focus on my passion - to share my knowledge and insights on the business of business, to smooth the path of those in pursuit of a career or building a business. I ...