Dynamic Duos: 'Joining a start-up should be scary, but it wasn't with him' (2024)

In Dynamic Duos, Mumbrella each week asks two colleagues with a professional and personal affiliation to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly hybridised world of work.

Tim Kirby:

I met Anna back in 2014 when she was a fresh expat arriving from the UK. I was at Naked at the time and after winning a big account I needed a senior suit to lead the business. I don’t remember the interview in detail, but Anna had cut her teeth at Karmarama in London and just oozed the kind of energy I knew we wanted in the business.

We worked together for about 18 months through some pretty challenging client situations, and it struck me how skilled Anna was at diplomatically solving client issues while always having the back of everyone in the agency. She was the cultural centre of the account service team and really set the tone for how to behave (or not) whether it was in client meetings or at company parties. Her music choices were respected, and her fancy dress game was strong.

Anna left Naked for roles in network agencies, while I stayed and led the Australian business for the last four or five years of its existence. Once Naked’s owner, Enero Group, decided to merge Naked into BMF, I was released into the wild to figure out what was next.

Having run an agency for a holding company, it would be fair to say I had become a bit frustrated by the industry. But a decade of indoctrination from the gospel of Naked had left me with a bit of maverick spirit, believing that there could be a better way, and so I decided to create Galore as a new model creative business.

I had stayed in touch with Anna over the years, so once I started Galore we would catch up for coffee regularly to chew the fat, and she would patiently listen to me while I whinged about how much harder this start-up game was than I expected it to be.

Eventually I realised that solo entrepreneurship wasn’t for me and I wanted a business partner to share the ride with. Anna had left her previous role with a desire to get stuck into a fresh challenge, and so the next time we caught up I floated the idea. To my delight, surprise and relief, she said yes!

I’d say our relationship is built on a shared philosophy that the industry needs businesses who are prepared to challenge the status quo. We both believe the industry can be better at supporting its people while exceeding client expectations, and we both want to make a real difference for the people we work with. I reckon that’s a pretty good start point for a business partnership.

Anna Borien:

Casting my mind back to… 2014, I was fresh outta London and bracing the Sydney ‘ad scene’! Fortunately, I was taken in by the lovely gang at Naked Communications – it was one of ‘those times’ when you’re at an agency and it all just clicks. We had a great crew of people, with the same drive and importantly the same sense of humour. 10 years on and Tim and I are still cracking (the same) jokes and reminiscing about the madness that was!

Our intellectual… ok, childish, sense of humour has been a strong foundation of our bond over the years. Whilst Tim and I are absolutely aligned on our views of the industry – and the opportunity to do better, and the values and philosophy of Galore and what it stands for, we are also aligned on the importance of fun! The joy is where the magic happens and I hope we never lose that.

Back in 2014, Tim was running Naked – an agency that was in some ways ‘given permission’ to do things differently, to challenge the status quo. Tim always had that twinkle in his eye where he was up for pushing the norm to see if there was a better way; the sorts of clients we chased, the people we employed, the ways we worked with our partners. He was constantly fighting the good fight for us and I’m still really grateful for that. Being a solid leader is no mean feat, coupled with championing ‘the underdog’ agency’, and a ‘lively’ bunch who were always up for it, my gosh! It’s only now in my later years that I can really appreciate what this must have come with.

The reality was, being part of a holding company meant the straight jacket was always on and the opportunity to truly do things differently was limited. Lucky for me, Tim got his golden ticket out of there and channelled that same drive and passion to create Galore.

I’m a big believer in timing and thank God the stars aligned on this one; Tim started building Galore – alone, in his basem*nt – as I was looking down the barrel of walking into another leadership agency role, knowing it wouldn’t be much different to the last place. I too had all the frustrations and ideas of how we could do better, I just needed the space to prove it. Tim and I would catch up every now and again and spitball ideas as Galore was being formed – to see him having made an escape and ‘walking the walk’ was definitely inspiring. Sure, I was a teeny bit jealous but mainly inspired! Then, October 2022, on a blissfully sunny afternoon, I officially got the call up from Kirby! Time to join forces and put our money where our mouth is.

Tim on Anna:

Most memorable moment with Anna:It would have to be the call when Anna confirmed she wanted to join Galore. She was on her way to the airport for a big overseas trip, and I wasn’t sure I’d get an answer before she left. So to get that call was a big moment.

I’ve spent a lot of time talking to people in our industry about their beliefs, frustrations, desires and goals. A lot of people talk a good game, but rarely act on it. So when Anna chose to join a small start-up that wanted to do things differently, it said a huge amount about her as a person and also a huge amount about the original vision for the business.

Best word to describe her:Patient. Anna brings a brilliant assured calmness to our decision making, which is a great foil to my sometimes more impulsive thinking. She’s able to steer projects (and me!) back on track without ever losing her cool.

Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Beyond liking her tea far too weak, there’s not many annoying habits I can think of. On the plus side though, Anna acts like my way cooler sister. She tempers my daggy dad leanings, keeps me across what I need to know in the worlds of music and entertainment, and stops me from making poor sartorial choices for client meetings!

Anna on Tim:

Most memorable moment with Tim: Early October 2022. Tim and I walked (well, I did a slow jog as his legs are twice the length of mine), for what I thought was a casual catch up at the Boathouse, Shelly Beach. It was here that Tim presented me with the opportunity to join Galore. He came with a thorough and compelling proposal, some great clients, strong relationships, bags of enthusiasm and ideas about what could be… and he even threw in lunch!

The idea of joining a start-up should have been scary, but it didn’t feel like it with Tim. Two straight talkers with an overwhelming desire to do better. What could possibly go wrong?!

Best word to describe him: Courageous. And not just because he started a business as Covid hit! For me, there’s a real strength that comes with courage; Tim is a trustworthy guy. He’s objective, fair and tolerant and not just here to talk the talk. I see this daily – how he works with our creative community, our client partners, his family and with me.

Having the courage to keep pushing to ‘do better’ goes beyond Galore and the industry, he’s also pushing himself and me as people.

Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has:Tim’s really tall. But I’m not sure I can be annoyed about that, despite my constant state of ‘jog’ when we’re together?!

Nine times out of 10, Tim is in a good mood. Never dwelling on the negative, just dusting himself off and reminding us to get on with it! I try to be annoyed, but really it’s the best medicine for anyone that gets to be around him.