Women Who Will: Bec Matlioski

Welcome to 'Women Who Will', a new LBB series championing women across the industry and around the world. It sees interviewees share their ambitions, highlight who they look up to, and nominate others, creating a ripple effect of recognition and inspiration.

This instalment comes from Bec Matlioski, McCann New York's associate creative director. She was nominated by DDB Group Melbourne's Alayna Kunitake.

LBB> How did you get into the industry?

Bec> I’ve always wanted to be a ‘creative’, I just didn’t know it was an actual profession. Then, in Year 9 Media class, I saw Dove’s 'Real Beauty' campaign and had a minor epiphany somewhere between the body-positive messaging and the Adobe transitions: that was an ad? I’ve been trying to create work like that ever since.

While finishing my comms degree at RMIT, I spent a year interning at any agency that would give me a lanyard. After graduating, I was handed a swipe card and a salary at my first copywriting job at Ogilvy. A few time zones, job titles, and late nights later, I’ve worked across brands, cities, and more than a few existential deadlines—hopping from Melbourne to Sydney, then landing at McCann New York in 2022.

LBB> Who are some of the people along the way who have helped you most?

Bec> I owe a lot to the women who don’t just lead departments and agencies—they lead by example. Despite juggling their diaries, they somehow still found time. To pick up the phone. To read a script. To back me in meetings. Or speak up when I wasn’t in the room. Their support didn’t just shape my career, it helped build it.

Maria Devereux has been a creative compass—helping me navigate tough conversations, championing me, and reminding me to trust my instincts.

Shayne Millington and Sharon Condy are two creative leaders I’ve had who consistently championed me and the projects I’ve been part of. They led departments I’ve been in on opposite sides of the world with contagious enthusiasm, teaching me the power of leading with kindness—and the importance of laughing along the way.

Esther Clerehan has been a guiding force too—cheering me on, connecting the dots (and people all around the world) for me, and helping me move from Melbourne to Sydney.

These women have helped me rewrite scripts, rethink ideas, and relocate my life.

LBB> Who have you looked up to throughout your career? And who do you look up to now?

Bec> Maria Devereux and Laura Petrucelli. These two leaders embody the kind of creative and empathetic leadership I aspire to. Maria, as head of innovation and ECD at Accenture Song, is not only one of the most awarded creatives out there, but she’s also someone who brings humanity to everything she does. She’s shown me what real leadership looks like: empathetic, bold, and generous with her time and knowledge. Laura is the creative force and founder behind Nice & Frank. Despite her huge impact on the industry in Australia and the States, she is one of the most down-to-earth leaders there is, who continually raises the bar. What inspires me most about both of them is how they champion others and push for more inclusive spaces.

LBB> If you could give your younger self one piece of advice on navigating the industry, what would it be?

Bec> Be scared, but do it anyway. You don’t need to wait to feel “ready.” No one is ever 100% ready. So, you may as well go for it.

LBB> Tell us about a piece of work that best reflects your ambitions

Bec> I’ve always believed the best work doesn’t just sell, it solves. I aspire to create ideas that connect brand tension, cultural relevance, and real human truth.

AAMI's 'Rest Towns’ is the work I’m most proud of in Australia. It’s a data-driven campaign that turned rural towns into life-saving destinations for young drivers.

In the US, the work I’m most proud of is ‘Fan to Featured’ for Mastercard. What started as a brand sponsorship became a way to bring fans closer and make a major pop culture moment more inclusive. We convinced Lady Gaga to reshoot her new music video ‘Abracadabra’ this time starring real fans.

LBB> How have you helped other women?

Bec> I’ve tried to pay that forward in my own way. At McCann NY, I co-created a mentorship program called Sidekick—a confidential, voluntary initiative designed to connect people across the agency in meaningful ways. Back in Australia, I was a Certified Auntie through The Aunties Program, mentoring young creative women and helping evolve the initiative as part of the Aunties Creative Agency.

Before I moved to the States, I worked with Alayna Kunitake to create an industry series to spotlight women, especially in spaces where the spotlight had historically been on men. Alayna and her team have since evolved it into this incredible initiative. I’m proud to have played a role in laying the groundwork for what it’s become.

LBB> Where do you hope we are as an industry in a year’s time?

Bec> I hope Women Who Will isn’t just a feature—it’s a force. One that gets more women and gender-diverse talent recognised in rooms, on panels, and on the industry stage. Not just the creatives and directors, but the strategists, producers, business leads, and decision-makers.

LBB> And five years’ time?

Bec> In five years, I hope our industry is radically inclusive. Where leadership looks like the world we live in. Where mentorship is standard, emotional labour is shared, and empathy is seen as a strength, not a soft skill. I hope a seat at the table is no longer a question, and that inclusion and equity aren’t initiatives—they’re the norm.

LBB> What’s your non-negotiable?

Bec> Empathy. It’s at the core of how I think, work and create. I believe the best ideas come from understanding others, and the best leaders build environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

LBB> Nominate the next woman you think should be part of this series.

Bec> Maria Devereux.