May 14 2026, 12:29 pm | BY Ricki Green | No Comments
CB Hot Suit Takes is our new Q&A series for extremely busy CEOs and senior leaders across the industry ~ covering careers, creativity, challenges and the song that sums it all up. Next in the hot seat is Marijana Simunovic, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Weave.
1. What made you get into advertising?
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity, storytelling and culture.
At school, I loved art, English, reading and creative writing. Then in Year 10, my careers counsellor suggested I do work experience at an ad agency. I don’t think I fully understood what an agency was at the time, but I remember walking in and feeling the energy of the place – the ideas, the pace, the people.
That was the first time I realised creativity could be a career and I guess the idea stuck.
2. Which piece of work are you most proud of, and why?
It’s hard to pick one, but I’d say the Tooheys rebrand we did for Lion – View here
It’s such an iconic Australian brand, so there was a real responsibility to respect what people already loved about it, while giving it the clarity and confidence it needed for the future.
It was also one of those projects where the process was as good as the outcome. A great client, a great team, and a genuinely collaborative approach – which is always where the best work happens
3. What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role right now?
Figuring out how to deliver quality, thoughtful work in a way that’s commercially sustainable. Budgets are shrinking, expectations are increasing, and it’s a challenging time for a lot of independent agencies. Clients still need strong strategic and creative thinking, but the way that work is valued, scoped and delivered is shifting.
So, I’m spending a lot of time thinking about what the next version of a business like ours looks like – how we protect the quality of the work, look after our people, and build something that can keep evolving over the next 1-3 years.
4. What’s the most recent thing you’ve learned — professionally or personally?
To let go. Of things, ideas, relationships, projects, expectations… anything that is no longer meant for you.
That applies to my wardrobe, which I’m currently trying to be ruthless with, but also to business. The longer you hold onto something that isn’t right, the less space you have for what might be. Letting go isn’t always easy, but I’m learning it’s usually where the next bit of clarity – and the next opportunity – comes from.
5. What song best sums up your career so far?
Dog Days Are Over, Florence + The Machine
There’s something in the build of that song that resonates with me… particularly the idea of running towards something bigger. My career hasn’t been linear, but it has definitely been about growing into myself, backing my instincts, and learning to take up a bit more space.
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