Over the past year, ETB has experienced our most significant recognition to date. Our MND Australia campaign has been shortlisted in both the B&T Awards and the The Anthem Awards , and our campaign for Kidney Health Australia's 'End Dialysis by 2050 has been shortlisted at the shots awards. These awards mean a great deal to us, personally and professionally. And now, we’ve received something a little different but is something I'm thrilled about — ETB Studio has been named a winner in the HYR MEDIA Culture Awards 2025.
This award is meaningful because it wasn’t something we entered or paid for. Maya reviewed more than 5000 companies and gathered insights from over 20000 employees, then invited our team to participate in an anonymous survey about what it truly feels like to work here. It's gratifying that ETB team had the opportunity to speak openly and chose to back the culture the culture we are creating.
The longer I am in business, the more I believe that how we show up for each other and for our clients is what really defines success. I want to build a business that thrives because it is more than the sum of its parts, where people are supported, where opportunity is real, and where flexibility is seen as strength, not a business sacrifice.
A healthy culture doesn’t just benefit our people, it benefits our clients too. When a team feels trusted and valued, they think clearly, collaborate deeply and take genuine pride in what they deliver. I think our clients feel that. They feel the consistency, the care in the work, the quiet confidence that comes from know the team has each others backs. Creativity thrives when people feel secure, respected and backed. That is what allows us to do our best work and build lasting partnerships with the brands and agencies we partner with.
Awards are wonderful acknowledgements and I love them, but they are not the point. The real achievement is building a company where people want to stay, grow and contribute to something bigger than themselves and where our clients feel genuinely looked after. If we can prove that a values-led, independent agency can grow sustainably by putting people first, then that is the legacy I am proud to build.
Thank you to HYR MEDIA for recognising small businesses committed to people and culture. And of course to the ETB Studio. It's a pleasure everyday to work with a team committed to supporting the work, each other and our clients.
-- Victoria Conners, Founder & Managing Director
