Member Interview with Shauna Mahoney

We are delighted to bring you a Member Interview with Shauna Mahoney, Group Account Director at LIGHTBLUE

What’s your golden rule?

Spend 90% of your time understanding the client's problem so that you only need 10% to come up with the right solution.

Who has been your biggest influence?

I have many influences who fit a similar profile, but the first was Sara Blakely, who invented Spanx. There have since been many like her I'm inspired by, entrepreneurs who create solutions to genuine consumer problems and are then able to scale those businesses with integrity, prioritising culture and creating a positive impact both for customers and employees and demonstrating you can still make a profit without steering from your core values.

What is your most hated business expression?

That's not part of my role. 

Whilst no one should have to do tasks wildly unrelated to their role, most of the time I find that this is in response to reasonable tasks that help the individual grow and expand their scope and this response shows such a fixed mindset, which I think is a real shame and makes developing talent a challenge.

What’s the smartest business idea you’ve ever had?

To pivot my experiential agency's focus to using its 10,000 strong database of on-campus student brand ambassadors to a micro-influencer network during Covid. 

Which leader do you admire most and why?

Sophie Pender, Founder of the 93% club - As someone from a working class background that has achieved success despite the challenges I admire her mission and her work to change the narrative around the profile of a business leader. 

What is on your mind the most right now as a marketing leader?

Aimee Smale - Founder - Odd Muse 

Why is being part of The Marketing Society important for your career?

The opportunity to be forever learning, expanding my ideas and approaches by connecting with new leaders and new ways of thinking.

Why does marketing matter to you?

Marketing is used to form opinions, set agendas and determine company success or failure - Being involved in marketing is the classic I can do more from the inside.

Tell us something that’s not on your CV

I'm a big skincare fan and in another lifetime would be an esthetician.

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Published on 19 March 2025