Sean Keaney: The importance of leaving loudly and why family trumps work — How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty

In this episode, we interview Sean Keaney. Sean, CEO of FCB Wellington, isn't your average ad exec. He's a seasoned veteran, having cut his teeth in the good old days of direct mail, and has since tackled campaigns for a diverse range of clients, from banks to power companies, retirement villages to consumer electronics giants.

But Sean's passion lies beyond the bottom line. He's a champion for important causes, bringing his strategic mind to issues like mental health, alcohol moderation, family violence, and safety across the board - road, water, fire, you name it.

He's also a strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within FCB Aotearoa, leading the agency's whanaungatanga program. He also represents FCB on the Global Women - Champions for Change group, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable industry.

When he's not strategising campaigns, Sean's a devoted family man. He's married to Melanie, a soon-to-be Clinical Psychologist (just two weeks away!), and they share their Brooklyn home with three daughters - Lucia (13) and the mischievous twins Marnie and Cece (11) - and two furry companions, Honey and Minnie.

So, what's the secret to Sean's success? It's simple: a genuine desire to make a difference, a knack for finding the right message, and a healthy dose of humour to keep things interesting. He's proof that advertising can be both impactful and entertaining, and that a career in the industry can be as fulfilling as it is challenging.

DISCLAIMER: Emma asked Sean for an updated bio, so he threw some prompts into AI. The result makes him sound way better and way cheesier than he actually is.

Our conversation blended Sean’s experience as a dad and also his experience as a CEO & senior leader in the advertising industry. I actually worked with Sean in another life so it was a beautiful way to re-connect and to listen to his powerful reflections about being a working dad.

How family trumps work – and how leaving loudly is one way that we can bring this to life.
The change in thinking around WFH and the fallout that could happen from it.
His leadership approach to managing client demands and parent’s caregiving needs.
How he and his partner manage work and a family.
The reflection of how traditional parenting roles can emerge without really thinking about it – and the work it takes to disrupt it.
How he loves getting emails from Dads on his team saying that they can’t come to work because their child is unwell.
Normalising working dads being parents and having needs.

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded by Works for Everyone, a business based in NZ and operating globally that supports working parents to stay in the leadership pipeline through coaching, workshops, and keynote speaking.

Your host, Emma Mclean, is a mother of three teenagers, an Executive Coach and the Founder of Works for Everyone. Following a successful 25-year career in corporate marketing, Emma launched her business in 2019 to put a care wrap around working parents at the hardest time in their career. She launched the NZ Part Time Power List in 2024 as she wanted to shine a light on individuals that are building their career through part time roles, rather than side stepping it. She is alumni of the 2021 NZ Leadership Programme and a proud Swiftie (a lifelong Taylor Swift fan).

To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – emma@worksforeveryone.co.nz

www.worksforeveryone.co.nz

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