Babe Profile - April 2007

Samantha Alfheim

It might be a Monday (and there is something about Mondays, you're sure to have noticed - there are even songs dedicated to this plight) but William Buck's Marketing and Communications Senior Advisor, Samantha Alfheim is in high spirits. In fact, it's the days that are busy that she loves, and as we start to talk about all things William Buck, Brisbane, jazz and travel, it becomes apparent that when she says she loves to fly by the seat of her pants, she's being entirely sincere.

After studying a business degree, where she majored in corporate communications with marketing and public relations minors, Samantha has worked in professional services for 10 years. Samantha has been with William Buck for almost a year, and thoroughly enjoys the challenges her job presents.

"It's challenging in the fact that there is so much opportunity to run with improvements - unlike some firms, the Managing Director and director group at William Buck are innovative and open to suggestions and ideas ... they have such a great attitude and it challenges me to come up with bigger and better ways to do things," she says.

"William Buck offers a broad range of services including financial services, we have a business advisory focus, auditing, corporate advisors and tax services. Within that, we work closely with corporate services, HR, IT and the finance teams ... I suppose the marketing team could be seen as the hub, advising the advisors."

Samantha, who has been a member of Babes in Business since its inception, was introduced to William Buck at a Babes in Business networking event.

"I worked with Sam Baker many years ago at Clayton Utz, and when Babes in Business started, I became a member straight away ... I've seen it grow exponentially."

"What I like most about Babes is the value they give - it's not just social, it's informative as well, which is what we tried to do on Thursday (at Bucks, Brains & Body) as well. We want people to get something out of it."

Samantha Alfheim

Samantha thrives on being busy and is constantly striving for more, and is now in her third semester of her Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing and Communication. She is also an avid reader, and laughs that she's more likely to leaf through the pages of National Geographic than Vogue.

"I'm a big believer in continuous learning ... not necessarily always through university though. It's important to be inquisitive, and I want to genuinely learn - I'm a prolific reader - anything I can get my hands on!"

Samantha, who is also passionate about music and travel, perfectly combined the two when she married her musician husband Joachim two years ago.

"Joachim is Norwegian - I met him here when he was studying at the Queensland Conservatorium. I met him at a jazz gig and we both went back to Norway to live."

Samantha says it can be a struggle trying to juggle a marriage, career, study and networking but it's exploring the music scene and working towards each new trip that keeps her motivated.

Although she says it's hard to choose her favourite place in the world, loving so many places for different reasons, it's her husband's family's holiday home in provincial France that she loves the most.

Located an hour inland from Nice, Samantha says she loves the understated, family vibe of the house.

"It's a family thing - wine and cheese, and lots of laughter," she says.

Deborah Hoey PR Consultant KD Public Relations p 07 3136 2555 e deborah@kdpr.com.au