Ashwini Shah is a marketing and client services professional with over seven years of experience across agency and in-house roles. She has led integrated marketing campaigns, managed client relationships, and delivered digital and brand initiatives across B2B and B2C sectors. Her experience spans account management, SEO, performance marketing, and cross-functional collaboration, with a focus on helping brands grow and connect with their audiences.
Can you tell me how long you’ve been working at M&C and what your role is?
I started working at Manning & Co. in March 2026. As a Client Success Manager, my primary role is managing and nurturing client relationships, end to end account and project management, and looking at the marketing strategy for the accounts I am handling. I also support with some on-page SEO and digital marketing work since I have experience in that area. Most of my day is a mix of strategy, coordination, follow-ups, and ensuring timelines behave realistically.
I enjoy the variety in the role because no two days are really the same.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I work from the office based in Pyrmont, Sydney. I normally start my day at 6.30 AM with a cup of coffee and the news. Then I get ready, have a quick breakfast, usually a protein shake and some fruit, and head to work.
By 8.10 AM, I am out of the house. Since it is around a 45-minute commute on most days on public transport. During the commute, I usually check emails and notifications, prep for meetings, do some reading, or attempt a crossword puzzle that humbles me almost immediately.
Once I settle at my desk, I plan the tasks for the day and make sure workflows are assigned properly across the accounts I manage. I normally do my heavier thinking work in the morning and leave the more operational tasks for later in the day.
What’s your view like from your desk?
From my desk, I have a direct view of a gorgeous money plant and a French chandelier Gemma recently installed in the office. I am also surrounded by books in the office, which is a great source of comfort for me because I love reading.
The office is in a really beautiful location overlooking the harbour. Sometimes I take a quick break on the terrace, which overlooks the harbour and is honestly one of the nicest parts of the office.
What kind of media are you interested in (reading, movies, music, podcasts. Etc). What genre do you like best?
While growing up, I used to read a lot. To the point that during my Year 12 exams, my parents stopped giving me allowance because I was spending it on books instead of studying, which, looking back, was probably fair enough.
Back then, I mostly read fiction such as Sidney Sheldon, Harry Potter, and Julie Garwood. These days I mostly read non fiction. My all-time favourite book is Little Women. It has always been a comfort read for me.
Apart from reading, I spend a lot of my evenings and weekends watching shows and movies. I am currently watching Cheers, and before that I finished Succession, which was excellent.
What is one thing that instantly makes your day better?
Food. I love eating good food, which is also why I enjoy cooking. I am almost always looking forward to what I am going to eat or cook next.
I am vegetarian and mostly cook Indian food, though I also enjoy making Thai, Mexican, and Italian dishes occasionally. I also have a fairly high spice tolerance, so I naturally prefer savoury food over sweet.
I try to keep my weekdays relatively healthy and then have one cheat day on the weekend to enjoy something like Pizza without feeling too guilty about it. Because balance is important and so is happiness.
What are some of your main hobbies?
Apart from cooking and reading, I also enjoy hiking. In Pune, India (where I am from) I used to hike to nearby hills every Sunday. Now in Sydney, I try do the coastal walks or just take a long walk nearby my house. I think living in Sydney automatically makes you start saying things like “I’ll just go for a walk” much more often.
I also enjoy Mandala colouring.
Do you have anything that helps you with productivity?
I usually listen to rhythmic music while working. Mostly some EDM by Ben Böhmer or RÜFÜS DU SOL, or acoustic instrumental music by City of the Sun. It really helps when I am working on reports or decks that require long focus hours.
I also occasionally enjoy a cup of coffee around 3 PM.
Are you playing any games at the moment?
I have been a long time player of a strategic game Clash Royale, and I also enjoy doing crossword puzzles.
When I get together with friends, we occasionally end up doing game nights with Catan, UNO, and other games that somehow become far more competitive than intended.
