The secret to success in brand experience: Mellani Tallis

Welcome to the first in our new Executive Insights Series, shining a spotlight on the incredible Australian talent across the Hospitality, Hotel, Events and Experiential Marketing sectors. 

We’re very privileged to be starting with one of the best in the business, Rizer General Manager, Mellani Tallis. Rizer is one of those exceptional creative agencies you dream of working with – a team of Australia’s most innovative storytellers, delivering iconic brand moments for global names like Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Pepsi and FIFA. 

Having been placed at Rizer by THE MONDAY GROUP six years ago, Mellani has become the rock supporting the team’s creative experts. Today, she shares what she loves about her role, the secret to building great relationships in a team and her advice for the next generation of events and experiential talent… 

What areas does your role touch on?

My role is to oversee the overarching business strategy. This includes people & culture, marketing, brand, legal, finance, and commercial – essentially all the foundational and strategic functions that position the business for long-term success.  

The incredible people we have in this team expect to be supported in their space and I also see my role as a way to create the infrastructure which allows them to do what they do best. 

Would you say you have a particular leadership style?

Look, I laugh at this because you might have to ask the team to answer that on my behalf, but I won’t shy away from it. I’m tough, but I’m fair. I want the best for the people in my team.  

When you have a group of people that are such high achievers, they expect a lot from their leaders. And so they should. I try to be open and honest and show vulnerability. That’s really important as a leader. We’re in the human emotions business. It’s okay not to get it right all the time. 

I also think listening is really important – listening to what your team wants and needs. As a leader, relationships are at the foundation of what we do and how we operate. If you have your relationships right, the rest will happen naturally. 

What’s the secret to building great relationships with your team?

Culture is fundamental to the success of what we do and how we do it. 

Working in an agency is hard. It’s often fast-paced, long hours, conflicting deadlines, and with limited flexibility. But, we spend so much time with each other and work so incredibly hard that I’m determined in my role to create a place that prioritises its people, their wellbeing, and ability to thrive and succeed… 

Really the most meaningful part of what I do, and what I love the most, is finding the right mix of people and skills to build an environment that allows them to do their best work and thrive. I feel really lucky to be able to do that with this incredible team, every single day. 

You’ve been at Rizer for six years now. What’s kept you there?

Oh, it’s interesting because Barry was the first to recognise my resume topped out at two years in all my previous roles – it’s very unlike me to stay somewhere this long. There are two things which have kept me here, and one of them is the team. 

We just have such an exceptional team here. They’re high performing. They’re driven. They’re committed to excellence, no matter what. That attitude, drive and commitment cultivates a unique and incredible environment. I’ve been on this journey with them, and they’ve made me who I am as a leader, and I think they hold me accountable and push me every day to show up as my best self. 

That is a huge part of why I’m here; every day is different. I’m learning and growing within my role all the time. 

And the other reason?

Barry Wafer, our founding director, has had a huge impact on my journey. Anyone who’s met him would agree that he’s truly inspiring and he brings out the best in everybody around him. He’s really got this perfect combination of sharing expectation with inspiration. 

And most importantly, as a leader of this business, he places so much trust in me. Having that type of trust allows you to do your best. That kind of leadership for me is genuinely motivating and empowering. 

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Look, I’m a producer at heart. I think I’d be silly if I didn’t say that the opportunity to do what we do and tell those extraordinary stories for the world’s most iconic brands is anything but aspirational. Whether it’s luxury, whether it’s fashion, beauty or large-scale ceremony’s… no two days are ever the same here at Rizer and that’s what makes it so exciting. 

We are truly trusted by the brands that we work with.  Our clients are people that have worked all over the world and they come to us to tell their stories. It’s a huge privilege. 

This also comes back to the people part of my role. We work with five core philosophies at Rizer, and one of those is called ‘the feels’. It’s a belief that we’re in the business of human emotions, we’re here to create moments that make people laugh or cry or bring unexpected joy. Every day I come into this office, and I get to see the team go above and beyond to deliver those experiences. For me, as that people leader, it honestly doesn’t get much better than that. 

What advice can you share with people who want to get into this world?

Internships. I think they’re one of the best ways to break into this industry – they offer a really valuable mix of hands-on experience and a chance to learn directly from professionals. 

We run an internship program called ‘Raised by Rizer’, which we designed to expose participants to all areas of the business. It’s a perfect stepping stone for those who have recently finished college, a university degree, or may still be studying while they’re in here working with us, learning real-world skills and building the confidence to step into a career in this industry. 

The other thing is a great attitude. We’re all one team and we have each other’s back. There’s no ego. We all get in and help out.  

That’s key to being successful in this industry: having that great attitude and having that real-world experience. 

What’s coming up for Rizer?

What does the future look like here? Exciting projects with exciting people, in exciting locations.  

We are celebrating 20 years this year and the next 20 years is what excites us. We have got so much to look forward to – we’ve got some spectacular projects coming up across our Sydney HQ and our new Brisbane and Singapore offices. 

And, you know, my future at Rizer feels full of opportunity and purpose. I think I can continue to grow as a leader. I’m so excited for the vision of this business and what we want to achieve. I’m proud to continue to help shape the company’s culture and values, and work alongside this incredible team. 

* * * * *

About Rizer

Rizer isn’t just an experience agency, it’s a results agency. This unbelievably talented team can handle anything, from flagship fashion boutique launches in Sydney, right up to international ceremonies with millions of viewers. 

To give you just a snapshot of their impact: Rizer’s partnership with Bvlgari when reopening of Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps wowed over 100,000 spectators and hit major news headlines (yes – the team is so good they were chosen from among global competitors to create and direct this event).

Even bigger, their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2025 closing ceremony was viewed by 70,000 attendees in a packed Stadium Australia, bolstered by a global TV audience of over 200 million. 

They don’t come much better than that. 

* * * * *

Need an expert insider to build a powerhouse team like Rizer’s, or to get your foot in the door with Australia’s most exciting events and experiential agencies? Let’s talk.