Mariah Jackson on award-winning career moves

Sitting in the passenger seat of a 79 Series Land Cruiser deep in the bush, Mariah Jackson took a call that would change the course of her career forever. The luxury car brand on the other end was offering her a marketing role – ironic, considering she’d never owned a luxury car, let alone thought they’d be part of her professional future.

“It was quite funny,” she reflects. “Here I was in this rugged four-wheel drive, having always admired BMW from afar, and suddenly I’m joining the team as Marketing & Events Manager.”

But perhaps the most significant part of the offer wasn’t the brand; it was the location. After a decade of commuting from Bribie Island to Brisbane, Mariah was finally returning to the Sunny Coast to build her career.
A goal she’d been working towards since she left USC in 2015.

Brisbane bound

After falling in love with the Coast while at uni, Mariah struggled to find entry-level roles locally. With only a handful of marketing positions available cropping up in the area each month, she joined the ranks of young professionals who felt they had no choice but to look south.

“The opportunities simply didn’t exist back then,” she says. “I applied for local roles and never really cut the mustard, which pushed me into Brisbane roles where I eventually became overqualified.”

Fast forward 10 years and Mariah would be standing on stage accepting BMW Australia’s Marketing Manager of the Year award – recognition for work that could only have happened on the Sunshine Coast.

Her winning formula? Deep community engagement.

Mariah’s success came from understanding that the Coast’s tight-knit community offers unique marketing opportunities. Her award-winning work included partnerships with local charities, such as a Mini x Forgive Me Five charity campaign, hosting educational events with Coast professionals, and creating a campaign recognising 25 Years of the X5 that celebrated local scenery and culture.

“The Sunny Coast is a completely different market to Brisbane,” she explains. “There are so many charity activations, amazing philanthropists and people who are dedicated to making a difference. It forms a huge part of the lifestyle and business community here.”

Her national recognition proves regional marketing expertise can compete at the highest level. “Not one customer who walks through our BMW dealership is the same as the other,” she says. “The diversity here means you can’t use cookie-cutter approaches. You have to be more creative; more connected.”

A new era for Coast careers?

The Coast that once sent Mariah to Brisbane is barely recognisable in 2025. Where opportunities were once scarce, a different story is now emerging.

“Even in the two years since I started at BMW, I can see the change. There are more job opportunities opening up,” she explains. “More startups, bigger businesses moving to the Coast, and more specialist roles as well. The professional landscape of the Coast is definitely expanding.”

When asked what advice she’d give to young professionals weighing up career options, Mariah doesn’t hesitate.

“Just keep persevering and put yourself forward,” she says. “Take advantage of internships locally and be willing to experience different things. Sometimes you have to hustle a little bit harder to get where you ultimately want to be, but there is no better value than being able to experience things.”

It’s a philosophy that’s served her well. As well as building experience in the office, Mariah also took time out to travel around the country. These experiences, she says, gave her distance from her daily routine to get some fresh perspectives on what she wanted out of her career.

“Those experiences make you appreciate everything you’re doing and why you’re doing it,” she reflects. “I believe in new ideas – nothing ever needs to be the same. Don’t ever be afraid to diversify and experience different things.”

For someone who once worried the Coast offered no professional future, Mariah now sees our community as the perfect place to build something meaningful. That Land Cruiser call wasn’t just a career move, but proof that sometimes the best opportunities come when you’re ready to embrace the unexpected.

Ready to connect with like-minded young professionals making their mark on the Coast?Join us at our next SCYCC event – check out our upcoming events or follow us @youngchambersc.

Thank you to Coastline BMW for supporting the Sunshine Coast Young Chamber of Commerce and sharing Mariah’s inspiring story with us.

By Caroline Voaden, STORY