Yvette King's love for the small screen started when she saw an anchor-woman on the nightly news as a child. Since then, she has gone on to host for E! Asia, jet set across the world, and interview some of the biggest names in entertainment history.
In 2003, she began her studies at the University of Sydney, excelling in a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) degree and earning a coveted spot on the Dean's List of Excellence in Academic Performance. It was here she also met her now husband while taking the same film studies class.
Since then, successes remained endless, from receiving Highly Commended for Best Entertainment Presenter/Host at the Asian Television Awards to writing her own columns in Buro 24/7, Vogue Singapore, and Elle Singapore.
In our 'Ask Me Anything' alumni series, Yvette shared her wisdom with the Sydney Alumni Community on launching a career in a competitive industry, discovering a unique voice, and overcoming the impossible.
Take your time and find your own way forward
Entertainment industry jobs are notoriously competitive, and from the outside, it's hard to know where to begin. An alum asked Yvette how she got started.
Yvette was careful to emphasise that her career didn't start overnight. It took a lot of patience, networking, and hard work before she could get started. She ended up working in advertising for several years before she was able to "crack the industry".
It was only after receiving some advice from a friend that she could find her footing.
"She said I should start introducing myself as a TV host. Because then people would begin to perceive me that way, and I would identify with it and start making decisions that aligned with that declaration," she said. She noticed a change almost instantaneously. "Interestingly, instead of people judging me, they started connecting me with people they knew in the industry. And that's how I began to moonlight as a video journalist for the Daily Telegraph, whilst I did my advertising job in the day.
"Once I had built up enough experience as a journalist, I jumped ship completely!"
Find your own voice
For aspiring writers, practice makes perfect. This is something that Yvette swears by when it comes to finding your feet, and just as importantly, your style. An alum asked for advice on developing their own storytelling style, saying "Do you think style is innate or learned?"
For Yvette, it's a process of continuous refinement.
"I think your style is innate, but is refined over time. In terms of advice as to finding your voice, it sounds really cliché to say, but practice does really matter," she said. "I've really found that experience counts. I also think context is relevant. I wrote all my scripts for E! and this is a very particular approach-it's very peppy, conversational and very colloquial.
"Whereas Vogue has a very different house style-the tone is more serious, factual, refined and elevated. Even though I have used my voice in both circumstances, I ensure that it's appropriate for the platform I'm on as well."
Always come prepared when working with others
Yvette knows a thing or two about being well-prepared- a skill that comes in handy when she's working the red carpet.
In response to a question from an alum about how she honed her interview skills, Yvette said, "I find myself to be much more confident if I know my subject in and out. And as a result, the ensuing chat then becomes much more flowing."
"I've done a few live red carpets and for people watching at home, you probably don't realise but people don't come in any particular order and so you really are flying by the seat of your pants and trying your best!"
Her key is to take notice of the people you are working with. Watch their mannerisms, their vibe, and try to treat them just as you would like to be treated. "I try to "read the room" and gauge what type of personality they have or what mood they're in," she said. "I try to be friendly in my approach and always remember that they're just another person, regardless of their stature or social standing."
Don't be afraid of change - and how long it takes to get used to it
Yvette's heart has always been with traditional media. But like most industries, journalism is not safe from the changing times. Her advice to the Sydney Alumni Community is to be malleable and ready to face a new challenge.
"Before you could just be a host, learn your lines or read a teleprompter, but now you have to have a presence on social media, produce your own content, write your own scripts and probably move even faster than you did before, because everything is so instantaneous nowadays," she said.
For Yvette, leaning into change is the key to unlocking new opportunities and growth.
While taking on jobs you haven't tried before may seem daunting at first, Yvette believes it's better in the long run. "I think it is a good thing in the end to be challenged and grow your skill sets," she said.
"Plus a lot of expertise acquired is still transferable from traditional to digital. For example, writing or voice work, or even hosting-it's just a different platform."
Don't just build networks, build your toolkit
While many industries emphasise the importance of who you know, it's equally vital to build the "what" as well. Yvette told the Sydney Alumni Community that it takes a combination of tenacity, resilience, luck, and determination is essential to thrive in a challenging field like media.
