Meet Emma Gleaden; our Marketing Manager and member of the original five! Over the last four years, Emma has been a huge contributor to Affari’s growth and success. From Project ‘Brave’ to our relationship with Nottingham Trent University! Get to know Miss Gleaden and all the funny stories she has to tell!
How did you find your way to Affari?
I had a crazy life before Affari – My first job involved moving out to New York and working at a large fashion company. I like to experience extremes, so my logic was that if I could handle what is arguably the biggest and meanest city in the world in the hardest industry, I could do anything! I ended up working on branding and promotion for design collaborations within Americas largest retailers; including Macy’s, Target and JCPenney! Fun Fact: I once sent a dress to Michelle Obama and know her exact measurements!
My time living life like Carrie Bradshaw ended when a subway rat ran over my foot… I moved back home shortly after and here I am!
What are the three best things about yourself?
1. The first would be that I can always make light out of negative situations! I’m good at using my humour to dilute stressful scenarios.
2. Some say I’m a bit ‘crackers’, so that just means I’m a great person to go party with!
3. My ability to continue my quest for love despite a terrible dating history! I’m not being dramatic, I’ve literally been approached to write a dating column after a story got leaked because it’s so hilariously awful!
What’s one of your best experiences?
I’ve been lucky as I’ve had the opportunity to experience quite a lot and see quite a few places. But, I’d say my best experience in life so far has been watching my close friends get married and engaged and seeing them grow. I’m really lucky to have grown up with a group of friends like them.
What other interests do you have other than Affari?
My main interest is dancing. My first career aspiration was to become a ballet dancer!
Another interest of mine is yoga, it’s actually became a bit of a joke where I go out on a Friday night with my fellow Affarians and there’s jokes made that I won’t be able to hack yoga at 10am the next morning… but somehow I always make it!
I’m also a fan of water sports and roller skating – anything whacky, I’m in!
What’s your favourite quote and why?
I really don’t like quotes, they’re a bit cheesy but I do like a song ‘Everything is Borrowed’ by Mike Skinner from The Streets and there’s one line from the chorus –
“I came to this world with nothing. And I leave with nothing but love. Everything else is just borrowed.”
I think those words are really powerful.
What’s #1 on your bucket list?
Number one on my bucket list is to go full nomad, live out the back of a camper van and do route 66 in America.
Sum your life up with a film?
‘The Sweetest Thing’ starring Cameron Diaz; it’s three women in their 20’s and it reminds me of the close friendships I have with women, I live with two girls so I can relate to all the good and bad in the movie!
What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing?
Let’s get this on record – Jake Adam Parkin, Affari’s Global Project Manger is a prankster and I am calling him out!
One example, is when I was handed a fine on the tram for not purchasing a ticket as I was expecting to buy one on the tram itself, and so I wrote a letter of complaint. Jake then went out of his way to write a reply, at this point, I thought the tram company had responded to me.
At the bottom of this response, it stated “we are happy to refund you, please call this number…” and so I called this number and it was the local taxi firm! Worst thing about this was that I thought it was the tram company being sarcastic, so I prepared myself to ring them and give them a piece of my mind…at which point Jake had to come clean! Ever since then, whenever I ask for a number, Jake gives me the local taxi firm instead… 😂
What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever been injured?
I once went wake boarding and you’re supposed to keep the rope tight at all times and cannot let it go slack. I tried to do a bit of trick, the rope went slack…but I thought I could save it! From that point, I went round a corner, the rope straightened out and I turned into a human catapult!
It felt like I was flying through the air forever before I hit the water head first, I knew it was bad….When I woke up the next morning and my eye wouldn’t open. I had to go to the eye hospital, I could tell they were trying not to laugh, I had to beg not to wear an eye patch!
