Hey Hannah, we’ll start by chatting about life at GOLD79. What makes the perfect work day for you?

I love a Thursday in the office. Everyone is in a good mood, and it’s even better if it’s a results-focused day. On the perfect Thursday, I’ve got lots of coverage coming in and a couple of calls to share strong results and get positive feedback. At lunch, I’d take a full break and chat with colleagues about anything and everything – I feel very lucky to have some really great work friends.

After lunch, I’d love an afternoon brainstorming session – it’s something different to break up the usual working day, and you always get lots of creative ideas that can be transferred to your own projects and clients. Hearing positive updates and new ideas from the whole team in our fortnightly team meeting at 4 pm is always a boost, and we sometimes follow it up with a team social, which is a great opportunity to bond with everyone.

Great results are definitely a day-maker. What’s your favourite industry to get those results for?

It’s tough to name just one, but I love making waves across beauty, hospitality, and events. CLOUD NINE is one of my favourite clients I’ve ever worked with, and in previous roles, I’ve had a lot of experience launching new food menus and hosting press and influencers at exciting venues. It’s definitely the glamorous side of the job.

You can really tell PR is the job for you! If you hadn’t pursued this path, where do you think you’d be instead?

I was actually going to be a teacher, which is crazy to think about now. I started the teaching course at the University of Bristol, but I quickly realised it wasn’t for me. Of course, being a teacher comes with certain restrictions like such as your social media privacy, which is, ironically, the opposite of what life is like in PR and comms. I couldn’t really picture myself in the classroom, so I took many career quizzes and when I saw PR continually pop up, I just knew it was the job for me. My dream job would be a singer – although that’s even less realistic than the teacher option!

Who knows, maybe one day you’ll rise to stardom! In the meantime, what’s the best way for the team to get on your good side at work?

Clear communication is my favourite quality in a colleague. It’s a strong base for delivering amazing work. I really respect a team member who always lets me know whether they have the time and capacity to do something before a deadline or not. And it works both ways. Everything goes smoothly if the rest of the team makes it clear what’s expected of me, so together we can deliver a service that really impresses the client. Communication is key.

If the directors are treating everyone to a coffee shop order, what are you asking for?

I actually don’t drink coffee. I’d probably ask for an early grey tea with milk – so refreshing!

Okay, we’ve got a pretty clear picture of work Hannah, but we want to know more about your life outside of work too. What’s your best travel story?

I took a trip to Australia recently and absolutely loved it. I went out of my comfort zone to go white water rafting. I had to sign a death waiver beforehand, which made it all feel very real and scary! At one point, there was a really high cliff we could jump off. I was terrified, but I thought it was a compulsory part of the activity, so I went for it – which is classic of my rule-following personality. In the end, I was fine, I just slapped the water pretty hard, but it’s probably the most intense thing I’ve ever done. Watching all the rocks get closer and closer after I’d taken the leap was terrifying and I still remember it took me the entire bus ride home for me to process the experience

Since you’re not much of an adrenaline junkie – adventure holidays are probably off the cards in future, but what’s your dream destination?

I’m a city girl at heart. I loved Australia, but mainly for its big cities – Sydney, Melbourne and Byron Bay were my favourite spots. Closer to home, Rome and Paris are two of my top European destinations. New York is on my to-visit list.

When you get back home, what’s your favourite comfort meal?

I like to keep it simple. As a child, I always loved a cheesy pasta bake with leeks, bacon, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. It’s basically a glorified mac ‘n’ cheese, but it always hits the spot.

Ooh sounds delicious! Nostalgia always makes a meal taste even better.

I want to hear about your personal style. You always seem to make an effort with your office outfits. Where do you get your influence from?

They may be fictional, but Serena Van Der Woodson from Gossip Girl and Samantha Jones from Sex and the City are big fashion icons to me. I love that preppy but glam New York City style. Plus, Samantha works in PR, so she’s just like me!

I can just picture you in your own TV show! If you were, what kind of music would be in the soundtrack?

I’m a BIG Sabrina Carpenter fan, so probably some of her music. She’s getting pretty big now with her Short n Sweet tour now, but I have truly loved her for years. Some classic 2000s pop music would also be great for my soundtrack – think Nelly Furtado, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga etc.

 

It’s been lovely to get to know you Hannah! We can’t wait to see you strutting your stuff down the streets of NYC in the future.

The GOLD79 team is packed with skills and personality, and we’re keen to show them off to the world. Keep an eye on our News and Views page for more instalments of Getting to Know GOLD, coming soon.