I’m Emily and This is How I work
- Location: Rochester, MN
- Current Gig: Brand Manager at Hormel Foods
- One word that describes how you work: Intense
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without? Why?
Instagram: I love keeping up with all my friends and family and enjoying moments through their eyes.
Pinterest: Since I just bought my first house in the last 6 months I love finding inspiration to decorate, paint, and shop online. All of this provides oodles of information and sources for me to get inspired on how I can create this space my own.
Gmail/Email: I check my email about every hour, I love to stay connected and need to work on my work life balance but being constantly connected keeps me on my toes both at work at and home.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut/life hack?
Planning ahead. Each day I print my calendar of meetings for the next day, this way I am prepared for the next day and can think about the meetings ahead of time.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else? What’s your secret?
I would say that I am very good at managing my schedule and keeping projects moving. My secret is to constantly be planning and thinking ahead. Whether that is printing off your calendar ahead of time or making lists and ‘crossing items off’.
What do you listen to while you work?
I am never at my desk long enough to listen to anything.
What are you currently reading?
I am in a book club and the book we just finished was “What Alice Forgot”, by Liane Moriarty.
Are you more of introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert for sure.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
If it was easy someone else would have done it. I say this to myself daily, as in my position I hit a lot of dead end roads and sometime lose inspiration but always need to ground myself to keep pushing forward.
Where do you find inspiration and new ideas?
I find inspiration in engaging with consumers via focus groups or ethonographies. I my position really grounding yourself in what consumers want can spark millions of ideas for new products.
What kind of leader are you?
I would like to consider myself more of a coach style leader. I want my team to feel inspired and enjoy working with me. I always try to leave a meeting with everyone feeling good about the situation, even if it is not. I want people to be like “O yes, I get to work with Emily” instead of “O no, I have to work with Emily”.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers?
I have lived in 5 different states in 5 years. My job moves me around quite a bit, and I love it. However, I am very happy in Minnesota and hope to stay here for awhile.
