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December’s North East spotlight series: Esme Flounders

With Christmas fast approaching and the region’s business people looking forward to a well deserved rest, we’re bringing you a December interview series with a holiday twist.

Here at Bdaily we love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the chance to learn more about the business people you so often read about.

Next up is Esme Flounders, marketing and communications director at Narrative Integrated Communications.

Enjoy!

Your Business

What were the highlights for your business in 2015?

There have been a few for Narrative. Rebranding… moving to a gorgeous new office… taking on new staff and remodelling the business. You could take your pick. The real highlight will obviously be the Christmas shindig, though!

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

I’m sure there would be if I were that way inclined! However, I make a point of not looking back. For me, the only useful thing about analysing what’s gone before is how it impacts on your behaviour in the here and now.

Is there anything we should watch out for your company doing next year?

Everyone should ALWAYS be watching what Narrative are doing! However, we do have a couple of tricks up our sleeve, specifically around further business diversification. Quarter one is going to be pretty exciting for us…

Your favourites

Have any other North East companies impressed you this year, if so - why?

Visualsoft. Who else? I’m unashamedly a massive fan of their business model and the way they approach things. Berghaus are another business I admire. As a client of ours, their products and approach to marketing is very impressive.

When business life gets on top of you, what do you do to de-stress?

Rant at Kieron (Goldsborough, Managing Director at Narrative,) who then usually tells me to go home, see my husband and two children and have a pint. Usually works a treat.

Have any social media accounts caught your eye this year, any favourite pages or people to follow? (*cough* Bdaily *cough* *cough*)

Well, other than Bdaily (of course!) I love Newcastle Airport’s social media presence. I love how they have given the airport a personality with real feelings. It’s just really quirky and fun…not at all what you’d expect from an airport!

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

Barak Obama’s speech writer. Every time.

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t kid yourself. As a woman, you can’t have it all, and if you tried to, you’d half kill yourself in the process. However, what you can have is infinitesimally better. More tiring, yes. Messier, definitely. More guilt inducing, absolutely. But still cracking all the same. Just be happy with your lot.

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

Some kind of stop watch where I could start and stop time. Failing that, I’m an avid collector of Kindles, so the latest version would be much appreciated (hint hint.)

Thanks Esme, happy holidays from the Bdaily team.

To feature in our North East December spotlight series, contact Jamie at jamie.hardesty@bdaily.co.uk.

More interviewees featured in this series:

Dianne Sharp, CEO of DKS Straightforward

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