Today we are ecstatic to introduce one the incredible people on our team! Gabriella is our guiding star when it comes to all things related to customer success. She is the one you reach out to when things get confusing with product deliveries or mishaps, and we have our full trust in her skills when it comes to looking after this beautiful community.
As a way to introduce Gabriella to our community, we recorded a short interview with a few questions to get to know her better.
E: Hi Everyone, I am…what am I saying? [laughing]
RETAKE: Hi Everyone, I am Emily Kenison, the founder of Emikeni and I am so excited to present Gabriella. We just made our first hire and it is this amazing woman. So we’re going to take this opportunity to get to know her better, and uh, first do you want to tell everybody why we hired you?
G: So, customer advocate so if you have any questions regarding products or just any issues, feel free to reach out and I will be glad to answer your questions and help you.
E: Or if you want to just talk to her, reach out. [laughing]
E: So let’s dive into it. Ok so, Gabriella, what got you started in customer success?
G: So I always wanted to, I think since I was little, I always wanted to serve people in some type of way. I started as a waitress, like back when I was in college… that is such a long time ago. Back when I was in college, so yeah, that’s how I got started.
E: What do you love about working with people?
G: What fulfills me the most is being able to give them a solution that they like and then they are just like so grateful and happy about it. So yeah, that is the most fulfilling thing for me at least.
E: I know our customers love you and you only have gotten five star reviews from every customer you have ever worked with.
G: Oh thank you so much. I appreciate it.
E: They love you too. What made you decide to join the team at Emikeni?
G: I think the work culture was the most thing that like got me. I get to be myself, so of course there is always like level of being professional and everything and respectful, everywhere, but I get to be myself, I get to be joyful, I get to dress how I like and that is the most.
E: We encourage it. You are fabulous!
G: Thank you so much! [laughing]
E: Who inspires you the most?
G: I think the women in my life. Like even random strangers sometimes make your day better and inspire you. So my mother, my grandmother, and even you.
E: Aww. [Giggling]
G: Yeah, all the women. Women are wonderful.
E: Thank you. [laughing] What is one thing you would change about the industry you are in?
G: I think related to what I mentioned before. I think, especially employees need to like be giving the chance to like be themselves. Of course as I mention there is always a level of being professional and respectful like everywhere everything. I don’t think people should be like judged by the way they like dress to where they have like tattoos or piercings, or whatever. That shouldn’t be what the focus should be in hiring someone. That is one of the things I would change.
E: That is great, very important. Everybody should be themselves for a more colorful and better place. What do you love most about yourself?
G: I guess I think I’m pretty joyful.
E: You are very joyful! [laughing]
G: It’s contagious. It’s pretty contagious, and I pat myself on the back as I’ve said before, but that’s what I’ve been told. [laughing]
E: It’s very true. I love that about you too.
G: Thank you so much.
E: What advice would you tell others who are doing the same job as you?
G: My advice would be to be, I think like, a lot of empathy. Patience, but I think empathy would be like the top thing. So like put yourself in the other person’s shoes and how you would like to be treated, or how would you like your problem to be solved. So mostly like top empathy, that’s my advice.
E: Awesome answer, I completely agree with you on that. Ok so, for the rapid fire questions - first thing that pops into your head or is the answer.
E: Where did you grow up?
G: I grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
E: Who influenced you the most in those years?
G: My mother and my grandfather, and grandmother.
E: What is one thing you have always wanted to do?
G: Fashion designer actually.
E: Woah, cool. Okay, I can make that happen. What is something you love doing more than anything?
G: I love singing.
E: Ooo!
G: Yeah! [laughing]
E: We will do that later to prove it! [laughing]
E: What do you need to start your day out on a good note?
G: My matcha latte.
E: Best band of all time?
G: I don’t have like a best band, but singer like, I guess Mariah Carey, I love Mariah.
E: What is one thing you have learned in the last year?
G: I’ve learned that I am resilient. I guess that word is used a lot, but like I don’t know, yeah, I can do whatever I put my mind into.
E: That’s important. When did you realize you loved working with people?
G: Oh, since I was a little girl I guess, yeah.
E: What grocery item is a staple for you?
G: Oh my god, I guess…matcha? It’s matcha.
E: What surprises you the most about yourself?
G: How strong I am in the sense that, as I said, when I put my mind to it, I can achieve.
E: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
G: Joyful, respectful, and fashionable.
E: Definitely. What is the best movie you have watched recently?
G: Oh my god, oh, oh no…movie…oh my god. I don’t remember.
E: TV show.
G: TV show, oh my god, it says the best?
E: Recently, so you have some leeway on it.
G: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills [laughing] That is the last thing I watched.
E: That is your guilty pleasure! [laughing] What does your bookshelf say about you?
G: I would say unpredictable cause I read a lot of things, different things.
E: What would you want your younger self to know?
G: My younger self…that it’s okay to be yourself. And I guess to love your body more.
E: What is your hairstyle of choice?
G: Sleek bun.
E: What is your favorite hair tool?
G: I don’t use a lot of hair tools, but I guess I can say I like scrunchies. I don’t know if that is a hair tool. I don’t use much heat.
E: It’s true, then you could use RobeCurls Curling Headband.
G: Oh yeah, RobeCurls! [laughing]
E: RobeCurls Curling Headband, obviously! [laughing]
G: Yeah RobeCurls and also the scrunchies. I’m wearing a scrunchie right now, I am.
E: Heels, wedges, flats, or boots?
G: I like just wedges, like platforms.
E: Favorite color?
G: Green.
E: Least favorite vegetable?
G: I don’t know and I love all vegetables.
E: Favorite item in your home?
G: My favorite item, I don’t know…like…
Camera Person: Meow, meow
E: Meow, meow!
G: Oh my god, my cats. It’s my cats! [laughing]
E: We won’t tell them! [laughing]
G: We won’t tell them! My cats.
E: If you could create a product, what would it be?
G: Not so much…
E: Nuts! Oh I thought you said nuts. Nuts everybody!
G: No! [laughing] That is a tricky question, I just like, maybe it’s not a product, but just inclusive clothing for all sizes I guess.
E: That is a product, mmhmm.
G: That is a product, right!
E: Mountains or beaches?
G: Beaches.E: Favorite Disney film?
G: Little Mermaid, actually.
E: Ariel. Favorite book genre?
G: I guess maybe sci-fi.
E: Staycation or vacation?
G: Staycation.
E: What hobby did you love as a kid?
G: As a kid, I probably would say singing as well.
E: What movie have you watched on repeat?
G: Oh my god, the Sex and the City movie.
E: Cary Bradshaw. Favorite meal on a rainy day?
G: I think it’s called in english, Caribbean stew, but sancocho.
E: Favorite drink on a sunny day?
G: Pinos.
E: First concert?
G: My first big girl concert was Lady Gaga when she came to Puerto Rico.
E: Monsters. Are you a monster?
G: Yeah!
E: Best karaoke song?
G: Hopelessly Devoted To You by Olivia Newton John.
Camera Person: Prove it!
E: Prove it! What’s your star sign?
G: Virgo.
E: What do you do on your day off?
G: Mostly watch Netflix and be with my cats. [laughing]
E: What is your go to outfit?
G: I guess like, a skirt and a crop t-shirt, and my boots.
E: Combats. Favorite day of the year?
G: I think New Year’s Eve and Christmas. Everybody likes Christmas.
E: Gabriella for you! [clapping] Now we know her better!