Forget claustrophobic cupboards and villainous ballet teachers – now, everything’s coming up Yasmine. Our resident pun princess, Yasmine Marden, shares how she keeps it fresh, day after day.
#1. So, what’s your favourite word?
Serendipity. Whenever something in my life happens as a result of pure serendipity, it’s always a great day.
#2. What gets you up in the morning?
My horribly annoying alarm tone.
#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?
If I could summarise it in one word, omnipresent. Social media has managed to create a rapidity in our lives that allows us to know about the world — current affairs, politics, pop culture— anywhere, everywhere, at all times. It’s remarkable.
#4. Kindles or books?
Books. I can’t imagine how my shelves would look without them.
#5. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?
Being innovative. It’s about creating social media campaigns that are impactful and thought-provoking. It’s always interesting when we have a client who doesn’t yet have an online presence — we work to translate their brand and ethos onto various social media platforms. It’s a huge brainstorming process (that includes a lot of biscuits).
#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A fashion journalist. It was only when I was an intern at a fashion publication, in a claustrophobic cupboard, hanging up hideous designer clothes, that I realised I didn’t take fashion seriously enough to write about it.
#7. What led you to your current career?
I read a really witty tweet from Tesco’s (the one addressed to Drake about also having ready-made ‘wraps’…) and thought to myself ‘wow, it’s someone’s job to think of this content’. And then it hit me. I immediately applied for digital content internships, got one, and now I’m here. Sometimes I’ll be tweeting about Margherita pizza or Sienna Miller’s red carpet hair and I need to stop and remind myself this is my life. It’s a bit surreal.
#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?
By serendipity, I was fortunate enough to get Queen Bey concert tickets.
(Disclaimer: That’s a lie, I did not)
#9. Now can you make it rhyme?
Come back to me next week, I might have thought of something by then…
#10. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t worry about the future; everything always falls into place.
#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?
When my ballet teacher made me cry, my mum stormed into the studio after class and gave her the classiest tongue-lashing. I will never forget it.
#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career defining moment’?
@HabitatUK retweeted something I put out for one of our clients. I was chuffed. I have a bedside cabinet from them.
#13. If you won a big award of some kind, whom would you thank?
My dad, step-dad, little brother and the same lady who saved me from a villainous ballet teacher— my idol, my mum.
#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?
I’m probably… no, definitely the wrong person to ask. I’m always late.
#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?
Inconceivably huge. I envision more and more companies relying on a strong online presence to engage and interact with consumers.
#16. Where were you 24 months ago?
In denial about the 13,000 words I had to write for my dissertation.
#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?
Conventional eating schedules just don’t exist at 24 fingers. We’ve had leftover takeaway for breakfast… no shame in our game.
#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I would love to chat with my favourite author, Haruki Murakami. He’s the reason I fell in love with Japanese literature.
#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?
Compassionate.
#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?
How many attempts do I get?
#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?
@Oreo’s ‘Daily Twist’ campaign. So ridiculously cute and so ridiculously clever.
#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?
Work hard, stay humble.
#23. What’s been the best part of your day?
Reading my colleague Grace’s 24 Questions interview. She’s too much.
#24. Finally, anything to plug?
I’m a pretty punny person, if I do say so myself.
