Meet Louise - Relationships & Events Manager at Fazenda Leeds

This week we went to Leeds and met Louise, our Relationships and Events Manager at Fazenda Leeds, over coffee to ask her a few questions so you could get to know her a little better...

Tell us your Fazenda Story

I joined the team at Fazenda Leeds in August 2021. I had previously been working for a local Gin company in their events team and wanted to progress my sales and marketing experience further while still working in the hospitality industry.
I love the buzz of working in fast-paced environments and as a huge extrovert I get so much energy from people, there are not many businesses that work more with people and are as busy than in the bar and restaurant scene. I was lucky enough to receive an interview and met the amazing team I now work with today. I was blown away by the training plan, support and personal development that came with working for Fazenda.

In my final interview with Tomás I asked him what was important to Fazenda - his answer was simply, to make people feel special. It was clear from my first few conversations that people are so important to Fazenda and I was so excited to be a part of this passionate team.

Share with us a challenge and a major satisfaction in your role as REM

You can be the most organised Events Manager in the world but inevitably things can go terribly wrong! My biggest challenge is not completely losing my head when a beautifully choreographed event which has been meticulously timed minute by minute dissolves before my very eyes due to matters out of my control! Just this morning I was running round Leeds City centre trying to find a hot water dispenser as ours decided to self combust 30 minutes before an event. You may have seen me power walking through Granary Wharf with two catering dispensers swinging aloft (thanks to the Hilton Team for lending them!)
Somehow we always mange to avert a crisis with our guests being none the wiser.

It is very satisfying when you see all your hard work coming together at some of the fantastic events we have hosted. But the one thing I find the most satisfying is the small things we can do for our guests to make there experience unique and memorable.

The last book you read and loved

I have recently finished Susie Dents' - Word Perfect. Her book has a word for every day of the year and is so light and joyful to read.

For example, Janus is the two faced/sided Roman god for beginnings, doorways and transitions. He was regarded as a door keeper and it is where we get the word 'janitour' from. We also use his name to describe a word which has opposed meanings. These are known as Janus words. A few examples are Clip (to attach or to cut off) Screen (a device to view something or to obscure something) Left (to leave or to remain) and Dust (to remove dust or dust as residue)

If you see me please tell me any you have thought of or learnt about!

A mentor in your life...

I was very lucky to have a fantastic teacher in school. I had been immediately lumped into the 'bottom' set for English as I have dyslexia however he encouraged me to sit the higher paper and offered me so much encouragement (I walked away with and A... something I had thought would be impossible). It might be such an insignificant thing in his career but it mattered to me.

A seemingly small pet-hate of yours

My partner switches off plug sockets and it takes me a couple attempts to realise why my coffee machine, phone or TV is not switching on... Infuriating.

Favourite Fazenda Meat, Wine and Destacados Dish

Our signature Picanha or cap of rump is my favourite. I always thought fillet was the best cut of steak but since joining Fazenda I have had a better education on fat = flavour. Serve this with a glass of our Catena Paraje Altamira Malbec and I am a happy lady.

Our new Destacados giant flame-grilled prawns are one of my favourites off the new menu but I would be happy with anyone of them as they are all spectacular!

Make sure you say hi to Louise if you see her on your next visit to Fazenda Leeds, Fazendeiros. Thank you for reading!