Brooke Gunzelman, BrandJuice Strategist, is the spotlight of our February employee profile. We sat down for a Q&A to deep dive into her refreshing way of thinking and insightful vision that drives our team every day.
Tell us about where you grew up?
I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and lived in the same house throughout my childhood. Some describe Ft. Worth as “Cowtown” or “Where the West Begins”, but I would describe it as the perfectly sized biggest small town/ smallest big city to grow up in. Now that I’m moved away I appreciate the Texas way of life more and more.
What brand is your personality most aligned with?
Tribe Alive. Reflective, feminine, simple upfront with a world of complexities behind. (It’s also a FW based company with a global mission)
What led you to choosing this profession?
From when I was little, I always remember being lost in my thoughts. The element of storytelling in everyday life is fascinating to me, and the world of design in different aspects of life has always hooked me. I’ve been lucky to work with several nonprofit campaigns, which allowed me to see the purest version of a story and get to work hands-on with spreading messages I really believed in.
Who inspires you? Who do you aspire to be like?
The women in my family endlessly inspire me. The simple joy of children inspires me. Creatively, I’m also inspired by the way people’s minds work—especially in this realm. To peak into the way people think is intriguing, especially if they are breaking the mold and are passionate, from the smallest things to the biggest.
What’s your most irrational fear?
Watching crime shows, scary movies, too much news can give me rational fears, irrationally interpreted as always around the corner.
If you could keep only 5 possessions, what would they be?
Surprisingly, when it comes down to it there aren’t many things I truly, truly couldn’t live without, but:
- One digital: either my iPhone, because I can’t resist or my DVR, because… I can’t resist.
- My closest friend (possession?)
- My family’s chocolate lab Coco, or cat, Penelope
- A piece of jewelry passed down from my Gran
- Maybe some wine to pass the time, if this is an island situation?
What are you drinking come five o’clock?
Anything from some bougie Trader Joe’s $3 wine to a fresh marg with Mexican food to getting more into the brewery scene in CO—but throw fruit in a cocktail and I’m pretty sold.
Best restaurant in Denver?
Izakaya Den or Work + Class, followed closely by Butcher Block Café. I can never turn down a huge homemade breakfast deal, plus I live down the street.
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
This Year: Big Little Lies. (Can’t wait for Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman on HBO)
Ever: It’s hard to narrow it down to best book ever, but Hector and the Search for Happiness was purposely simply written, but a thought provoking read. A psychiatrist begins to realize he’s continuously seeing his patients, but none of them seem to be getting any happier, so he travels the world to observe what makes me people happy. Taking a break from the mundane everyday to peak into what instills the basic human emotion of happiness, or lack there of, into individuals in different cultures is compelling. Also, F. Scott Fitzgerald for classics.
When you’re in need of creative inspiration, where do you go? What do you do?
Being able to exercise usually clears and calms my mind, but for creative stimulation traveling and exploring a new place can always kick-start an expansion of the mind into a rabbit hole of creativity.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?
Beautiful picture of some cupcakes.
If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
Still gathering advice, but a couple would be:
Your plans—big or small—will rarely work out the way you think they will, so spend less time thinking and more time in the moment. Try to apply this quote in your life: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn
What’s the best part about working at BrandJuice?
It may sound overdone, but there’s a reason that everyone here harps on the fact that we are opened to a vast variety of industries. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be in a place of such massive, unexpected growth everyday. I love the challenge of getting to know a topic, industry or brand that I never would have anticipated or sought out otherwise in my life.
Follow along on our social media over the coming weeks to find out more about what Brooke’s life is like when she’s not cultivating creative genius at BrandJuice.