WOMEN AT WORK: Tricia-Noel Burke

If Hampton University gave me anything, it gave me a sense of self.  It also afforded me the opportunity to meet a wealth of women with the same.

I can bore you (or perhaps thrill you) with memories of my first meeting Tricia-Noel Burke.  But, I’ll let her story speak for itself.  What I will say: I knew when I first met her, that I would always be proud to call her friend … and mean it.  I still feel the same.  Everyday.

1. What is your dream job?

Never had any one response to questions like these. I discover new options every day that can and would make me happy. Such as working for environmental conservationist groups or an international dance theatre.

2.What industry is most of your work concentrated in?

Media. Media. Media. I do a lot of work in media planning creating and developing campaigns across multiple media channels in the UK and Pan-Europe.

3. Got a side hustle?  How does it affect your daily schedule?

Yeup, I maintain an active blog on travel and participate in charities- both FOC. It can definitely challenge my physical and emotional balance striving to please many people at once. Truth is, I can’t possibly [please everybody] so I remind myself of this and take 2 steps back.

4. Discuss your path to where you are now in your career?  Has it been planned?  Were there unexpected turns?

Most events that occur in my life are so random.  I’m certain that the Energy of Creation has a hand in making these happen. Everything up until my master’s course went according to plan. I’ve been living in London for nearly 5 years and since then it’s been a whirl of a ride. At the end of the master’s course, I stumbled across an advert seeking dancers for a touring production company.

 

Long story short: after the audition against hundreds of hungry young dancers, I was casted and contracted to live and perform on board a luxury cruise for 8 months. Getting paid to dance and travel to over 25 countries was a dream in itself. As all good things have a shelf-life, I returned to the states for a few months and decided to road trip from Houston to Miami then Vegas to LA whilst using this time to meditate over next steps. I knew I would return to London, but then what? So I spent my summer working with my uncle in his quirky gourmet popcorn shop in Las Vegas. One month later, I found myself back in London looking for a new home and a new job. I pounced around sofas and walked into stupid interview after stupid interview. It took me 3 months to get the job I originally set out for at a global creative media agency. One year later, here I am.

5. What have you discovered about yourself along the journey?

When I really want something with my whole heart, all the universe conspires in helping me receive it.  If I waver, it’s a done deal. I could use a bit more fire and a bit less passive coolness. Maybe if I had more of an opinion of matters around me, I’d be understood a lot more. Otherwise these opinions just float and dissipate in my head and I have no voice- just coolness.

6. If you knew in the beginning what you know now, would you have done anything differently?

Maybe I would have spent more time in environmental studies just like my dad, but other than that.. NOPE.

7. Describe a day in your life

Wake up.  Look out the window into the London grey. Turn on my iTunes to the music playing from the dream I just had. Morning clean-up ritual.  Then off to work.

Find a seat on the overground train through london’s east end all the way to waterloo passing big ben and the London eye. Walk into the office wearing some obscene graphic t-shirt, skinny jeans, blazer and loafers. Dive into current projects. Go for lunch with a friend or miss lunch due to meetings. Before I know it, the time has flown by so fast I’d wish a leprechaun would grant me just one more hour. But by that point I take control of my own life and leave for after work drinks and catching up with much appreciated friends. Head home with 4 hours left of “me time.” This means yoga. Blog writing. Event organizing. Cooking. Eating. Budget monitoring. Hair, nails, ironing, etc. Lavender scented shower then my legs buckle over my bed as I slip into a deep coma dreaming of music.

8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years?

I really don’t know what I see. I know what I’d like. The most important thing to me above all things is family. So in the next 5 – 10 years, I’d be working either within the arts or environmental/eco protection. Nurturing a family of my own with my mum, dad and sisters in comfortable reach. I’d be writing children’s books and volunteering in schools.

 

Thanks,

tricia-noel.

NOPE. Trish, thank you.

If you can’t get enough of Tricia-Noel, or, like me, you like to like to live vicariously through her just want to catch up, visit: THE NUBIAN DRIFTER for all things travel and culture.

In the meantime,

you stay cool.  i’ll stay kholi. <3

Tags: life and writing, travel and culture, tricia-noel burke, women at work