Emma Buckley's My Job Talk
Emma has now been a Rotarian for a few months. She is 39 years old and employed by the multi national firm Laura Ashley as City Manager based at the Trafford Centre Manchester.
Educated in Manchester, the United States and the University of Salford, Emma started working for Laura Ashley as a Saturday job before she had completed her education. She has now worked for them for over 16 years being promoted during this time from Assistant Manager in Stockport, Manager in Warrington, a secondee in the Franchise department working in Holland, Germany, Paris and Zurich in Switzerland and even helping to open a store in Tenerife.
Emma then became Visual Manager in the North West, mobile manager looking after 32 stores across the North of England, responsible for the new store opened in Cheetham Hill Manchester before being promoted to City Manager in the Trafford Centre store with 4 other outlets also her responsibility.
In a very humorous talk she entertained the members of her Rochdale Rotary Club with advice on dealing with angry customers, the changes in fashion trends, competition with less upmarket shops, the rise in the popularity of mirrored furniture and the influence of celebrities and events such as the Olympics in changing demand.
Emma is enjoying her Rotary and the opportunities for service which it provides. She has already led the team in this year’s “Kids Out” which gave a number of special needs children a day at a theme park and has provided home hospitality for a girl from abroad who was attending the Rotary “Summer Camp”. She is also a voluntary helper with Rochdale Children’s Rights and Advocacy Service which gives guidance to children who are subject to care orders within the Rochdale area.