Get To Know Gemma Barakat
Welcome to Gemma Barakat, Consumer Sales Director for IMEA
Discover our new mini-series #GetToKnowOurPeople where Santa Fe employees worldwide talk freely about their life in and out of work. Santa Fe Relocation values its people, their fantastic diversity and the vast pool of knowledge they bring. We learn from each other every day, so we’re happy for you to get to know them too.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Gemma, I have 1 son who is 16 months old and another baby on the way. I have lived in Dubai since 2013 after relocating from my hometown Stafford, UK. My hobbies are art and puzzles when I have time in-between work and family life.
Tell us about Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is a reliable and trustworthy globally mobility expert who can assist with all your relocation needs.
What do you do at work?
I am the Sales Director for the consumer division for IMEA. Living and breathing all things consumer.
Why did you choose Santa Fe?
I chose Santa Fe as it has a large global network with the opportunity to work with people all around the world.
Why did we choose you?
I am a very dedicated, hard-working person who can self-motivate and motivate a team will ease.
What is your greatest achievement at work?
My greatest achievement in Santa Fe was being promoted to Sales Director in less than 2 years and being involved in the development of the consumer division.
What is your greatest achievement in life?
The work life balance I have created for myself.
What or who inspires you in your life and at work?
My son and my soon to be born daughter.
What is the best thing about working at Santa Fe?
The people are definitely the best thing about Santa Fe. Since I started with Santa Fe, I feel as if I have created a family away from home and this family extends globally across all the Santa Fe offices.
What is the best thing about our horse?
The colour and strong animal that represents Santa Fe and team.
What is the best advice you can give to people?
Take a positive out of every situation no matter how small. This will ensure you can always keep a smiling through a hard day.
What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?
Grab the nearest weapon and defend my family.
There are now 25 hours in a day, how would you spend the extra hour?
I would take the extra hour to do some self-care or spend more quality time with my son. With a busy day at work, I forget to enjoy small things like going on a walk (when the weather is less hot), painting a picture or putting my feet up with a cup of tea.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Normally I would say back home to the UK however, I would love to go back to Turkey and eat a feast of amazing food. I haven’t found a restaurant here in Dubai that can make Turkish food as good as in the back-alley street corners in Turkey.
How did you find this interview?
This interview was really fun other than making me really crave Turkish food.
Santa Fe sincerely thanks Gemma for contributing to this initiative and for sharing her story with us!
