Brianna Manocchio, most commonly known as Bri, has been with Wilderness Agency since 2018, wielding her copywriting, strategy, and research skills with great success. Get to know our Director of Research!
Brianna Manocchio’s Thoughts On…
Work
Why are people from the advertising and marketing world joining social causes?
Every action equals some sort of consequence. I would like to think that people are largely becoming more aware of how their actions affect society’s trajectory. I’ve made more conscious efforts to help causes I care about, and I hope other marketers realize the power they hold and use it for good.
What do you do for fun and what would you be doing if it wasn’t advertising?
I love road tripping. Don’t get me wrong, flying is fun too, but there’s something about the journey of getting to a destination that I love. And you never have to take the same road twice if you don’t want to! There’s always a different route to take.
I’m horrible at doing the same thing for too long, so I always thought working at a sleepaway camp would be so much fun. I could help with the horse program, marketing, rock-climbing, hiking, all while getting to guide young minds!
What advice would you give to anyone trying to make it in the marketing world?
Be willing to try something that you may feel is out of your skillset. I’ve had many opportunities that came up because I was willing to try (and willing to square the internet until I could figure something out).
What is your hidden talent and how did you discover it?
I really, really wish I had one!
It’s Thursday, you’ve got to be at a project in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday. Your flight and hotel are booked; your visa is ready. What are the top five things you do before you leave?
- Wait to pack until the last minute.
- Upload a bunch of books to my Kindle.
- Download a few episodes of my current TV show obsession – currently, it’s Bones!
- Hang out with my two dogs and horse.
- Go out on one last date night with my partner.
What motivates you and what doesn’t?
Making sure my dogs can live the lifestyle they are accustomed to! But really, I just love making people happy. The Wilderness mission is to help businesses grow, and I find that a worthwhile motivation.
If you met with a client and that person had his or her arms attached backward, how would you greet him or her?
Bowing seems pretty reasonable!
What is the worst question to ask, or answer, in an interview?
“Tell me a little about yourself.” It’s that elevator pitch that inevitably either turns into rambling or is so rehearsed that there’s no flavor.
How did people ever get anything done without the existence of websites and Google?
Slowly, but we probably enjoyed the process more.
How does the internet work?
It’s powered by the needs and wants of whatever society is fixated by at the moment.
Family
What’s your favorite story about your family or your pet?
During college, my friends and I went to the local park to build a snowman. My dog Elsie decided it looked suspicious and knocked it down linebacker-style. She’ll destroy any snowman she sees to this day!
What was the last gift you gave someone?
I gave my sister maternity leggings from my favorite sustainable yoga apparel company! Beyond Yoga – the softest, comfiest pants you’ll ever wear.
What did you play with as a child?
Animals! I loved going to the zoo, the petting zoo, pony rides. I loved our family dogs, our cats, our snake, anything I can hold or pet.
Who is your role model, and why?
I can’t think of just one person, but I have a few. I’ve met some wonderful people who have influenced me greatly – the Findlay YMCA’s retired CEO Paul Worstell who constantly impressed me with his kindness; UF’s Dee Dee Spraw and her warm professionalism; numerous people at the equine rescue I volunteered with for 9 years.
Philosophy
Where do you find peace?
At the top of a mountain, the middle of the desert…or Disneyland!
Would you rather walk backward for the rest of your life, or stub your toe with every step you took? Explain your choice.
Stub my toe because I’d rather see what’s in front of me. I’ve watched way too many scary movies.
How would you live your life if you had a week to live?
This is going to get very sappy. I would do all my favorite things – read a good book from start to end without stopping, wake up early to drink coffee while watching the sunrise, take my horse for a long trail ride in the mountains, spend a day at Disneyland, go cliff diving, and ride the mountain bike trail that I’ve been too afraid to try. I’m a total crier, so I’ll probably avoid family and friends, otherwise, I’ll just spend a week crying.
How would you live your life if you were going to live forever?
Probably hunt for treasure and then use it to fund all my animal rescues.
Do you believe in Bigfoot?
Definitely! I live in Washington state now, so it’s basically a requirement to believe in Bigfoot.
If there was a movie produced about your life, what would it be called? Who would play you, and why?
Florence Pugh from the new Black Widow movie! We have the same sense of humor, and I dream of being that cool one day. Let’s call it…Wanderlust, only because I often have no sense of direction, but I just want to keep exploring.
If you could only eat one kind of food for the rest of your life what would you choose? Why?
Pasta! There are so many ways to make it.
What’s something that grosses you out that other people would find weird?
Hummus or avocados. Their textures are not for me.
You’re a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?
I love a dark tan color because it reminds me of the desert. I’m also terrified of bright colors because I have no idea what to do with them (can you tell I’m not a graphic designer?).
Out of all the internet fads out there (TikTok Dances, Youtubers, Facebook avatars, etc), which did you hate the most?
I hate airbrushed photos. No one cares if you have pores, wrinkles, or red cheeks. It’s way creepier to see flat, “perfect” faces.
Would you rather know without a doubt the purpose and direction of your life or never have to worry about money for the rest of your life?
I think true purpose is difficult to grasp for many people. I would rather work hard to support the purpose/direction of my life than to live a cushy life.
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