For this edition of A Brew With…, we’re catching up with Emma Walker, one of our Senior Performance Marketing Execs, who joined us a few months ago.
With experience across ecommerce and PPC and a mix of lead generation and ecommerce brands, Emma brings a thoughtful, down-to-earth approach to performance marketing at STM.
We sat down over a brew to chat about her journey so far, first impressions of STM life, dream brands and (of course) her perfectly timed drink choices throughout the day.
Hello, Emma! To get us started, can you tell us a bit about your background and previous experience?
Whilst studying Management UoM, I completed a placement year at Barker & Stonehouse. During this year, I got exposure to all areas of ecommerce, from managing user testing projects to supporting photo shoots, it was a super valuable year. After graduating I joined a digital marketing agency in Manchester as a PPC Graduate, where I went from no prior PPC experience to managing a range of ecommerce & lead-generation clients.
What have been your first impressions of working at STM so far?
Everyone is so passionate and positive about what they do. The brands STM works with are great, and there’s a genuine drive across the business to do well. I love the three different branches of STM, getting exposure to what's going on in CODE & CREATE in our monthly huddles is really interesting.
What have you enjoyed the most about working at STM so far?
How lovely everyone is! Coming into the office is so enjoyable because it’s sociable, I love a chit chat in the kitchen while making a coffee. Breakfast club is also fab! Hollie does a great job of creating a lovely social atmosphere in the office.
If you could work with any brand, which would you choose and why?
I love brands that are rich in heritage and place importance on doing what they do to the highest possible quality. I feel Barbour is a perfect example of that. They’ve stayed true to their roots and ensured quality never slips, while still evolving with the times. Their ability to honour their heritage while doing really cool contemporary collaborations, like Barbour x Ganni, shows how well they balance tradition with modern relevance. It’s a brand that feels authentic, timeless, and exciting.
What alternative career route would you have taken if you didn’t do this?
Oooh, good question! I’d probably have gone down a route within sustainability. Something focused on making a genuine impact, whether that’s helping businesses become more responsible or working on initiatives that drive positive change, would have really appealed to me.
What do you do in your spare time?
My family and friends are the most important to me, I love to spend time with them as much as possible. I love to bake and try new recipes. I also love going out for good food and enjoying drinks, then balancing it out with a good walk or gym class.
Favourite artist, place, and dessert?
Honestly, my favourite artist changes depending on the day. Right now, I’ve got Olivia Dean and Jorja Smith on repeat. My all time favourite place is home, North Yorkshire because it has most of my favourite people in it (see the theme). I also love Majorca – I have so many great memories there and it just has so many beautiful beaches to explore and great food & sangria! I’ve got a big sweet tooth so this is hard, but I’d probably have to go for a classic sticky toffee pudding.
Finally, what is your brew of choice?
My brew of choice changes depending on the time of day!
8am : coffee
10am : strong Yorkshire gold
3pm : shortbread tea (game changer)
9pm : sleep tea
