I can’t believe how fast time is moving. The fact that it’s already been two weeks since I arrived in Chicago is difficult for me to wrap my head around. It’s not like I’m not maximizing my time here, maybe it’s because of that maximization that time feels like it’s flying.
Let’s break down what I’ve been up to.
A big part of my role as Brand Manager is to create bridges of connection between all team members within Event Espresso. So far, that has meant setting up one-on-one meetings with the Chicago team. I wanted to meet everyone on their own terms and explore the parts of Chicago they would recommend.
I started this assignment on Monday, July 7th, with Izzy at Nabala’s Cafe on N Broadway. I arrived early, as I prefer to do, and got a sense of the space. Nabala’s is a Middle Eastern inspired cafe in Uptown that’s Palestinian-owned. You can order anything from a delicious iced Americano to a Turkish coffee. I found a corner in the cafe, set up, and waited for Izzy to arrive.
When Izzy walked in, they were holding an antique sewing machine. They quickly let me know it was a prop for the show they’re currently directing and didn’t want to leave it in a hot car. I told Izzy I understood completely. I knew Izzy was a director, but I didn’t realize they were already working on a new show. We talked briefly about the play before diving into conversation.
The conversation with Izzy flowed easily, without any awkward pauses, which is exactly how they engage guests at events. This was my first time sitting down with Izzy one-on-one, and since you never quite know how these interpersonal conversations will go, I was relieved and grateful to be immediately drawn in by Izzy’s gentle and calm disposition. Step by step, I’m learning and gauging how the Chicago team functions.
My next meeting was with Nick. Nick has seen many phases of Event Espresso. At one point, he served as Chicago’s Assistant Manager, but after realizing the role wasn’t the right fit, he stepped down to lighten his plate. I deeply respect any company culture that allows people to not only ask for more but also step back when expectations don’t align.
Nick has been with the company for a while and has witnessed many of Chicago’s shifts. His perspective is crucial to the team. He’s full of thoughtful ideas about building team cohesion and connection. He shared his desire to keep challenging his espresso knowledge, and his eyes lit up when I talked about my background in a cafe that followed the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standard.
As Event Espresso’s Brand Manager, I want to support our baristas where they want to be met. Service work and catering can be tiring — I have no issue being honest about that. But finding what excites you in the coffee world, whether it’s refining your customer service or deepening your coffee knowledge and skill, is key to staying motivated in this hard, yet rewarding, work.
Nick spoke about how much he values the flexibility and autonomy of this job. Right now, he’s pouring as much energy as he can into his music career — something Event Espresso understands and supports. We’re encouraged to have lives outside of work and to bring our full selves into our jobs.
