DAY IN THE LIFE
Goodwood stalwart Gema Bernaldo de Quirós
IT MUST BE my Latin temperament, but I never like to wake up early. I’m a night owl. My beloved birthplace of Madrid is to blame, as we start work later and we finish the same way. There’s also the unavoidable truth that my fellow countrymen work better after the lunchtime siesta.
Despite this, and contrary to my own nature, every working day I get up at 7.30am and I take a black double espresso with two slices of toast for breakfast. Without coffee in the morning, I simply can’t perform properly during the day. My fiancé Gabriel, with whom I’ve lived since 2004 in Chichester, drives me the four miles to Goodwood House every morning.
At the start of the week at 9.30am we meet with the marketing, digital and studio departments to discuss and highlight our latest achievements. Later in the day, we have a PR meeting to discuss various points and what needs to be achieved for the coming week. I then read the latest magazines and newspapers looking for features related to the Goodwood estate – this is done every day. For lunch, which I take at 2pm (I’m Spanish, don’t forget), I sometimes have a sandwich and walk the hillclimb outside the house. If it’s rainy, we’ll take lunch at the Control Tower on the circuit.
My job in the Goodwood PR department never stops once the season’s started, and it seems to be a constant cycle from season to season. My agenda consists of working for the Members’ Meeting, Festival of Speed and Revival, all motor-racing related, but I also work on the 19 horseracing meetings including the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Remember that horse racing – the ‘sport of kings’ – existed long before the racing car. If that wasn’t enough, every May since 2008 I’ve worked for the Formula 1 Spanish GP in Barcelona. This is not so much a job as a hobby. It’s a great opportunity to meet new members of the international press, have a chat and, at some point, talk to them about Goodwood, as there is a large crossover of media between the two. And it’s also great to have the chance to enjoy the sunny Spanish weather and share time with friends.
It’s a big responsibility to keep contact and maintain relationships with national and international media throughout the year. Editors, journalists, photographers and the increasing number of social media sites are key to promoting the events. A big part of my job is to look after press accreditation requests, and as media contacts change it’s vital to make sure everyone who needs to be at Goodwood is there. Every single request is taken into consideration individually, with the sole purpose of ensuring Goodwood is seen worldwide as the pinnacle of racing entertainment.
The organisation is very demanding, and I like that kind of challenge. Since the 2004 Revival, when I first helped on the front desk of the Press Centre, I haven’t stopped. I love my job, and Goodwood perfectly suits my standard of commitment and desire for success. Great customer service, attention to detail, talented and passionate working teams, and my main motto ‘Happy to be and feel proud of it’ is what Goodwood means to me.
I graduated in sports marketing from Madrid University, and gained an MBA in marketing and sports at the Real Madrid Fútbol Club Foundation. I also worked for the Marathon de Madrid and Médecins Sans Frontières. All of this made me realise I needed to learn English to progress in my career, so in 2003 I took a leap into the unknown and left my job in Madrid to come to England. I landed in Chichester. I needed to find a job to get more real-life language experience, and I wanted to do something related to my profession. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but after a few attempts in different sport fields I knocked on the door at Goodwood.
I was very lucky that Rob Widdows opened that door. My English wasn’t as fluent as I wished, and we had a few moments of sign communication, but we managed to understand each other and I’m eternally grateful to
‘IT’S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP CONTACT WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA’
him for giving me that opportunity to start helping on his team. One of my earliest Goodwood memories was when, for the 2005 Festival of Speed, I announced the presence of rising Spanish F1 star Fernando Alonso. It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce myself to all the main Spanish media contacts. Most had never heard of Goodwood, yet now there isn’t a motoring publication that doesn’t feature the Goodwood spectacle.
Today I look back on those times with great fondness, as I’m now the media operations officer for motor sport and horseracing. Working at the events helps me to grow professionally, while at the same time I meet new members of the press and PRs from all over the globe. I’m a big motor sport fan – although I confess I love motorcycling more than cars – but Goodwood made my passion for four wheels grow more than ever.
Finishing work on a normal day at around 6pm, it’s always a pleasure to drive home through the Goodwood Estate. I am so proud to have been part of this organisation for 13 years; it’s not so much a job as a vocation. Once Goodwood has got hold of you, it’s difficult to let go.