Reena Gjoci Face to Face in Glass News

A girl with a passion for reading and photography grew up in the industry to become Everglade Windows’ Marketing Manager with a ‘flaïr’ for launching impressive new products. 

Where you were born and live, currently…

I was born in Hendon and have lived in Harrow for 20 odd years, but I’m a north-west London girl at heart. 

Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled…

From being a little girl, I have always loved reading. My uncle gave me 3 giant sacks of Beano and Dandy comics and after my dad fitted me a bedside lamp to my bunk bed, I would stay awake long into the night reading. After school I wasn’t sure what career I wanted to go into, but I loved English, so I studied English Literature at The University of Reading.

Your favourite sports or interests…

Aside from music, books and film, my current interest is learning to play the guitar. I was a rock chick in my teens and begged my parents for an electric guitar. They agreed to get me one if I could master an acoustic guitar first. Alas, as they predicted, the acoustic gathered dust. I didn’t do it back then, but I’m determined to do it this time. I bought an acoustic guitar and am teaching myself through YouTube. I wonder if my parents’ offer still stands?

Your biggest regret in life…

No regrets. You live and learn.

Someone or something that inspires you…

My dad, Vinod Gopal, came to the UK with his family in his teens, exiled from his home in Uganda, with barely a few personal possessions and a limited education. He has worked relentlessly to build Everglade Windows into an amazing business which I’m proud to be a part of. He has shown me that you can have anything if you work for it. Although he wants us to have everything we need, he has always taught us to earn it. We don’t take anything for granted. I trust his advice 100%.

The temptation you can’t resist…

I am fond of a good red wine. Usually a Rioja or Argentinian Malbec. But the wine I enjoy the most is the wine in Albania – home-made and lovingly nurtured from the vineyard. It goes best with lots of food and vivacious company.

When and how you joined this industry…

I am almost the same age as Everglade, so I can safely say I grew up in the industry. As kids we’d look forward to the Christmas parties which were held on the factory floor in those days. It was terribly exciting. I went on the odd delivery here and there during the holidays and then as I got older I did a couple of short stints between Uni terms. After leaving The Press Association to go travelling, I needed a job that would allow me time off for my photography course, so I went to work with my dad at Everglade four days a week. I had always wanted to join the family business at some point, it just happened a bit sooner than I planned. 

The job you do in 25 words…

I manage the marketing and the Sales Support Team. I’m on the Board and part of the Leadership Team which represents the business’ next generation.

Your greatest achievement…

Professionally, my greatest achievement was being part of aïr lift & slide and bi-fold doors. As a team, years of planning went into researching the bifold market, developing an impressive product and analysing the brand marketing. The result was a product that had boundless possibilities for customers and a strong identity. The Private View at Everglade HQ was my personal project and I worked tirelessly on it.

Personally my greatest achievement would be the charity bike ride I did in Cuba for Save the Children. It was an arduous 480km from Havana to Trinidad in the blistering heat. Day 3 was the day that almost broke me – 8km uphill, the last 3km of which were very steep. A couple of people succumbed to the support bus, but I was determined not to get on it. I slowly, but surely soldiered on to the top (and then gleefully sped down the otherside as my treat!)

The mistake you’d like to correct…

I’m 34 years old and I have made a few errors of judgment in my lifetime. However, I’m always looking ahead and although I may cringe a little when an old memory resurfaces, ultimately I’m moving onwards and upwards! I put my mistakes down to experience and they eventually become the fabric of my life story.

The talent you would like to enhance…

I use InDesign and Photoshop every day for our marketing, but it’s all self-taught. I’d like to build on my design skills and venture into 3D design and a bit of CGI. 

What you would like to do if you weren’t in this industry…

It would have to be a photo journalist.

A particular ambition…

I am really fascinated by sharks and I’ve long wanted to earn my PADI so I can swim with them up close and personal. I’ve ‘tourist’ snorkelled in the Barrier Reef and Egypt before, but it’s just not the same.

The way you want to be remembered…

For my spontaneous side, someone who was passionate and had a laugh. For my determined side, someone who worked hard and was a perfectionist.