Dynamic Duos: A little bit of chaos and a lot of wine

In Dynamic Duos, Mumbrella each week asks two colleagues with a professional and personal affiliation to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly hybridised world of work.

Rhania Farah:

Erica and I met when I was a hot mess account manager with the world on my shoulders (or so I thought) and she was interviewing for the Account Coordinator role at Frank. At the time, we were looking for someone to help ease my workload and in walks Erica, having no PR background but ‘her friend’ told her she’d be a really good PR gal. In the interview, her strong Kiwi accent gave her away, so I asked the only question any self-respecting publicist would: “what are the top NZ radio outlets you’d pitch Nelly too?” She didn’t miss a beat, we hired her 10 minutes later.

Erica and I weren’t BFF’s from the get-go, we met each other during a time in our careers where the pressure was on and the passion for succeeding was high, you had to earn your stripes, and work-life balance wasn’t a thing. Before her first week in the job, I volunteered her to be the agency rep on a Star Wars bus travelling from Sydney to Melbourne. From there, she was constantly thrown in the deep end, having absolutely no PR experience and hardly anyone to train her. After weeks of hardly talking to each other, she proved to be one of the best team members I’ve had the pleasure of working with, from the hustle to the endless laughs, Erica is the real deal, and just a bloody good human. We bonded over pop culture, The Godfather, our love for a little bit of chaos and wine – lots and lots of wine.

Fast forward 10 years and Erica and I are still as mischievous as ever. She’s resigned to me twice (once at Frank for the role at Poem, and once at Poem to explore other opportunities). Ironically, she’s also the reason I moved to Poem.

I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t work with friends or family. But when your friendship starts at work, it’s a different dynamic: you figure out how to keep things professional while still having a friendship where the workplace, be that good or bad, doesn’t cross over (well, we do anyway). And having someone like that at work is invaluable, especially during the harder days.

We earned each other’s respect over countless late nights, early starts, chaotic client situations, and the occasional after-work drinks. Along the way, we discovered that we both value loyalty, trust, and always having each other’s back. And if that’s not enough, put us on a campaign together and see the magic – our teamwork borders on telepathy (though we do love a good chat too).

Erica and I will be in each other’s personal and work lives for many years to come.

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Erica Llorico:

I remember the very first moment I met Rhans back in 2015 when she was an Account Manager. I admired her confidence and was also slightly intimidated by the ‘no-time-for-time-wasters’ vibe. I was all ‘no-PR-experience-slightly-nervous-please-hire-me’ energy going for the Junior Account Executive (Account Coordinator) role at Frank PR. It was my very first job in PR, and she hit me with one of the first questions being: “What radio station would you pitch an interview with a famous US rapper?” I nailed it, and I’m pretty sure I even got a little head nod of approval.

That was our first conversation and the beginning of what’s become one of the most unexpected, hilarious, and wonderful friendships of my life.

We’ve worked on some truly epic and memorable campaigns together for brands like EA Games, Deliveroo, and Uber. So many shoots, mailers, events, and talent activations over the years.

Since then, we’ve worked together (more accurately, ‘followed’ each other) three times across two agencies – Frank PR and Poem, and in October, we will mark a whole decade since we’ve known each other.

Over those 10 years, Rhans has been so much more than just my line manager and mentor, she’s become one of my closest friends and someone who has seen every version of myself, both in and out of the office.

Our relationship is built on the best balance of work hustle, humour, heart, friendship, and that ‘work hard, play hard, rest hard’ mentality, and making sure to have fun along the way.

She has seen it all. Seen me in boardroom pitches. Dance floors. Karaoke rooms. Event bump-ins. Event bump outs. Late nights at the office. Family events. Campaign shoots. Sleepovers. Hungover. Early morning sell-ins. The tears. The wins.

For those into a bit of woo woo, we even share a bit of cosmic alignment as we’re also sister signs on the astrology chart, Leo and Aquarius. A pairing said to have a rewarding dynamic where we balance each other’s strengths. And yes, some have also said we can bicker a bit like sisters from time to time, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

No bond quite like the one forged through a decade of shared deadlines, milestones, sisterhood, and the occasional existential debrief!

Rhania on Erica:

Most memorable moment with Erica: Far too many to choose from. The best moments have been the banter in the middle of our crazy and hectic lives, the random messages, the TikTok shares and the inside jokes that no one else would understand but brings an instant smile.

Best word to describe her: ​Vibes & Vault

Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Take this as you will, but when Erica is really excited to share something, she has to stand up and do a countdown to hype me up about what she is about to tell. It’s pretty funny… at least she prepares me for the news.

Erica on Rhania:

Most memorable moment with Rhania: The after-hours scheming and planning on getting the duo back together during the times we were apart at different agencies!

Best word to describe her: POWERHOUSE.

Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour she has: Rhan’s most said quotes in the office “where’s the music guys” followed by “where are the vibes?”

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