Take a break with Zaibien Hunter

Hi there! What is your name and role at Ravensbourne?

Hi, my name is Zaibien Hunter and I’m the Email Marketing Officer at Ravensbourne.

It’s time for a coffee break! What’s your go-to drink or snack?

Black coffee and one of my famous salted caramel brownies.

What do you do in your role at Ravensbourne?

I plan, write, design and send the email campaigns to potential students, helping them to decide that Ravensbourne is the best place to study their chosen course.

People often hear email marketing and think SPAM but it’s really about nurturing people on a journey, giving them relevant information when they want it to help them make an informed decision about an action they want to take. In this case it’s studying at Ravensbourne.

What does a typical day in the office look like for you?

I’m currently working on refreshing the email campaigns for the next cohort of students so a lot of my day to day on the planning end is reviewing the success of past campaigns and brainstorming new ways to engage prospective students.

We’ve just welcomed a new cohort of students this September so a lot of my recent work has been encouraging students to complete their enrolment so they can start their studies.

What do you get up to in your free time?

I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, mostly in the mornings when it’s quieter, but after work I can be found either baking, writing or having dinner parties with my friends.

What is something that people may not know about you?

I’m a sci-fi and fantasy writer by trade (if we’re calling it that). I studied Creative Writing at university after failing AS Biology at college and realising that I wanted to be an author instead of a biochemist.

I’ve written a superhero-fantasy novel about a Black teen and his friends who use their powers to protect their community and their lives rapidly converge with a sinister plot to destroy London. It’s the first instalment of a seven-book series that adds a different perspective to current media on superheroes and fantasy fiction with diverse characters.

Believe it or not, I started writing it almost 20 years ago and I’m trying to get it published and who knows, in the near future you might see my name on the shelves of Waterstones!

I’m also writing a play, which I’ve almost finished, based on the same premise but takes a deep dive into the life of the main protagonist and how he overcomes the struggles in his life.

People should watch... They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix, a brilliant work of sci-fi that explores conspiracy theories around the social dynamics and power structures of Black America. Also, the dynamic trio of John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx is so much fun to watch.

My favourite video game is… Hard to choose between Hades and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild but I think I’ll have to go with Breath of the Wild. Yes, I know Tears of the Kingdom exists, but I haven’t completed the story yet (and it will be another 100+ hours of gameplay before I face the final boss).

My favourite way to exercise is… Capoeira. It’s an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends elements of dance with acrobatics and fighting that I find to be a culturally-enriching experience as well as a great way to exercise.

If I won an all-expenses paid trip, I’d go to… Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador de Bahia. Just give me time to brush up on my Portuguese!