By Business & Finance 
Derek Reilly is the Partnerships Director with Nevo, a dedicated platform for those considering an electric vehicle. Prior to this, Reilly worked with international job website Indeed, where he led a Global Product Solutions Team.
What was your first job?
My family business in my hometown of Belmullet, Co. Mayo. It’s a light hardware, paint, furniture and flooring business. I worked there after school and at the weekends. Dealing in a customer facing role from a very young age gave me a great foundation and understanding about customer service along with being part of the local community. I think everyone should work in retail at some point.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
I enjoy technology, love cars and I’m passionate about sustainability. I feel electric vehicles are a perfect combination of all three. It’s such a new space and ever changing. I’m just back from the CES (Consumer Electronic Show) and the change we are experiencing now in the world of transport is once in a lifetime. It is so exciting to be on the leading edge.
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Launching Nevo.ie was huge for me and the team. I’m proud of the look, feel and functionality of the site. With high consumer demand for education, we held Ireland’s first electric vehicle show in partnership with Bank of Ireland in the RDS in Feb. We had nearly 13,000 attendees on the day who came to learn more and chat with experts about the world of EVs. It was such a success; we’re organising the second show this November.
Career-wise, would you do anything differently?
No regrets at all. Every day is a good day if you learn from it. I’ve had a varied career from the fire service to property sales, printing to online marketing. Ireland is a very small place in business and good relationships travel with you no matter what industry you’re in. Good business is built on those relationships.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Success is all about setting goals, working towards them as best you can and feeling fulfilled with the results.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
You’ve 2 ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk and always ask those quiet in the room for their opinion.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
Personally, it’s my passion for what I do, for the team it’s understanding what they are passionate about and helping them achieve what they want from their roles.
How do you handle adversity?
I maintain a positive outlook. I like to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth which can boost my resilience. Communication is key so I talk to trusted friends, family, or colleagues for support and guidance. Lastly, prioritise my physical and mental well-being through exercise, healthy eating and relaxation techniques.
How do you relax?
Walking our dog, meditation and reading a good book. Those who know me know how much I value sleep. I think it’s the most underrated time we control so bed early!
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
We’re delighted with the growth of Nevo to date and we have lots of plans in the pipeline. Changing to a new or used electric vehicle requires more information to make the correct buying decisions and Nevo is here to help. There’s lots of fear, uncertainty and doubt out there now and we counter that. We aim to be the go-to site for consumers or businesses making the switch to EV in Ireland and hopefully other markets soon too.
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