Colm Brady, Managing Director, GoCar
Colm Brady, Managing Director, GoCar, takes on the Business & Finance 60-second interview challenge.
Q. What was your first job? My very first job was in Gibney’s pub – working behind the bar with a great team of people taught me early on the importance of teamwork and excellent customer service in the success of a business. Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement in business to date? Being part of a business that started out as a small, independent car rental company and helping it grow into one of the largest in Ireland is by far the greatest achievement in my career thus far. Joining that company with a leading brand, Europcar, and continuing to ensure that it moves faster than any others in the field has added to that success. We are leaders in the rental industry in terms of telematics and car sharing with GoCar. Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? My dad said to me once, “Your company is nothing without your customers.” This has continued to ring true for me throughout every stage of my business career. Q. If you could step into the shoes of one business person for the day, who would it be and why? Michael O’Leary of Ryanair. I love what he has done for the airline and travel industry. More recently, I am really impressed how the Ryanair organisation shifted its customer service direction and how they kept everyone on the same page. He is only one man but must have a fantastic team behind him, so it would be great to work with them. Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff? I try to think about how the future of mobility looks, and thinking about where we fit into that keeps me looking forward. Sharing my vision with the team around me gives them a sense of being a part of something bigger. I try to have a bit of fun as well, so I hope they get to see the lighter side of me too! Q. In three words or less, how do you define success? Keep moving forward. Q. How do you relax? In the past, I used to relax by playing rugby, but lately I’ve turned more toward training for triathlons. At the end of the day, spending time at home with my family with a clear to-do list is when I feel truly relaxed. Q. What’s your motto? “Hire for attitude, train for skill.” Recently, we have been recruiting highly skilled employees, so our motto has changed slightly to ensuring we work hard to make sure they fit into our business and we both get the most out of the relationship. Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business? I want to be a part of the team that becomes the go-to company in the mobility sector in Ireland and all of Europe, to lead in terms of thought leadership, and to create a new vision of how people will utilise different modes of transport to satisfy their needs. We see a move to pay-per-use rather than ownership of vehicles in the future.
Hire for attitude, train for skill
