Pádraig Power is Senior Marketing Manager: Global Operations & Ireland at Refurbed, a growing online marketplace for refurbished products in Europe.
What was your first job?
Working at a local florist. While I wasn’t the best at putting bouquets together, I was well-used to lugging Christmas trees around the town. In my business career, my first marketing manager role was for The Lough Credit Union in Cork City. I’ve always enjoyed working for companies with a genuine purpose.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
Data and creativity! I studied neuroscience for my undergrad and while I loved the science, it lacked creative freedom. After some travel, I realised that I missed science, but I needed something that also had a creative path, thus marketing was the perfect mix of both worlds.
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Hmm. Probably forcing next steps. Whether personally or professionally, I’m always eager to jump even further. In my last company, I launched mortgages, current accounts and more. At refurbed I launched our first local tree planting partnership and have launched multiple new tech categories. Personally, I’ve forced myself to travel, go back to studies and always be out of my comfort zone.
Career wise, would you do anything differently?
No. I always listen to my gut, and it has not proved me wrong. One thing I’ve learned, however, is to listen to it sooner.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Being happy in yourself, what you do, your day-to-day life and what you put into the world.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Have strength in your voice, but always listen to every voice in the room.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
For me, it’s innate to always want to reach the next goal and to surpass my own expectations for myself. For staff/colleagues, listening and encouraging is paramount in motivation. Nurturing voices is the best-way to instil self-motivation in those around you.
How do you handle adversity?
Communication and respect are extremely important. Taking the time to correctly assess a scenario and transparently communicate the situation at hand is crucial. We also need to remove ourselves from the context sometimes to realise that many situations do not warrant stress. Calm, effective and timely communication can better most scenarios where we face adversity.
How do you relax?
Nature walks, Marvel, wine, hunting for new bakeries to try and keeping in touch with my friends.
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
Growth! Refurbed has grown enormously in Ireland in the past 2 years, but we have so much more to do. Educating Irish customers on the refurbishment industry and the positive effects it has on the environment is key, along with spreading awareness of the products we offer. Many people think of us primarily for phones, but with laptops, tablets, smartwatches, gaming consoles, household appliances and more – we can be a one-stop, cheaper and sustainable shop for Irish consumers’ tech needs.
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