Maureen Ledwith In conversation with SANDRA O'CONNELL
I MANAGE THE SALES for a number of consumer and trade exhibitions, including Holiday World, Caravan Camping, Futura Fair, Home Interiors, Hardware/DIY Garden and Energy. I have spent practically all my working life helping to build this business. It is a varied role, and I love it.
My commute to Sandyford is quite short – 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. I usually drive, but on a summer’s day I enjoy a trip on the Luas, as our office is a stone’s throw from the terminus.
First I check e-mails and respond to the queries that come in overnight. I always have a high volume of phone messages to return, and that usually takes up most of the first hour before I get down to the serious job of selling.
I like to liaise with the team members and discuss any problems that have arisen the previous day. Some of the staff work remotely, and we like to have a conference call and a catch-up.
If I’m not at my desk I’m usually attending a client meeting or networking at workshops or brochure launches, so mornings tend to be very busy. I’m quite an organised person. With so much going on each day it’s the only way to be.
Lunch depends on whether I’m in town at a meeting, and dining with a client, or at the desk, where I like a light snack before getting out for some fresh air.
The sales process never ceases, and we are always looking for new opportunities, so I usually spend most of the afternoon on the phone selling, catching up on administration and conversing with staff about prospects and leads.
I relish the responsibilities of my job, and I love seeing our clients perform well in the marketplace. We have made so many good friends in travel and tourism over the years, and I enjoy travelling to exhibitions in Ireland and abroad.
My work is my hobby – and a good part of my life, too, given that I’m married to the MD. What I hate, though, is to see long-standing companies that we have worked with in the past in financial difficulty in the present climate.
The biggest challenge facing us right now is the need to keep our ideas fresh and continue to be creative with our various shows, trying to be one step ahead always and to not letting our attitude become complacent.
I generally don’t pull myself away from my desk before 6pm, but I’m getting better at allocating some free time for myself. After dinner we will watch some travel- and business-related programmes on TV. It is hard to relax, though, especially when a show is imminent, and even travel can be something of a busman’s holiday when you’re in the business 24/7.
Maureen Ledwith is sales director of Business Exhibitions, organiser of the Holiday World Show, which takes place at the RDS Simmonscourt, in Dublin, from January 22nd to 24th