FEATURE
Getting personal with
PAYPAL
WE CAUGHT UP WITH LOUISE PHELAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL OPERATIONS, PAYPAL, EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, TO SEE HOW 2015 WAS FOR THE FORMER FINGAL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR.
HOW WAS 2015 FOR YOU? 2015 was a really exciting year for us. In July, PayPal became an independent company and was listed on the NASDAQ. Celebrating Listing Day and helping to plan our path ahead has been a fantastic experience. There’s a huge opportunity for PayPal to help create and shape the future of money as it becomes digital at an increasingly rapid pace. PayPal is also taking a lead in innovating mobile commerce and mobile payments. It’s very exciting to be part of all of this. Here in Ireland we’ve continued to expand our workforce and now have more than 2,400 teammates in our European operations centres in Dublin and Dundalk. We’re on track to grow this to 2,900 by 2018. We continue to attract talented people because of the fantastic opportunities we offer to build a successful and rewarding career. WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE TO BEING CROWNED FINGAL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR IN 2014? I was honoured to be awarded the title back then. Fingal has a vibrant business landscape, and is home to some of the best known global brands as well as many fast-growth successful indigenous companies. It was fantastic to be
recognised against that backdrop; but really awards like this are never down to the individual – they are down to the team around them. I am very lucky to have such a talented, committed team of people at PayPal. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? I love what I do and that keeps me motivated. PayPal is revolutionising the world of payments. It’s really exciting being part of a movement that empowers people and is reinventing money. It’s a fast-paced environment and an ever-changing industry, and that means I get the opportunity to work at the cutting edge. I am very lucky that I get to work with so many talented people who are just as passionate about our vision. I learn from them every day. WHO IS THE ONE BUSINESSPERSON WHO YOU MOST ADMIRE? Sheryl Sandberg. I was lucky enough to hear her speak last year and I was blown away by what she had to say. Sheryl has helped draw attention to the need for diversity in business. I’m a big advocate for women in business. I believe that having more women at top tables will change the face of the corporate world for the better. It’s not just about gender, it’s about inclusion
and making sure everyone has a voice at the table. To me, that makes business sense. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH YOU HAD BEEN GIVEN YEARS AGO? Look after your people and your customers and success will follow. Today, I live by that mantra. HOW DO YOU SWITCH OFF? I switch off through exercise - it’s great for your health and keeps your mind sharp. It’s important to make time for you. I go for a run, or to the gym, every morning at 6.30am – that’s time for me and it’s precious. Balancing work and personal commitments is all about time management and prioritisation. IF YOU WERE TAOISEACH FOR A DAY, WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU DO? I would provide more services for homeless people. I am currently fundraising for Focus Ireland and will be sleeping out in Dublin city centre for a night this October, as part of their Shine A Light campaign. Two years ago I did the same thing and found it a real eye-opener. Every night of the week people sleep rough in Ireland – more needs to be done to protect our most vulnerable.
46 | www.fingaldublinchamber.ie
046_FINGAL_2016_Q&A.indd 46
09/03/2016 12:54