Garry Wilson, CEO Easyjet Holidays - Moving Upwards and the Entrepreneurial Spirit
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Show Notes
Jeannette is with Garry Wilson who has over 20 years’ experience in the travel sector and is currently CEO of Easy Jet Holidays. They discuss the role of the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial spirit that exists within the travel space, even within the corporate world. Mentors, role models, passion, surrounding yourself with the right people and failure all have a role to play for the successful business person whether corporate executive or entrepreneurial start up. Garry and Jeannette share great tips about what’s important for anyone who wants to move upward in any business situation.
The travel industry has a whole range of businesses from large corporates to solopreneurs. Garry has always found great opportunities for his entrepreneurial spirit to thrive in all the businesses he’s been in and this episode is a hugely inspiring insight into what it takes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Having the ability to take ownership gives you confidence and drives you forward.
- Entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial spirit can and does exist within big organisations
- The hotel industry is made up of entrepreneurs and their drive and passion is infectious and they have huge energy, which Garry has learnt so much from.In any approach, the most important thing is to make a decision.
- If you can articulate the vision and know what it is then you can take the decision and move forward.
- Surround yourself with people who are like-minded.
- Easy Jet Holidays is a start-up within the construct of a corporate, which is the perfect combination to be entrepreneurial but with the backing of a big brand behind you
- Having the right power team around you is key and building a team of really smart people who you can nurture and develop enables people to take ownership.
- As a CEO it’s important to ensure that any opinion you give is adding value.
- Being surrounded by inspirational people and being mentored by them means you can ask questions and they will help to develop you.
- Always try to be in a place where you enjoy working with the people who are around you.
- You can’t do it all on your own, role models and mentors are key.
- The successful entrepreneur or start-up has to be characterised by the number of failures along the way because otherwise, you don’t have the potential to make it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I’ve never regretted a single day working in travel’
‘It’s easier to work upwards than just forwards’
‘Regardless of experience, everyone is a consumer and their opinions matter’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series
ABOUT THE HOST
Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor and business mentor with over 25 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality and property sectors. Having bought, ran and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development.
Jeannette is a down to earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams.
CONTACT METHOD
https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Garry joined EasyJet holidays as Chief Executive Officer in November 2018 and holds responsibility for the EasyJet holidays business, as well as being a member of EasyJet’s executive board. Garry is a highly experienced commercial leader who has worked across international organisations, and has more than 20 years’ experience in travel. Prior to joining EasyJet holidays, Garry worked at TUI Group, where he held the position of Managing Director for Group Product and Purchasing, leading commercial strategies across a number of markets and heading a large global team in 20 countries.
He also held the position of Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa for American travel group Orbitz Worldwide (now Expedia Inc.).
Garry has worked extensively with overseas governments, PWC, and the Travel Foundation to create sustainable tourism policies throughout the world and is passionate about the power of global tourism to promote major economic growth and positive social change whilst minimising negative environmental impact. Garry has been a trustee of the Travel Foundation and Travelife and holds a BCom (Hons) in Business Management and Languages from the University of Edinburgh.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-wilson-4945394/?originalSubdomain=uk