In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Danny Fowler, new business manager at Radius Housing
What was your first job?
I graduated from UUJ in 2010 and started full time employment with GOC estate agents in Stranmillis, which gave me a great grounding and experience in communication, negotiation and organisation.
What qualifications do you have?
I have an honours degree in building surveying and I am currently working towards my RICS APC in planning and development.
What do you attribute your success to?
My career progression to date has been down to hard work, integrity and willingness to take responsibility. I’m a keen learner and have been lucky enough to have some great professional mentors throughout career. l learned very quickly that you have to take the time and effort in to be a success in the workplace.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
I would like to think I am approachable, outgoing and a bit of craic.
Who do you look up to in business?
I look up to anyone who works hard and is ambitious, as well as being honest in how they go about their job.
How do you get the best out of people who work for you?
Good mentorship is leading from the front, making decisions and being accountable. But it is also letting people get on with their role at the same time. Empowering those you work with is an important factor in their overall development and the success of the organisation.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
Make it bigger! Northern Ireland is a small place, with only so many sites and development opportunities. I also think the general approach to local planning could be more streamlined to help responsible developers succeed and regenerate communities in a positive way.
What website or app could you not do without?
Google Maps. I travel the length and breadth of Northern Ireland and it’s an essential tool for my day to day activities.
What was the last book you read?
'Win or Learn' by John Kavanagh.
What car do you drive?
Volkswagen Golf.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I am keen GAA enthusiast and enjoy coaching with my local club Ballycran in Co Down. I have also had a long standing interest in art and actively undertake commissions for customers in my spare time. This is channelled through my social media page Squareball GAA Artwork. It provides me with some downtime after a busy day, and I enjoy the end product. Check out my page Squareball Artwork on Facebook.
What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?
Again, that would be Ballycran. I have been around the club since the age of four and enjoy giving as much back as I have received from the club over the years.
This has probably been my natural progression on to commissioning GAA artwork as it was a good way to hone my interests in both hurling and artwork. This has led me to build good relationships with GAA enthusiasts across Ireland, whilst commissioning work for some of the top players in the country.
