In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Sharon Sheridan, country manager trading at Dealz and Poundland Ireland
What was your first job?
My dad was a milkman and when I was 11 years old I helped deliver milk and collect milk money. I loved it, he taught me a lot. I got my work ethic from him.
What qualifications do you have?
Leaving Cert, then foraging my career path in retail from the ground up.
What do you attribute your success to?
Hard work. I am tenacious and driven by results.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
I am firm but fair, hard-working I but do have a soft side.
Who do you look up to in business?
I would have to say our managing director Barry Williams. We have a similar drive towards success.
How do you get the best out of people who work for you?
I support them in whatever why I can. It is a fast moving, pressurised environment so coaching and communicating is really important. I bring them on the growth journey with me.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
As a co-leader in Ireland alongside Olivia McLoughlin, I would love people to be more open minded about the fantastic career opportunities you can have in retail. We have excellent career paths for the people that want it.
What website or app could you not do without?
My job involves being ahead of the latest trends, understanding what people want and ensuring we have it. So Instagram and news sites are my go-to.
What was the last book you read?
James Smith’s Not a Diet Book. Excellent fitness and lifestyle advice.
What car do you drive?
BMW 5 Series M Sport. It is very comfortable as I usually drive about 3000km a week!
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I used to solely be a toy purchaser and travelled all over to find the latest top toys, from Hong Kong to LA.
What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?
Travel. We try bring our daughters on as many holidays as possible to see the world. Fingers crossed for more of this next year.