DIRECTOROFTHEMONTH
Work hard - and good things will happen
To welcome in the New Year , we ’ re introducing a new regular feature , Director of the Month , where we meet some of the industry ’ s main players . First is Sharn Samra from Epwin Group who says hard work will get you far – with a little help from your iPhone and morning coffee .
NAME / JOB TITLE
Sharn Samra , Marketing Director , Window Systems Division , Epwin Group .
WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE COMPANY ? January 2016 .
DESCRIBE YOUR WORKING DAY
There is no such thing as a typical day ! My role is very diverse because of the volume and variety due to the channels we operate in and the wide-ranging product portfolio that is constantly being updated and driven forward . It ’ s one of the reasons I love my job so much . The constant variety , complexity and opportunities involved in driving Epwin forward is both fulfilling and addictive .
I could be in the office in Telford , out visiting customers or meeting external business partners who are part of the extended team that contribute to Epwin ’ s success . I may be dealing with new products , promotional campaigns or you might find me planning things that will be happening today , tomorrow or planning strategies for the next 12 months . Whatever my day looks like , though , you can be sure I ’ ll be working closely with all the business teams , from my colleagues on the board to the technical , sales and marketing teams and our customers . We all have a tremendous mutual respect that allows us to work closely together to support the business .
WHAT IS YOUR WORKSPACE LIKE ?
Because my day is so diverse , I have to be extremely organised – and I am . My weeks are always planned in advance so I know what I ’ m doing each day and when I need to do it . I am a big advocate of time management and efficiency . It allows you to use your time effectively and get the most out of your day both professionally and personally .
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR DESK ?
Get a coffee and catch up with my team so we are always up-to-date . If I ’ m in the office , it ’ ll be face to face ; if not , it ’ ll be a remote chat . Epwin is the UK ’ s largest systems company and we have a correspondingly large marketing team in-house and work with some of the best agency partners in the industry .
I am proud that my team consists of some of the most experienced , talented and exciting new marketers in the industry . We have marketing experience from diverse sectors as well as the fenestration industry and our expertise encompasses the whole marketing mix . It ’ s an incredible set of skills and benefits our position in the industry and it ’ s great that we all work together to deliver .
WHAT WEBSITES HELP YOU ?
Like many people these days , most of my purchasing is done online with the internet fast becoming the shopping destination of choice . In a time-pressed world it ’ s just natural to save time where you can .
WHAT ’ S YOUR MOST USEFUL BUSINESS TOOL ?
Without doubt , my iPhone . It ’ s like having an office in the palm of your hand because you can make calls , catch up on emails , go online and so much more .
WHAT ’ S THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION YOU ’ VE TAKEN IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE ?
Taking the job ! Seriously , moving to Epwin was the best decision yet . As part of the team we have to make fundamental decisions every day . Our constant NPI and programme initiatives such as Excellence as Standard are always stand out moments . It ’ s in our ethos to continually move forward so we ’ re always looking at and developing the branding of the business , repositioning and launching new products and services to ensure we remain at the forefront of today ’ s industry . Supporting our customers with marketing campaigns to help them grow is a real privilege .
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ROLE MODELS AND WHY ?
The people who stand out for me are the ‘ real ’ people who don ’ t give up and work hard to achieve . With the right attitude and willingness to never give up , anyone can achieve great things in life . It ’ s all about having a positive mindset , ambition and drive . Work hard and good things will happen . People with that mindset are the people I most admire .
HOW DO YOU UNWIND ?
If I can squeeze it in I like to jog or go to the gym in the morning : I find cardio activity helps energise my day . I also use that time to listen to business podcasts about various marketing initiatives or new business initiatives because , like Epwin , I believe in keeping my finger on the pulse at all times and that continuous learning , training and development are crucial . You constantly can learn and develop in life so I put this time to best use both physically and mentally .
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