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Where did you start your career? What do you recall about your first job?
We asked these local business leaders: What was your first full-time job – and what did it teach you? Here’ s what they revealed …
JOHN TAYLOR, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, PARKER BARRAS As a 14-year-old, working in a pizza shop as my first job, I would have said it taught me how to make a great pizza!
Upon reflection, some 30 years later, so many valuable lessons were learnt. The role instilled a strong work ethic, communication skills, timekeeping, financial awareness, increased confidence and how to stay calm under pressure.
Pedro’ s was a pizza shop on Marske Parade in Bishopsgarth, Stockton. I learnt all aspects of the business over a three-year period and went on to open my own pizza shop at the age of 17, known as Romano’ s on Roman Road in Middlesbrough. I added an O and an S to the name Roman and thought Romano’ s sounded Italian!
SARAH PIKE, DIRECTOR, SARAH PIKE COACHING & CONSULTANCY; GROUP COMMERCIAL LEAD, TOMAHAWK STEAKHOUSE & RIO STEAKHOUSE I was a fashion model from the age of 12, so I didn’ t experience a traditional 9 – 5 role until I was 26. After fashion, I secured an unpaid internship at AirMTM, helping coordinate Jamie Cullum’ s world tour, which led to a full-time role as a music agent.
I later worked at Mainstage Artists with top DJs for Ibiza residencies, managing worldwide tours and even confirming entertainment for Prince Albert II of Monaco’ s wedding. Those experiences taught me I’ m a square peg in a round hole- valuing freedom, intuition and authenticity over corporate structure. Most importantly: trust yourself, ignore limitations and embrace change fearlessly.
ALISDAIR BEVERIDGE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE BUILD DIRECTORY My first full-time job started two days after my final exam- canvassing door-to-door for a double glazing company. I had no idea what I was walking into. It was total immersion: long days, commissionbased, very little safety net.
But it was the best education I never paid for. It taught me work ethic, how to read people and, most importantly, who I didn’ t want to become. It showed me that real sales isn’ t pressure or manipulation, it’ s honesty, service and solving people’ s problems. I’ ve never forgotten that to grow, you’ ve just got to keep knocking on doors.
10 | Tees Business