INSIGHT
5 Minutes With...FCM Team
Time and time again, it's our people that customers praise. So we thought, it's time to introduce some of them to you!
We quizzed the FCM team on their day-to-day roles, what they find interesting about their jobs and about their hometowns.
Sam Revell, Global Head Of Solution Design
Time with FCM: 9 years
What does your day usually look like?
My days generally involve a mixture of managing the global solution design team and running global internal business improvement projects. Solution Design is the team that really absorbs themselves in our clients’ businesses to understand the current and future state of their business travel. Another part of my role is workshopping key aspects of travel programmes with new and prospective multi-national clients.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Managing a global team gives me access to a variety of cultures and ways of working, which I always find fascinating. I also find that no two clients are the same, even if they are in the same industry, so learning about their priorities and plans for the future is always very interesting.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Drink one glass of water for every two alcoholic drinks.
What's your favourite business travel destination & when were you last there?
Dubai - it's been a few years but I'll be back there again next month.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
My nearest city is Birmingham. I'd recommend dropping by The Wellington pub if you're a fan of real ale. It's right by New Street station so you can make it part of the journey home.
Trudie Earle, Events and Partnerships Manager
Time at Flight Centre: 8 years
What does your day usually look like?
No two days are the same! From finalising agenda items, to getting content recorded, to nurturing relationships with suppliers and key contacts such as BTN and GBTA. Recently my biggest focus has been pulling together the inaugural Th!nk event, and as you can imagine there are A LOT of moving parts.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Events and partner activity is really one of the first opportunities we get to interact clients/prospects in a more subtle way. It's not a meeting, it's not an RFP. We're simply here, showing up to showcase FCM as a thought leader in the industry, and that's exciting.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Stay up ALL day when you arrive during the day. When I fly to Australia, I plan a brunch or lunch as soon as I arrive so I've got something to look forward to (and stay awake for!). The Grounds of Alexandria are my go-to as they're near Sydney Airport.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
I've got two home cities! In London, you've got to head to Mercato Mayfair for a casual meal or drink. The cellars are great for charcuterie and wine and it's in an old, disused church so that's a statement for sure. In Sydney, it has to be Opera Bar. Sure, it's touristy, but for good reason! There's nothing better than sipping cocktails overlooking gorgeous Sydney Harbour.
Graham Ross, Programme Optimisation Director
Time with FCM: 9 years
What does your day usually look like?
I'm about 50/50 on building and designing a strategy for this area of the business long term, and firefighting the large number of customers we have in conversation around new contracts and/or programme changes.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
It's new! The theory behind it is so important for our evolution and everyone I explain it to says "I like this - why don't we do this already!" The reality is, it encompasses so many things we do bits of, but the need to streamline and improve this area is HUGE.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
All-nighters - make your body so tired it doesn't matter what time zone it thinks it's in.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
Oooooooh - business travel destination almost certainly NYC and haven't been since 2018!!
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
My home town is a very small place called Doune in Scotland. Not much to it but you should visit the castle - where Outlander was filmed (and also a famous Monty Python scene...)
David Sykes, Technical Lead, Europe
Time with FCM: 9 years
What's your job role at FCM, and what does your day usually look like?
My role is a combination of solutions engineering and sales; I support our sales directors and account managers in presenting and discussing our tech solutions with prospective and existing customers. I also look after gathering feedback from those customers on our tech, to help identify our gaps, and influence and shape our future roadmaps.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
I like finding new problems, and then solving them. So the most interesting thing is when a customer comes to us with a problem we've never had to solve before, and then working out how we can use our technology to support them.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
I love Paris as a business travel destination for two main reasons. One, you can get there by Eurostar from London which is very comfortable and good for the environment. Two, every time I go I am always treated to a lovely French dinner with lots of great wine by either my clients or colleagues. The last time I was there was in November for a client presentation.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
There is a bar on the fifth floor of the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in London. It's relatively unknown so you can avoid the usual crowds, the drinks are surprisingly inexpensive, and the views over the Thames are fantastic.
Ryan Bradnock, Global Head of Implementations
Time at FCM: 11 years
What does your day usually look like?
No day is the same, but it’s usually lots of interactions and meetings with our clients.
What do you find interesting about your role?
There’s always new challenges and no project ever the same.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Exercise and whiskey.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
I love Kuala Lumpur and the last time I was there was three years ago.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
In Bristol I would say Clifton Village for a beer and bite to eat. Wallfish is a particular favourite restaurant of mine, and the Quandrant pub for a cider.