10-MINUTE MANAGER: Darren Ellis
Darren Ellis is general manager of Regus Barbados
Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
Most definitely! I am passionate about ‘serviced offices’ and the array of workspace solutions offered by Regus. I was ecstatic when we opened our flagship business centre in the Caribbean right here in Barbados, which afforded me the opportunity to move back ‘home’ after living/working in the United Kingdom/Dubai for the last 19 years.
What is your biggest professional challenge?
Changing the way how businesses traditionally work and establishing the Regus brand across the Caribbean. Next stop is Trinidad (we open our latest business centre there next month), with more Caribbean territories soon to follow!
What is your biggest life challenge?
Right now, it’s adapting to living apart from my family – Rosemary, Crystal and Chloe, who will remain in the UK for the foreseeable future. Miss you all loads!
When you look to the future, what do you see?
To meet the demands of the future, workforce management will need to think outside the box in terms of real estate investment. In the coming years we can expect businesses to consolidate their offices for more efficient use, greater staff density, satellite offices and an increase in agile working. There will also be a growing need for collaborative spaces.
What is your favourite pastime?
I’m a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and while I lived abroad I enjoyed travelling to support my team home and away. A major highlight was being in Istanbul for our famous Champions League Final triumph, but now that I am back in Barbados I enjoy watching the games on TV with my friends and members of ‘DeForum’
What is your favourite meal?
If I am abroad I love a nice cut of beef steak but at the moment, I can’t get enough of our local grilled fish with a fresh salad
On Saturday nights, where are you likely to be?
Hanging out and enjoying banter with friends and family, or playing dominoes (I am looking forward to playing with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital team this upcoming season)
What upsets you the most?
I’m finally back living in Barbados, so what do I have to be upset about? I do, however, have an affinity with the words of American author Stephanie Perkins who said: “The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.”
What is your guiding philosophy?
Work hard and live life to its fullest!
If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
I would implement active measures to reduce Barbados’ oil dependency and maximise our ability to utilise natural renewable resources that we have here in abundance. I am already leading by example by driving a Regus 100 per cent electric vehicle with zero emissions and our One Welches business centre is powered by our solar carport. (SC)