AOIFE'S JOURNEY:
Cinema Host to Regional Operations Manager
HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER WITH ODEON?
I joined the team at Blanchardstown as a Cinema Host in 1998. I absolutely loved the cinema and the company from the day I started. I progressed to Staff Trainer within a year, and was promoted to Team Leader in late 1999. I really enjoyed these positions as I was able to work closely with Cinema Hosts, training and coaching them to be the best they could be.
WHAT MOVES HAVE YOU MADE SINCE? HOW DID THEY COME ABOUT?
This taste for Leadership roles spurred me on, and in June 2000 I became a Deputy Manager at ODEON Blanchardstown, and over the following three years worked here and at two other cinemas in Ireland. There were challenges to overcome, but I saw these as a great opportunity for my development.
The hard work paid off, and I was then promoted to General Manager at ODEON Coolock, my absolute dream job that had been my goal for many years. After 7 fun years there, I accepted the opportunity to go back to where it all began at Blanchardstown. Never did I think when I walked through the doors for the first time as a Cinema Host back in 1998 that one day I would be walking back through the doors as the General Manager! It was brilliant to be back, and I loved every minute.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT IT?
In 2012 I was promoted to my current role, Regional Operations Manager (ROM), to look after 12 cinemas in Ireland. Four years later, after some memorable successes opening new cinemas and working with an amazing team in Ireland, I was given the opportunity to move to the UK to look after 15 cinemas in the Northwest region. This was a huge opportunity that I just couldn't turn down and I have been here ever since!I love my current role because no two days are ever the same, and I get to work with the most amazing people. The best part of being a ROM is getting to see and support colleagues to grow and develop.
STEPPING UP...
The best moment of my career was being promoted to General Manager. As soon as I got a taste for Leadership in that first role of Staff Trainer, I knew I wanted to be a General Manager and have my own cinema and team to look after. So when this opportunity came up at the age of 23, that was without a doubt the highlight of my career.