| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 57 |
| Copyright: Other |
meetthe
MD
This week: Mathilde Robert, Argo holidays
Age: 49
IT’S a few minutes to nine and already I know it is going to be a black Monday.I’ve just received the resignation of my overseas manager. My PR company has told me that a journalist thought my overview on Cyprus was total waffle. Quel dommage, what a pity – I do enjoy seeing my name in print!
I’m arranging a training session for all our overseas reps (Cyprus and Greece) in Athens for April 10 and I cannot get a flight home, a result of the Greek elections.
Our Southern Africa brochure is at the printer, we are having it overbranded for ARTAC, and the front cover picture needs to be changed. We’ve completely sold out for Easter (Greece and Cyprus) and the phones are going mad with requests we cannot fulfil. We’ve even managed to sell out on Greek Easter. But I love my job, so I get stuck in and unravel each problem, answering the telephones if need be.
Clients are very surprised when they realise the MD is running round trying to sort out their problems – and on a Saturday, too. I love answering the phones when reservations are busy. It keeps me in touch with what is going on and who our customers are. Mind you, it’s not all plain sailing, especially where weddings are concerned.
One couple called off the wedding after they had a row and another moved it to a later date so they would be sun tanned for the photographs. Whatever next? In March a super couple married in Paphos, Mr Watts, aged 83, from Herne Bay married Ms Waddell aged 76. Our wedding co-ordinator and local rep acted as witnesses, it was a simple and moving event. Argo Holidays paid for the wedding pictures and the couple were delighted to be given this as a wedding present.
Not that I am ever lost for words. Having been brought up with eight brothers in La Rochelle, France, I know how to fight my corner and make myself heard – in French or English. I speak both fluently and even scream at my four shih-tzu dogs in French.
Having eight brothers has taught me to stand my ground, which is not easy when you are just over five feet tall and the only woman on the Argo Holidays management team. Fortunately, my bark is worse than my bite, although many suppliers and colleagues may disagree.
I don’t suffer fools as my former driving instructor will tell you. He was so rude that I jumped out of the car at traffic lights, leaving him speechless in a busy Kensington High Street. I have never driven a car since!
One good thing did come out of it though. If I don’t get a lift from my partner, Harry, a director at Argo Holidays, I cycle two miles to the tube station each morning, which keeps me fit.
I have never married. I have always been married to my job. In fact, I have always lived over the shop, first in Kensington and then in Osterley, west London. One of my proudest moments was making it into the Sunday Times’ annual survey of the UK’s 100 fastest-growing companies, Fast Track 100, last year. Another equally important nomination came this year at Travel Weekly’s prestigious Globe Awards. Argo Holidays was nominated in the Best Short-Haul Tour Operators category. Although we didn’t win participating and being there on the night was just as good for me and the team!
It also made me buy a new dress, even though I only gave myself 10mins to choose it. The real bonus came when I bumped into a lady that I had not seen for more than 20 years and the best pa to the md I had worked with.
So I arranged an interview for a similar position with one of the Argo directors. It turned out to be the most cost effective 10mins of my day.
When I came to England in 1969 as an au pair yearning to learn English, I intended to go back to France to study at university before becoming a teacher or barrister. Instead I became a rep for a UK tour operator in Corfu, the rest is history.
Running a tour operator and being a woman has been pretty tricky but there are no dull moments and I thrive on it.
CURRICULUM VITAE
1969:received baccalaureate in the summer.
MY TOP TIPS
l Be tough – don’t let difficulties set you back.
* Be focused on what you want.
* Do not be afraid of upsetting people. You can’t please all of the people all of the time.
* Stand your ground. Fight for what you believe in.
* Work hard but don’t lose your sense of fun.
* Roll up your sleeves, be prepared to tackle all tasks, not necessarily all at the same time.
* Be proud to admit you are a workaholic.