Fibrus People Spotlight June 2023 Q&A

• Name:

Patrick Maxwell

• Position:

Sales Support Manager

• Where are you from?

Belfast

• What do you like to do in your free time, and what makes you happy?

I love going to the gym 3-5 times a week and have been known for going on a few wee holidays. I love nothing better than seeing my family and friends or going to the occasional music concert or festival!

• What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about keeping healthy, both physically and mentally. I think in this day and age it is super important that we all find the time look after ourselves and each other.

• What’s something you saw recently that made you smile/laugh?

My dog Teddy. He’s a Pomeranian but thinks he’s a Rottweiler and he is a just a furball of fun, constantly doing crazy mad things without a care in the world. Everyone needs a Teddy in their lives.

• How do you like to wind down from your day?

I usually wind down by heading to the gym for 45mins after a crazy day, meeting up with friends for a coffee, or going out for a nice meal and a catch up.

• What does your typical day at Fibrus look like for you?

There really isn’t a typical day in Fibrus which is why I love working here so much. It’s the buzz of not knowing what could potentially happen throughout the day, which adds to the excitement of being part of an amazing company and network of people.

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Wow, there is so many. I think for me, it’s seeing how my team have grown from a team of two to now five and being able to champion each of them in their roles. I am passionate about supporting them in their journey within the business, whether that’s in relation to DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), cutting weekly routes for the sales team, engaging with internal stakeholders to improve efficiencies and processes, dealing with Sales Support cases and customer emails, Refer To Sales orders, approving new orders, to a recent promotion within the team. It’s all in a day’s work for the amazing talent that makes up the Sales Support team.

• What’s your go-to productivity trick?

To engage with others and being collaborative in my approach by planning my day or week ahead. I also like prioritising what’s most important by creating a to-do list to get things done in the best possible way.

• What led you to this career?

I have previously worked for other Telecomms companies, so when I noticed that Fibrus were recruiting and were making waves in the industry, I wanted to be part of that journey… and what an incredible one it’s been so far! I have over 15 years’ experience of managing people, which I had stepped away from in my previous role and decided it was the one thing that I really missed and wanted to get back into.

• What motivates you at work?

My team and the amazing work that they all do  day-to-day, and seeing how much they love to help others. Just to see how hard they all work individually and collaboratively as a team is the best feeling a manager can have, especially when their team are the driving force behind making things better/easier/faster for the greater good.

• What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?

‘Never change & always be yourself’ was something my mum always would have instilled in each of us growing up and I have lived by that advice ever since.

• What’s your earliest memory?

When I was around six years old going on our yearly holiday to Donegal and us all going fishing with my dad – which I think we all hated apart from dad and my two brothers, as we often never caught anything!

• What book, movie, music, etc. has changed your outlook on life?

It has to be the movie The Impossible, which was inspired by the true story about a family that were caught up in the 2004 earthquake & tsunami. I think that movie really made me think about life and how important it is to live in and for the moment and just enjoy it all.

• If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

For me my superhero power would have to be the ability to fly. It would save me an absolute fortune on travel costs!!

• What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?

It’s got to be Brazil, I even tried to learn the language (Brazil Portuguese) a few years ago at Queens. The people are so happy and welcoming which really makes me want to visit. As well as the carnivals, they have amazing wildlife and weather… the list goes on. It’s definitely in my 5 year plan to visit! Amazing country.