Roisin McCarron-photo Kieran Harnett
Name
Roisin McCarron
Title
Marketing & Communications Manager for Lansdowne Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
When did you start your job?
November 2016
What does your job entail?
My job entails the creation and production of all the visual assets for Lansdowne Place, a new luxury residential scheme in Ballsbridge. I cover all disciplines that a Marketing Manager deals with from setting goals to co-ordinating the marketing strategy across multiple channels and managing an extensive communications team. Lansdowne Place is being developed by Chartered Land who appreciated that a scheme of this calibre required a dedicated Marketing Manager.
Best and worst aspects of your job?
The best part of my job is knowing I am working on a ground-breaking project promoting something which is the first of its kind to be delivered in terms of property developments in Ireland. Chartered Land is going to the nth degree to make sure no stone is left unturned to deliver a quality scheme of the large apartments and penthouses. This attention to detail does however take up a lot of time, discussion and research. At times it’s hard to get the day job done when you finally get back to your desk after back to back meetings and have to face into all the actions!
What did you do before your current job?
I worked as a consultant across a variety of different businesses in property, manufacturing and the service industry. Before that I worked for almost twenty years with international estate agents Savills which is where I cut my teeth in the property world. Out of the blue I got a call from an old work colleague of mine, Joanne Geary in Sherry Fitz, who put me forward for this position. The initial contract was just for three months to get the marketing collateral together and launch the marketing suite on Lansdowne Road for the scheme – eighteen months later I’m still here and I am loving it! It’s funny how one call, conversation or lead can result in such a change in direction of your daily life. Thank you, Joanne!
Your proudest achievement to date?
On a personal level, it’s without a doubt my three children. On a business level I think my proudest achievement is just around the corner and about to happen when Lansdowne Place opens and Liam Guerin (ex Rolys) our new Head of Concierge Services gets to welcome our first residents into their new home – it will make all the late nights worth it.
What’s the best way of getting a job like yours?
The best way to get a job like mine is to work on the agency side of the business first – getting to see both sides of the coin gives you so much more understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in getting a new development off the ground, marketing it successfully and seeing all the lights on when the last unit is sold.
How do you relax?
I am a fanatical golfer – I’ve played since I was in my early teens. Whenever I get the chance, which is not as often as I would like these days, you’ll find me up in Killiney Golf Club de-stressing from a hard day at the office – it’s a great way to switch off. Unfortunately, the handicap is starting to go in the wrong direction but it’s a small price to pay. I try to keep my weekends free for my three children – juggling work and home life is a challenge so it’s important for me to set time aside and catch up with whatever’s happening in their lives.
Best advice you’ve heard?
Don’t doubt your first instincts, they are usually right. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind and be honest with people – mostly they will admire you for it and appreciate your candour.
Who in marketing and media do you most admire?
There are some incredibly talented marketers within our own industry and it’s hard to single out one individual but putting my friends in the industry aside, I would have to take my hat off to Stephen McCarthy who founded the phenomenally successful Space Property Group right in the middle of a recession. In a supressed market he invested heavily in marketing the business to get it off the ground when others were possibly keeping a lower profile – the results speak for themselves.
What do you wish you’d known when you first started working?
If you have an idea don’t be afraid to speak up at the boardroom table and share it; there’s usually the gem of an idea there that could lead to bigger things. As John Cleese says; “The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting”.
What other career would you consider pursuing?
To become a published author. I love writing and all my friends keep telling me there’s definitely a book in me – I love to exaggerate a good story just to make it a bit more interesting! …. who knows maybe someday I’ll find the time.
Where do you expect to be in ten years’ time?
Career wise, I’d like to think I’ll be lucky enough to be taking it a bit easier by then. My youngest boy Sam will be 25 and hopefully knowing what direction he’s taking in life with a bit of luck, which means more time for Mum. I definitely want to keep my hand in the property game but maybe to a lesser extent giving me more time for some extended golf trips abroad with my partner George and friends from the Golf club. A definite target will be to get my handicap back to single figures, so I can give him a good run for his money in that match that he keeps beating me in these days!
This article originally appeared in Marketing Magazine p16 on 01/10/2018
