Business Leaders interview: Julie Centracchio

What motivates you in your work and what do you find most fulfilling about being a business leader?

People motivate me daily.  Hospitality is all about giving great service.  Hospitality should be done for you, not too you!  It’s most fulfilling when you can see the joy within the team.

How did you develop your leadership skills and how would you define your leadership style?  

I’ve always had a business mentor, who is not in our sector.  It’s a twenty-year relationship that challenges my leadership style but more importantly has helped it mature over the years.  Defining my leadership style is an easy one.  Everyone is in the service to someone!  Once you understand that you are no longer thinking corporately or what’s best for you personally, but what does your customer need and how can you give them great service.   

Innovating is crucial in our very diverse industry. How do you stay ahead of trends and incorporate them into your global strategy?

A lot of reading!  Looking at what other businesses are doing in all parts of the world.

What do you consider to be the key component(s) of effective business operational development? 

Keep it simple – never over complicate operations.  

How do you approach identifying areas for improvement within a company's operations? 

Canvas everyone’s point of view from the KP to the MD.

Where do you think the most promising investments should be focusing on and/or made on? 

Return on Investment!

What is or are your biggest career achievement(s)? 

Navigating a pandemic, like most finance professionals it was an exceptionally difficult and uncertain period of time.  But certainly, supporting Boston to a record year of profit in 2019 alongside my colleague was a highlight.  It was a brilliant, fun and exciting time to be working with an ex-colleague from Wetherspoon again and delivering the most profitable year ever for the company. 

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned? 

It’s not all about you!  It’s about the team.  My time at Wetherspoon gave me that valuable lesson. 

How did you identify and seize opportunities for advancement in your career? 

Listen, pay attention and be curious at all times. 

Have you achieved everything you wanted in your career so far?

Interesting one given I’m mature...I’d yes and no.  I’d like to help SMEs thrive, not just survive. 

How important is personal development to your success, and how do you approach it? 

Learning all the time is vital.  A lot of reading, meditation and podcasts.  Even taken courses to brush up on my skills.

How do you prioritise tasks when everything feels like a priority?

Pick the one that makes profit first!

What was the hardest decision you have taken as a leader?

There have been so many, so no one stands out, but any decision that impacts the team is a hard decision.  Often, I’ll lose sleep over team.

What steps do you take to measure your own performance?

Regular feedback from my peers.  Measuring what I’ve brought to the bottom line financially.

What does success mean for you as a business leader? 

That I’m well thought of and have meaningful relationships with my colleagues.