Q&A with Adelle Nel - Executive Head of Operations at First Car Rental

Adelle Nel - Executive Head of Operations at First Car Rental

• Q1: In what year did you join First Car Rental and what was your position?

  A: I joined as a Area Sales Manager in 2001.

• Q2: What do you like most about First Car Rental?

  A: The fact that we are so dynamic and innovative. We have a team that is passionate about what they do and driven for success.

• Q3: When are you most satisfied in your job?

  A: Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear of customers that had a great rental experience.

• Q4: As Executive Head of your department how do you go about establishing your credibility quickly with a team?

  A: I have always been a strong believer in that you lead by example, set high standards and accept nothing but the best.

• Q5: How would you describe your work style?

  A: Focused, organised, driven for results.

• Q6: What would be your ideal working environment?

  A: An environment where everything goes according to plan.

• Q7: What do you look for in terms of culture - structured or entrepreneurial?

  A: In operations, a structured environment plays a very important role, however to be a successful operator you most certainly need to have both.

• Q8: What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organised?

  A: My Outlook calendar, priority and task list.

• Q9: If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?

  A: Big picture

• Q10: Who has impacted you most in your career and how?

  A: There's been so many and this I am very thankful for, but mostly it would have to be Bruce Barritt. I don't think I have ever met any person that has such a gut feel for our industry; he is able to inspire a team to always do better, look for new opportunities and recognise potential in individuals long before anyone else does.

• Q11: What kind of personality do you work best with and why?

  A: Proactive, dedicated and self-motivated people. In the car rental industry, it is vital that you are able to stay motivated, think outside the box and deliver on what you promise.

• Q12: What is your proudest achievement within work?

  A: For me this happens every time I see or hear of how a colleague exceeded customers' expectations and to be a part of a team that truly delivers on what we promise.

• Q13: Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.

  A: Good is what you expect, exceptional is when you are able to deliver or achieve the extraordinary.

• Q14: What are your strengths?

  A: Enthusiastic, Optimistic, Independent, Drive to succeed.

• Q15: What are your weaknesses?

  A: Impulsive, Impatient, Short-tempered.

• Q16: What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

  A: Being aware that when these things happen they are mostly not that important, I don't focus too much energy on it.

• Q17: List five words that describe your character.

  A: Independent, spontaneous, energetic, ambitious, supportive.

• Q18: What is your greatest fear?

  A: Creepy crawlies, spiders and mice.

• Q19: What is your greatest achievement outside of work?

  A: LOL - It must be the time I realized we survived my son's terrible twos.

• Q20: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

  A: Anywhere I can hear and see the ocean

• Q21: What's the last book you read?

  A: Steve Larsson's Millennium Trilogy

• Q22: What magazines do you subscribe to?

  A: None

• Q23: What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?

  A: Taken

• Q24: What would you do if you won the lottery?

  A: Wow, I guess it all depends on the size of the jackpot.

• Q25: What do you like to do for fun?

  A: Spending time with my family.

• Q26: What do you do in your spare time?

  A: I read.