Special Report
A special report is content that is edited and produced by the special reports unit within The Irish Times Content Studio. It is supported by advertisers who may contribute to the report but do not have editorial control.

The Lighter Side

Damian Young, founder and chief executive of Zeus Scooters

Damian Young, founder and chief executive, Zeus Scooters
Damian Young, founder and chief executive, Zeus Scooters

What business person do you most admire?
I admire Jack Ma for what he has achieved on the world stage. He epitomises entrepreneurship, and a video I watched of him in 1999, where he pitched the idea of Alibaba to a group of friends in an apartment, was quite inspirational.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Just one? I can't resist an Indian takeaway after a long day, but I don't do it that often, for obvious reasons.

How do you unwind?
Probably best to ask someone else this ... Most people that know me would say that I don't.

How much money is in your wallet?
€20. I always have a small amount of cash, but try to use cards as much as possible

READ MORE

The last book you read?
I prefer factual pieces and not necessarily books. The last book I probably read was a Michael Connelly novel.

What is the best business advice you've ever been given?
It's advice that wasn't said to me directly, but always sticks in my mind. It's advice from Joseph Cyril Bamford (founder of the JCB company), which was: "What is the key to success: a sense of urgency about getting things done." My business would not have been built and launched in 10 months without this.

Who is the most famous person in your contacts list?
I've made loads of contacts over the years – famous and not so famous. I have corresponded with Jacinda Ahern, whom I admire a lot. And closer to home: Bobby Kerr and I stay in touch since our time working on Dragons' Den many years ago.

How do you manage your work-life balance?
Not very well.

The last film you watched?
Seven Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri; and In Bruges. Both Martin McDonagh films. I just wish he directed more.

What is your favourite possession?
My dog.

What's your most memorable holiday ever?
Seeing the Northern Lights at the Arctic Circle.

What social media do you use?
LinkedIn mostly, but have had to use Instagram and Twitter for the business.

If money were no object, what would your fantasy purchase be?
I've always wanted to own a small castle in a rural location in Ireland.

What is the first website you look at every morning?
Actually, it is The Irish Times and RTÉ News websites.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird.

If you were taoiseach for a day what would you do?
Start again!

What person do you most admire?
I mentioned Jacinda Ahern earlier and I really admire her. Not because she is a woman, because I don't have time for labels for the sake of labels, but because she is running a country, running it well and always has time for a smile, a laugh and does things without political agendas.

What's your favourite place in Dublin and why?
I love everywhere in Dublin, and it was particularly nice to see Dublin in lockdown without the traffic, congestion and things that ruin our city.

Anything you would like to plug?
Of course, Zeus Scooters. We are an Irish company that has been created and launched during Covid, but we are adding value to the German economy because Ireland is dragging its heals on legalising the use of electric scooters, which in my mind are an essential part of carbon emission reduction, congestion reduction and allowing "post-Covid" social distancing.

Barry McCall

Barry McCall is a contributor to The Irish Times