The pursuit of excellence

Your shareholders and others talk of your determination from the outset of your business. You have been through a few storms, especially the last two years, so it must be enormously satisfying to be in the place that you are now.

My personality, and the things I’ve learned over the years, make it very difficult for me to feel the sensation of satisfied or pride. I’m told I always use football analogies. I follow the Alex Ferguson mentality, and people like Gary Neville and Roy Keane [all three are well-known football figures], where you don’t pat yourself on the back for the trophies that you’ve just won. You are looking for the next season and the next trophies to win. When people were saying to me earlier today that I should be proud, I was thinking, I just want to go back to work on Monday and push on to the next level. If I don’t keep that mentality, somebody might take it all away. So, I thank Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville and Roy Keane for giving me that mentality because I like it.

IDS is committed to giving back wherever possible, and that has developed into a programme of supporting children-based charities, with the emphasis on food and clean water. Tell us about that and your own role.

It’s simple really. We, as a business make money, and I, as an individual, make money. And there’s only so much you can spend. At the same time there is a need – a great need – out there. So, when I see a needy situation, I feel I want to do something about it. And, of course, there are many other people who share my thoughts, so it’s not unique. I just want to help other people. And thankfully, IDS has given me a platform where I can see these situations because I travel the world. And we have the funds that allow the company to commit to go and do something. Everyone in the business shares my commitment. And we are very proud of that, especially of the relationships we have with groups in the Philippines, in Haiti, and in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. It’s very much part of who we are as a business and will always be the case. That is very clear.

When we opened IDS Miami we adopted an organisation called Life Skills Haiti, which is run by a former Haiti Ambassador to London, Jean Pillard, to fund scholarships to train nurses. When our customers reach US$100,000 sales with us, we create a scholarship and invite the customer (the Embassy) to fund one too. If they do, we will match one for one. IDS began a journey with Kids for Kids in 2008, a journey that has played a big part in our success. Once a company makes a serious commitment to help children who are literally dying of hunger, it’s not possible to stop. So, we must be successful. We must increase our efforts year after year to do what we can to enhance the lives of the children in Darfur who are living the harshest lives on the planet. Through events like The Ambassadors’ Ball in London we have been able to raise over US$350,000. Other initiatives we have organised and funded have provided water pumps in remote villages. This is life changing for children who would otherwise walk for six or seven hours a day to collect water in jerry cans. Our commitment to the children in Darfur will continue for many, many years to come. Our efforts with Gentle Hands centre on an orphanage in Manila, started by a caring Canadian couple and now run by their daughter. UNICEF estimates there are 1.8 million abandoned and neglected children in the Philippines. Many live on the streets without help. They face a short life of poverty, hunger, sickness and abuse, both physical and sexual. IDS has helped to fund the home-schooling programme for these children found on the streets, ‘The Foundlings,’ as they are known. As well as funding, IDS offered our team members two weeks paid leave to volunteer at Gentle Hands in Manila. We have now sent nine teams of our staff to visit the orphanage, and more wanted to go. Shamida Ethiopia aims to empower the country’s most vulnerable women and children. The charity highlights Ethiopia’s social problems which have been increasing at an alarming rate due to poverty, HIV, diseases, drought and conflict. The number of orphans and vulnerable children is increasing rapidly. Shamida’s mission is to contribute towards the holistic development and self-sufficiency of women and children in difficult destitute circumstances. Its work includes providing housing for orphans and the reunification of street children with their families or guardians. IDS has committed to paying the annual food bill for the children and staff at Shamida. We will also send volunteers to bring love, smiles and devotion to these little children.

Let’s close then with a big congratulations for what you’ve done and what you stand for: 25 amazing years.

Thanks Martin. I don’t see myself as anyone special. I just wake up and I get on with my job. * Doyle outlined IDS’s expansion plans in another compelling interview with The Moodie Davitt Report last year. Click here to read his comments.