11 minute read

Pat Kane is a woman on a mission. Purposeful and passionate, Pat is truly committed to creating a more sustainable way of life via her lifestyle store, reuzi, in Dublin. Hers is not just a commercial mission for personal success, it is one of education for all, and of future-proofing our world via helping people to make informed choices about what they support when they spend their money. Pat’s own life story so far is a fascinating one, and she generously shares it with us here…

Which three adjectives describe you best?

I am a hardcore doer, a perfectionist and an aggregator.

What is on your mind most these days?

As a female business owner (aka the OG juggler!) my mind is full of business questions and concerns, mixed with real-life and family ones. I will go from ‘What’s next for my business, reuzi?’ to ‘Am I a good enough mom?’ within the same minute. Jokes aside, one major question in my mind right now is how will this ‘new normal’ (as much as I dislike this expression) change the way we live, the way we do business and the way we interact with others… time will tell, I guess.

What is the last thing that you said no to?

Someone offered help to organise my son’s birthday picnic and I said no. And in hindsight, what a terrible mistake that was!

What is the last thing you said yes to?

A truly exciting partnership for reuzi! Stay tuned for more :-)

What made you decide to do what you are now doing in your life?

My children, and the idea of potentially (even if only a little bit) creating a better world for their generation.

How many things have you been in your life so far?

My goodness, I’ve been a lot of things! From daughter, sister, wife and mom to a wide collection of job titles. I graduated in Business and went straight into telecoms back in Rio de Janeiro, where I am originally from. After a few years, I got my Masters in Business Marketing and moved from Rio to Kingston, Jamaica to work for an Irish business called Digicel. I used to be an International Roaming Coordinator and performed a few other roles until it was time to move onto a new adventure. I moved to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, with my then-boyfriend, as both of us had been selected to be part of the launch team for Digicel in Honduras. I was responsible for customers on monthly plans and – believe it or not – customers on Blackberry devices. After a year or so doing that, I became responsible for prepaid / top-up customers and that was a wild ride as I got to travel around the country and experience an extremely different reality from what I was used to.

After almost 3 years in Honduras, we moved to Panama City and we stayed there for almost a year – a fantastic place, I must say! At that stage, Stephen and I were already married and had decided that Ireland would be our forever home. We moved here in 2011, and I continued to work for telecoms until 2012 when I started at Paddy Power. After 3 years with Paddy Power, a very interesting opportunity to lead on International Markets at Betfair was put in front of me and I couldn’t say no. I simply adore working with diverse, multi-cultural teams!

I went on gardening leave for 3 months as the businesses were competitors and spent a part of that time working on Customer Experience for a website called AppliancesDelivered.com.

The curious thing was that during my gardening leave, Paddy Power and Betfair merged into one mega-business so I ended up going back to the exact same floor I had left behind, 3 months prior.

After the merger was completed, I became the Director of Customer Experience for Paddy Power Betfair and I truly enjoyed that, such a fascinating area!

When I found out I was pregnant with Conor I decided to use my mat leave to test a business concept – and that was reuzi. So, just five days before Conor was born, I launched reuzi online. The rest is history…

Where do you come in your family, and did this have any influence on you?

I come from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio is beautiful, colourful and truly diverse. And my family is no different! My family is large and loud – think ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’. We are a tight-knit bunch. There are absolutely no secrets and we get to be fully aware of what’s going on in each others’ lives at all times, no joke.

Back in the ’40s, my great-grandmother got a small kindergarten from my great-grandfather – her wedding gift! She worked really hard on the business and I got to watch a successful family-run business going for 60 years. She set up her business at a time when women weren’t really supposed to be doing those things – fierce or what!

She created a small chain of private schools in Rio and myself, my sister and our cousins all studied together under their watch.

Lesson #1 – Discipline and Accountability. Imagine you had your granddad as the principal at your school and your aunts working as teachers and coordinators? Well, need I say more? As the first granddaughter in the family I got to learn a thing or two about always doing the right thing and trying hard to be the best I could be.

My grandmother was no different. A strong lady, truly ahead of her time. She had 4 daughters herself (while working in our family business) and each daughter had two daughters… our family is composed of A LOT of women.

Lesson #2 – Fairness. Growing up surrounded by strong women has probably led me into a healthy feminism. ‘Healthy’: I never thought I was less deserving for being a woman. That was never even discussed. For all I know, we were all the same. We were told that we could be whatever we wanted to be from very early age and there was never that ‘Oh, this is for boys and that is for girls.’. We worked hard and we never held back. We were told to speak up and to stand up for ourselves. A family of ladies always fighting for equal rights and fair game without even knowing we were doing so…

And then my mother. What can I say? Divorced at 32 years of age with two young daughters, my mom set up her business and worked really hard as we were growing up. We would spend days only seeing her in the evenings after school, as she was constantly working and travelling the country. And trust me, it was almost like we had spent the entire day with her, she was always there for us. She is my #1 inspiration. Fact.

Lesson #3 – Hard work pays off. My mom built a highly successful business by herself all while raising young daughters. She taught us that if you wanted something, you had to work hard for it – nothing in life is guaranteed but hard work increases your ‘luck’, she says!

Are you where you wanted to be at this stage in your life?

I believe I am. I always wanted to run my own business – I guess I couldn’t deny my DNA – but most importantly, I wanted to run a purpose-driven business and I think that to achieve both points before my 40th is a good outcome…

What is the best, and worst piece of advice you have received in your life so far?

Best:

Always do the right thing: My mom always says that and I think she’s right. Even if it hurts you, even if costs you a shed load of money. Do the right thing. A clear conscience is a soft pillow!

Hire someone! I have tried to do everything all by myself and what an epic fail that was. Something was always falling short. I will never regret hiring my team.

Worst:

As a business owner you have to be 100% ON or else things won’t work! I’ve noticed that many entrepreneurs glorify “the hustle.” And don't get me wrong: I am all for working hard and getting things done, but I think it’s just as important, if not more so, to work smart. Working ON the business vs. working IN the business. I know that I need time by myself to reflect on the journey so far and plan my next steps. A non-negotiable these days…

What does midlife feel like to you?

I feel settled and content. And I feel like I’ve earned that. I am happy with my life choices, I feel like I am doing the best I can. I've created a job for myself and that feels pretty good. I feel like midlife will be a period of tremendous growth and opportunity and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Is there something you have dreamt of doing for a long time? What is it? Are you going to do it?

Yes… I used to be a great runner but then I had the boys and they became my priority. I have wanted to go back to it, not quite sure yet when I will be able to do it but I know I will. I think running is one of the best things to clear a busy mind!

Has there been a place, event, or experience that has transformed you or given you a new perspective? And what changed after that?

When I was living in Honduras I got to visit a place called Gracias a Dios. Gracias a Dios is known to be a place of relatively high crime due to its remoteness and the Honduran government having a low ability to fight crime. Trafficking of narcotics is quite common in Gracias a Dios which leads to crime and extreme poverty. But not something you’d see in the streets of Dublin… I am talking about barefoot children who have never tried a sip of cold water or even kids begging for food scraps outside mom-and-pop shops. I am talking about houses made from cardboard and of course, no access to sanitation systems. Extreme, tragic poverty. I am from Rio de Janeiro and although you’d see poverty in some areas, I had never seen anything like that in my life. After my trip to Gracias a Dios, I promised I’d never again complain about the little things, the stuff that doesn’t really matter.

People talk a lot about pivoting these days, of all the 'switches' you've made or recommend, which has been the most powerful change for you personally?

I started reuzi as a store for sustainable goods with an important pillar based on education. I didn’t want people to think ‘Oh, that’s a lovely bottle!’ and buy it without understanding the ‘why’ behind that purchase.

But over time, I felt a need to focus on education more than on the product side of the business.

For instance, I think my mission will be accomplished if I can get people to understand why reuzi exists - the worries and drivers behind the climate crisis, and then, if they do decide to get a few bits to support their greener journey, great, we can offer that too.

Do you feel your creativity is surging or sinking in midlife?

It’s booming – I never, ever stop thinking about new opportunities, partnerships… And to think this is only the beginning!

How do you think the world of work can improve for women?

I got to run Paddy Power Betfair’s first-ever diversity & equality group - ‘Fair Game’ – and I got to experience several of the issues faced not only by women but by non-straight men individuals, if that makes sense.

As most businesses out there, D&I is a very tough area, a hard battle to fight, not always seen as a ‘must’. We need to address the lack of women in senior roles, the unconscious bias when recruiting new candidates and promoting existing ones and of course, the infamous pay gap – some will say the latter is a thing of the past but I am pretty sure it’s still alive and kicking!

We need more women in STEM and we need career flexibility because guess what? Women will continue to have babies, this is a role that no man will ever replace. So how do we cater for mothers who are perfectly capable of running teams and driving businesses?

I think the pandemic has sped up this process but we need managers that know how to manage people who want to work flexibly. It’s actually a managerial competency and we’ve been testing it over the past year or so.

How do you care for your own wellbeing?

Breathing exercises, weekly walks with my friend Ailbhe and reading have been keeping me sane. I need to carve out a bit more time for myself and I am hoping that with things going back to normal I will be able to do so.

What gives you the most stress at this life stage?

I can no longer go for a walk without worrying about litter and how people are treating our planet. I can no longer go to a supermarket without feeling completely horrified by the amount of packaging on the shelves. I can no longer eat without thinking of the malpractices of the farming + fishery industries. I can no longer buy things like clothing without proper research about the brand and its sustainable credentials. My husband says I need to learn how to switch off but I am in too deep at this point. And this sort of thing causes me huge stress.

Do you sleep well?

Very! The only thing that will make me lose sleep is to know that I have an early appointment the next day.

Do you take any supplements or HRT?

Not yet, but learning a lot from friends who are already on HRT and their pros and cons. I will hopefully be well equipped for when my time comes!

What advice would you offer to yourself in your 20's & 30's?

20’s – I moved to Jamaica when I was 23 years old and as a single young woman I was afraid to feel lonely and afraid to fail. So I’d say don’t doubt yourself. Stay strong and trust your gut, you will be fine.

30’s – I was afraid of becoming a mom. So much so that I only found out I was pregnant when I was 17 weeks into it! Talk about lack of planning… I was afraid I’d lose my job or just lose track of my career. I was so focused. So I’d say enjoy every little minute with your babies and work can wait.

What do you love about yourself?

I love to know that I am constantly striving to do the right thing. Whatever the ‘thing’ is. I am a strong believer that we should always try our best – and that’s the best we can do.

What do you consider your biggest achievement?

My family is by far my biggest achievement. Nothing will ever beat it. I have a very loving, fun and supportive husband who would do anything for our family, and together we are raising two little boys (and two guinea pigs!). Our home is filled with love and calm and even when the world out there is collapsing, I feel love and calm in here. The rest is simply the rest.

What was a major turning point in your life?

My friend Rachel and I always say that moving to the Caribbean to work for Digicel was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to us. Who knew that an Irish business based in Jamaica would forever change my life? And to think that to move there was never in my plans… Like my mom always says ‘We plan, God laughs.’.

What are you looking forward to?

HUGS! I will be one of those people with a sign ‘FREE HUGS’. I miss hugging people so much!

Are you a good friend?

I'd like to think that I am. I am not a lovey-dovey friend. I am a pragmatic, no BS friend. Are you happy and want to celebrate it? We will do it in style! Are you sad and want to cry for days? Tell me where and I will be there.

What in life is beautiful to you? Where do you find inspiration?

Humans are my inspiration. When we are good, we are so good!

Any regrets?

I can’t think of any significant regrets.

What are you afraid of?

Since my TJ was born, the idea of dying and leaving my children motherless has terrified me. I cannot handle the thought of what my death would mean for them – and for me. For one, I have a close relationship with my kids. I know that if I were to die tomorrow, they would be beyond devastated. They would live, of course, and they would learn to cope and eventually be okay – but their lives would never be the same. I can’t stand the thought of them having to go through that painful grieving process while they’re still growing up.

Knowing what you know now, what is most important in life?

A combo of people + experiences + time.

The people you choose to share your life experiences and your precious time with. The rest is only the rest.

Favourite book, and why?

It’s a sad one – ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel. My family has Jewish roots and stories like Elie’s interest me. ‘Night’ is based on his Holocaust experiences with his dad in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945. It’s really hard to believe that people were driven by a racist ideology created by a man and his followers to destroy one segment of society just based on their religion. But then, if you look around at recent historical events, I guess you could easily imagine that happening again…

Favourite piece of music, and why?

I have two – Tony and Bob!

i) The Way You Look Tonight by Tony Bennett. Romantic, calm… so perfect.

ii) And all of Bob Marley songs, his voice was so unique and his lyrics were so powerful!

Last time you cried (tears of joy count!)

Yesterday. I was on the phone with my sister. She’s my best friend and I miss her so much. When I decided that Ireland would be my forever home I also decided that I’d get to see my family every 6-9 months either here or in Rio... or somewhere else in the world, as a matter of fact.

How do you draw on your own inner strength and creativity?

I am a very self-motivated individual and I am constantly trying to outdo my last achievement. Am I my own competitor? Probably! :-)

What are your feelings on this new Covid world we find ourselves in now?

I am an optimist and I feel like eventually, life will go back to normal. We need to coexist with this virus just as we do with so many others. It’s great to know that the most vulnerable are already protected. As a society, I think Covid will force us to reorient/pivot our politics and make substantial new investments in what really matters – for instance, our health systems and our ecologies.

I am hoping that we will be better able to see how our fates are linked.

The cheap t-shirt we buy from fast-fashion chains that deny paid sick leave to their staff makes our humanity weaker as a whole and I think we will no longer accept that.

Covid will force us to reconsider who we are and what we value, and, in the long run, it could help us rediscover the better version of ourselves #fingerscrossed

Are you fulfilled?

Yes! When I think of where I am at in life I feel happy. I feel like everything that really matters is in place – family, health, a job I adore - so if this is enough to consider yourself a fulfilled human being, then I think I am doing a decent enough job!