In this episode, co-hosts Martin Moodie and Roger Jackson (The SEVA Group) begin by paying tribute to the recently retired Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin, and highlighting the commendable qualities of his successor, Ramesh Cidambi.
They then introduce their special guest, Alasdair (Ally) Dickinson, General Manager Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. Suntory’s portfolio includes renowned Japanese whiskies under The House of Suntory, Jim Beam, Haku Vodka, Roku Gin, Cruzan Rum, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Ardmore, Teacher’s, and many others.
Ally has been with Suntory, formerly Beam Suntory, for nearly 13 years. Over the past decade, he has become a respected figure in the travel retail sector, operating from his base in Singapore.
In this compelling and candid conversation, Ally shares insights into his upbringing in a working-class family in Glasgow and the values it instilled in him. However, the core of the episode is dedicated to a subject close to Ally’s heart: mental health in the workplace.
In an honest and moving dialogue, Ally discusses his lifelong struggles with depression and anxiety. He recounts how the pressures of work and personal life became overwhelming a few years ago, leading him to seek help.
He poignantly describes experiencing “two Allys”: the polished, calm, and professional persona at work versus the Ally who struggled privately. “One was the Ally people saw within work who was quite polished, calm, considered, and professional… quite a stable individual, all of which was absolutely true. That was the version of Ally that I was projecting, and that was the version they were seeing. But actually, outside of work, I was really struggling with the pressures of work and the pressures that happen in your personal life. They were creeping up… it was a seesaw that would swing either way for two weeks, two months, or six months,” he explains.
Recognizing that the tipping point was nearing, Ally decided to confide in his line manager about his struggles. He recalls, “In my head, I expected a recoil and it to maybe hurt my career ambitions. Would he think that someone going through some of these challenges couldn’t manage a team, couldn’t hold a tough negotiation with a customer, or run a business unit? Actually, the response was completely the opposite.”
Ally was met with unwavering support from his manager, colleagues, and the company. He emphasizes the importance of opening up and seeking support, although he refrains from giving direct advice to others facing similar challenges.
Co-hosts Jackson and Moodie also share their personal experiences with mental health, from Jackson’s COVID-driven acute anxiety to Moodie’s loss of a sister to suicide and his ongoing struggle to find the “sanctuary of the middle ground.”
This episode is a must-listen, delivering crucial messages about mental health in the workplace, the importance of accepting and giving support, and the progress being made to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
As is tradition with TRI-POD, Ally is flown on the ultra-low-cost carrier TRI-POD Airlines to the show’s resident desert island (with offshore duty-free status). There, he reveals his favorite duty-free purchase, his choice of reading and music, and an intriguing selection of guests he would invite to a private dinner party.
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