Engagement Is Everything

February 12, 2018

Paul Ogburn, Retail Director of TATE ENTERPRISES Ltd in the United Kingdom will be the Opening Keynote Speaker of MSA FORWARD 2018 in Washington, DC. As a “letter of introduction” to MSA, Paul shares an overview of his career with us and how it has brought him to his current work at the TATE. Meet Paul in person and learn more about his passion for cultural retailing and customer engagement at MSA FORWARD this April.

Thirty seven years ago I was duped into working in the retail sector as an 18 year old sales assistant. That was the start of a very long and fascinating career, where I have experienced feelings of joy, euphoria, elation, misery, anguish and despair like only a retailer can.

My retail schooling was acquired within the value end of the retail market where the bottom line is everything and where I acquired most of my commercial expertise and retail disciplines.

Realising I was quite good at more than just playing the drums, I excelled in an environment where you were only as good as your previous weeks sales figures, enjoying rapid career progression to become the youngest branch manager and later, area manager ever to be appointed by my company.

Throughout the following twenty four years, I have enjoyed success across each arena in which I’ve managed, discount, high street, concession, retail-park and department store retailing, working in various area, regional and director roles.

In April 2005, I joined the cultural sector and Tate Enterprises Ltd as Retail Manager for Tate Modern, having spent some twenty four years in the high street, how hard could it be….

Though I recognise much of my commercial wisdom has assimilated from many years experience of high street retail operations, my management style, influence and coaching skills really matured over the past ten years or so, where I am influencing stake holder engagement outside of my authority and with very different agendas from my own.

I was once told I had a high level of emotional intelligence which I can attribute to working in such a challenging, thought – provoking, inspiring and rewarding environment that provides me with an opportunity to use my retail skills for a brand and sector I feel passionately about.

I will be forever grateful to the high street for my retail and commercial education, but the sense of purpose and reward I enjoy each day is such that I could never go back.

Regards,

Paul Ogburn

Thirty seven years ago, Paul was duped into working in the retail sector as an 18 year old sales assistant. Throughout the following twenty four years, he has enjoyed success across each arena in which he’s managed, discount, high street, concession, retail-park and department store retailing, working in various area, regional and director roles. In April 2005, he joined the cultural sector and Tate Enterprises Ltd as Retail Manager for Tate Modern before becoming Retail Director in July 2010 and assumed responsibility for defining and delivering the retail strategy across the four Tate galleries in the UK.