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We spoke to Gabriella Somerville, CEO of luxury private aviation company ConnectJets, about her morning motivation, office essentials and the daily challenges of an entrepreneur…
Gabriella Somerville knows a thing or two about flying. Since joining Virgin Atlantic in 1988, Somerville has been dedicated to giving passengers the best journey possible when enjoying the high life. In 2009, she took this goal to the (even) higher echelons by selling her Alpine chalet and using the capital to build the private aviation charter Connect Jets. By their third year of operation, Connect Jets had turned over £4m with zero debt. Now, Somerville is also the UK’s only sales agent for the definitive Connect Jets aircraft, the twin-propeller Piaggio Avanti EVO. The key to her success? “Tenacity and a degree of stubbornness. They’ve been the two ingredients to push through when tough days kick in.”
When do you wake up in the morning?
I am an early riser, especially in the summer months!
What is your morning routine?
I kick start the morning with a 5-minute stretch, along with a few breathing exercises to get the mind and body in position for the day. Like most women, time is allotted for the beauty regime and finally to round off with a bowl of porridge.
What item (or items) can you not leave the house for work without?
Lipstick, mascara, iPhone, hat and umbrella…oh and office keys!
What is your typical office wear outfit and what does professional style mean for you?
My wardrobe is dependent on the weather and the location for the day – airport, London office, speaking engagement or client meeting. I have a standard outfit for aircraft viewings – boots and black jeans, anything that’s wind and oil proof. For speaking I like to make a statement, it’s part of the theatre and it is important to dress accordingly. If I do not have a client meeting, office attire is relaxed – for meeting clients I keep it formal and classic.
How do you travel to work?
By train. I walk from the station to the office which allows me to think through the day ahead. I also find it very therapeutic on the way home when I reflect on the events of the day.
“Tenacity and a degree of stubbornness. They’ve been the two ingredients to push through when tough days kick in.”
How do you enter the office frame of mind?
I always endeavour to keep a positive mindset, it is imperative as a leader to inspire your team and keep them positive, even during stressful situations. We are all human and of course subject to the intensity of those challenges, which can affect our frame of mind to some degree.
What gets you raring to go every day?
Life and the excitement of not knowing what each day will bring. I have learnt to embrace the unknown, replacing any anxious thoughts with a feeling of enthusiasm.
What are the biggest challenges you face every day in your business, and how do you tackle them?
It’s in an entrepreneur’s DNA to tackle challenges. Aviation in itself is extremely challenging, along with running a global 24hr operation. There are many permutations that we need to consider for every flight, including weather, air traffic control delays, technical issues, permits, slots, flyovers and of course customer delays. It’s important to keep a cool head and step back to make a definitive plan with your team. There are very few days when we are not facing a logistical challenge, but with experience and knowledge, every challenge can be overcome.
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