David Godchaux is chief executive of the real estate provider Core Savills, a tie-up between the UK-based Savills and Dubai's Core Real Estate. Mr Godchaux, 35, from France, can speak several European languages – from English and French to German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Before his current position, Mr Godchaux was heading the NAI Global branch in Russia, where he started off with only 25 employees in 2007, later expanding to a staff strength of 1,900 covering nine cities across the eastern European region six years later.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
Being with my family, playing with my three-year-old daughter, swimming, and reading a book. My favourite book is Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges. Recently I have also been enjoying Michener’s historical books, especially Hawaii. I have very little time with my family, so I make sure to spend as much time as possible with them during my weekends.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
Astronomy, where I can spend the night watching the sky with my telescope, something which has not happened in a long time unfortunately. I loved looking up at the stars as a child. My grandfather taught me the basic constellations and as I got more curious several years later, I learnt that looking at the stars or galaxies with a telescope is actually looking at the past, as it took thousands or millions of years for the light to come to us. I always thought it was a fascinating idea, accessible to everyone just from your garden, that anyone can touch. I also love reading a good book, listening to classical jazz, or reading the story of old vinyl jazz recordings.
What can’t you live without?
My phone, as it has my emails, calendar, task organiser (which is the most important), music player and family pictures. Unfortunately, I can be absent-minded, particularly when I’m discussing something that requires my full attention. This means I lose my mobile phone almost every week, leaving it behind in a cafe, meeting room or at home. It can be terribly frustrating, but luckily I have always retrieved it.
What do you consider the secret to your success?
Emerging markets need a very hands-on approach; I take nothing as established and question everything. I am curious about everything and I’m always trying to understand how each item works in depth – not just being satisfied by a superficial answer. When I find out the mechanics, I enjoy putting clear words and processes to it so that I can explain it to others. Being open-minded, trying to arrange all I encounter into my own categories, in a logical and structured way [has also been important].
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
You need the passion. Real estate can be a jungle, and you can stay there and be successful only if you love it. Be curious; do not be afraid to ask questions, as there is no stupid question, especially if that question helps your understanding. Be structured and build your long-term vision step by step. I have made a lot of mistakes and sometimes rushed things to get to the long-term goal quicker, as I am naturally impatient. However, the right approach is to build the foundations first.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
I don’t. I think work-life balance is an illusion of some modern societies, where everything should be balanced. Perfect work-life balance would be unfair both to my work and my private life, as both deserve full energy, full time, passion and full life. It is a perpetual imbalance, always trying to compensate and catch up between the two.
How do you relax after the working day?
By taking a good shower, having a nice dinner on the terrace – such as a grilled steak on the barbecue with healthy greens – and listening to some music such as the Tatum/Webster group recordings.
If you weren’t chief executive of this company, what else would you be doing?
I would probably start by spending more time with my family, and then start another business. I am not quite sure what kind of business but something I am passionate about. I used to enjoy travelling a lot. However, in my previous role, I was on the plane every week. I lost a little bit of my taste for travel and I am now happy to be settled. Yet I am certain the passion for travel will come back.
lgraves@thenational.ae
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