Name: Darren Gardner
Title: CEO, Nido
What do you do: I’m accountable for running the Nido Living brand across six European markets: Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and the UK.
Why I got into the property industry: I got into student living because it has a clear and valuable purpose: to help students fulfil their academic potential and support their personal growth in the best way possible. We’re all working towards these shared goals as a team, which is really meaningful and ultimately what inspires me every day.
How I did it: My career path was not your typical one, as I had more than two decades of tech and retail experience before transitioning into student living. My initial exposure to student living came through my role at a private equity firm, which owned a student housing business. I loved the fast-paced and customer-centric nature of student operations – and still do!
My first proper job: I actually had four proper first jobs. Coming to the UK from Zimbabwe at the age of 19, with no financial stability, I worked as a customer services agent at a water company by day, as a ticketing clerk at an airport three nights a week, sold double glazing for two nights and as a waiter at a hotel over the weekends. These formative experiences provided a real insight into how to move yourself forward professionally, and gave me a great understanding of how different industries worked.
My first big break: I will always be grateful for Sir Charles Dunstone taking a chance on me for a role at Carphone Warehouse in 1996. While I wasn’t traditionally qualified for the position or had any relevant previous experience, I really focused on my core people skills and ability to manage successful teams – an advantage in any sector.
I learnt a huge amount about scaling customer-focused businesses globally during this period, and opened 47 retail outlets in seven countries in 180 days at one point – an experience I won’t forget.
My inspirations: People who have genuine drive, passion and commitment to what they do really inspire me. But authenticity is key. I enjoy creating and managing high performing teams for the success of the business – but I also find supporting the personal growth of individuals you work with highly rewarding.
My greatest achievement to date: I would say having the privilege to have worked in 14 countries with some amazing people and being able to show them that they can achieve more than they thought they could is my greatest achievement. Connecting with diverse cultures is critical in forming a well-rounded view of the world and helps to better understand behavioural nuances and customs – these international experiences have proved invaluable at Nido, as many of our students come from all over the world.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: Many people in the industry think that they can buy a student living property and it runs itself. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Managing a student building is very intensive, operationally challenging, and requires a dedicated and organised team on-call 24/7 to deliver the high quality level of service students rightly demand.
The one thing I would change about the industry: While the property industry has made some positive changes in recent years, compared to some other sectors it can still be very ‘old school’ and not very dynamic. I would really like people to focus more on the transformational impact real estate can have on people and society, and not just the bricks and mortar.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: The world is a better place when people are free to be themselves. Once you create an environment where people feel safe and accepted, it is incredible what can be accomplished and problems solved.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Amy Winehouse; Stephen Fry; Will Young; Take That; five cycling heroes: Netherlands’ Matthieu van der Poel, Belgium’s Wout van Aert, Britain’s Tom Pidock and Chris Froome, and Ireland’s Stephen Roche; my Dad; my husband; and all of my previous pets.
What I do in my downtime: In another life, I’d like to have been a professional cyclist. I live between Valencia (Spain) and Bath (UK) and I cycle and race competitively – there are some challenging scenic routes close to me which I love, and racing always gives me something to train for. Taking the time to switch off and reconnect with nature, and challenge yourself, is really important for your mental health.
My advice for someone just starting out: Get a job in an industry that you care about and excites you, then go above and beyond. Volunteer to do things out of your comfort zone, help others, always be kind, and learn from your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to take risks and always think of a solution before making your boss aware of the problem…
