Seizing Opportunity

An Interview with Ann Gloag, Co-Founder and Nonexecutive Director, Stagecoach Group plc

EDITORS’ NOTE Ann Gloag is Co- changes, we went into a big privati- When we ran the bus companies in Africa, Founder of the international trans- zation program in the U.K. and grew we always believed we should be giving some- port company Stagecoach and signifi cantly during the time. We’re a thing back, so we built a couple of units in served as an Executive Director deregulation privatization story. We hospitals and a couple of clinics. I recognized until May 2000. Through her didn’t think we would be where we how tough it was to build a center of excellence Balcraig and Gloag Foundations, are now, but we did believe this was in Africa – that was when I met the Mercy Ships she has invested heavily in Africa. a unique opportunity and we believed people, and I loved the concept. In 2009, Gloag was admitted into in running as fast as we could to take This fully equipped ship sales into the the Order of the Star of Africa with the chance. country, fully operational, and every single per- the grade of Commander, in rec- How has Stagecoach consis- son on that ship is a volunteer who pays to fl y ognition of her support for the peo- tently performed so well among there and for his meals. So it’s a cost-effective ple and the country of Liberia. She its competitive set? model. also received the inaugural Susan Ann Gloag Stagecoach has been very good It’s a fabulous experience to see the ship in B. Anthony Humanitarian Award at innovation – megabus is a great action. The atmosphere on it is fantastic – every- from the National Council of Women of the example of that. It’s great to have one good one is there for the right reason and everyone is United States at the United Nations in 2010 and idea but you need to be continually coming working together. It’s not a perfect solution, but the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal in 2011. up with new ideas and megabus demonstrates a great one for people in need at that time. The She is a past winner of the Businesswoman of this with its Internet booking system and ship will sit in the country for up to 10 months, the Year Award and European Women in Wi-Fi on the buses – young people love that. so a lot of surgery can be done for those in need Achievement Award. Airports are places where people increasingly at that time. There are all levels and types of dislike spending time, so journeys of a cer- expertise. We also train local medical profes- COMPANY BRIEF Stagecoach Group tain length are easier to travel by bus than sionals and do small building projects so the ef- (www.stagecoach.com) is a leading interna- by getting to the airport, getting on a plane fect on the countries we visit can be signifi cant. tional public transport group with extensive op- for an hour, and then getting back into a city Does your nursing background com- erations in the U.K., United States, and Canada. again. It’s about reading markets, and moni- plement your work in the area of women’s The group employs around 35,000 people and toring political changes and lifestyle changes health? operates bus, coach, train, and tram services. that people make. Yes. I fi rst heard of fi stula because there Stagecoach’s interests in North America include How did your interests come about in were many women who came to the ship with Coach USA, Gray Line New York Sightseeing, the different areas you support? Do you a fistula problem. People in the West don’t and megabus.com. The company started with look at philanthropy in the same way you even know what this problem is, but there are two buses in 1980 and today serves three million look at the business? at least a couple of million women with this passengers a day. I look to get the biggest bang for my buck problem in Africa. The trouble is, they don’t in business and in charity work. Making have a voice because they are outcasts. For me, How did your career evolve to where you money isn’t easy so I always look for great value it was an enormous motivation to let people are today? for the money I give away. know about it and do something about fi xing it, I started as a nurse and later became in- We used to run bus companies in Africa and which is why I set up the Freedom From Fistula volved in transport when the law changed for the first week after we won the business Foundation. much of the transport industry from a licens- in Kenya, I went to the garage at 3 AM to fi g- Is it tough to remain patient when ing system. When we became aware of the ure out why we were losing so much diesel. you observe what is truly needed to changes, my brother – who was an accoun- I discovered a cleaner who had found a new- make an impact? tant – and I bought two buses, which we started born baby on the bus, which had been left Yes, because one individual can only do running from Scotland to London. there. When I asked him why, he told me so much. But it’s important that our projects are We didn’t come from a wealthy family, so that people left babies on the bus all the time centers of excellence, and that the women are we had to borrow money for everything. We and the staff only took them to the orphanage treated with great respect, love, and care be- then went on to build Stagecoach Group, which if they got time later in the morning. cause that’s what they have never had. So I like in the States owns Coach USA and megabus.com. I was horrifi ed so I took the baby and went to keep the standard and the treatment they’re We started in June 1980, so we are 33 years to the orphanage and what I found there was given at the highest level we can. into the business. horrendous – kids who hadn’t been fed for two Did you know that you had business Did you envision early on what this days. That is now the orphanage that we run acumen when you started Stagecoach? venture could become? and manage. So this is how you can get in- My only asset was that I like working with The initial goal was to focus on the oppor- volved in philanthropic outlets while you con- people. It doesn’t matter if the person is a pa- tunity that was created by a change in the law. duct business overseas. tient or a passenger – it’s about relating to that We started the day the law changed. After that, Would you talk about your work with person and whatever his or her need is at the the law was further refi ned and, after some more Mercy Ships? time.• 40 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2013 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 36, NUMBER 3