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Telitec CEO Jan McDowell chats to Dougie Mack
8K views
Jan 13, 2025
It's Telitec Jan's turn to pick some of her favourite songs and tell us how they fit in with her growing up in Belfast and also in later life...including a move to Manchester and finally Spain. She also talks about how the company is working through the Coronavirus crisis and continuing to help within the community. For more on what they do see www.telitec.com and don't forget to hit 👍 if you enjoyed the chat and tunes, and ring that🛎for more from our channel. The songs have been shortened from the original broadcast for rights reasons.
View Video Transcript
0:00
This is Bay Radio
0:02
So it's Friday afternoon here at Bay Radio and I've got a special guest here with me
0:07
We're not here with me, obviously at an acceptable distance. Because we wouldn't go around breaking the rules
0:13
I'm joined via the wonders of modern technology by Teletech CEO Jan McDowell
0:19
How you doing? I'm good. How are you, dogging? Not bad. Under lockdown, how are you coping
0:24
I'm working as there are most of the staff here at Teletech
0:29
but we're doing it from home. Yeah. There's a few that have to go out, and I'll tell you more about that later on
0:34
I think you're probably one of those people that are probably working more than you were before
0:39
I think that is, yes, that is exactly what I'm doing, doggie
0:44
Yeah, the fact of the matter is, when the phone goes at 11 o'clock at night, I do actually answer
0:48
I shouldn't, but I do. And I generally am scarring emails and stuff around about midnight
0:55
Oh, that's the thing. Our day's topsy-turvy now. So it's, you know, we've got to know when to put down the tools and chill out for a bit, you know
1:04
Yeah, I think it's like when you're at home, you wander around a lot. So I find myself like wondering, you know, I'm lucky to have a garden
1:11
So I wander around the garden a bit. The animals all follow me. And then, you know, I sort of come back to the computer
1:17
So I think it's just a drawn-out long day, if you know what I mean. When you say the animals all follow you, how many animals are we talking about
1:25
Right. I've got a dog. all right okay i i did have two up until very recently but i've got eight dog and i've got six cats
1:32
i'm a big animal lover of a menagerie yeah the whole office loves animals like they're absolutely obsessed
1:39
so we're big animal people in telly type well look let's get into your songs you got a bunch of songs
1:45
that you want to hear and they all mean something to you've got a story attached to all of them
1:49
aren't you well most of them there's a couple i've chucked in there just because i really love them
1:53
But there is most of them, yes, they do mean something to me
1:57
And what's your first song? Right. I feel so ancient saying this, but it's actually Abba and Dancing Queen
2:06
Mm-hmm. I have very bad older sisters. They're very badly behaved, okay
2:11
And my mom sort of trusted them to be with me and to look after me
2:16
And they're only a couple of years older. So really, it was probably different times, if you like
2:21
but so they sneaked me into a nightclub when I was not old enough to be in that nightclub
2:27
in fact I really wasn't old enough to be in that nightclub anyway they sneaked me in and one of the songs
2:34
that was playing in the nightclub at that time was Abba and Dancing Queen
2:39
in fact it got to the point that I really was good memories
2:43
I mean although it was bad you know very badly behaved sisters and although it was bad it meant a lot
2:48
in fact years later I actually had an Abbeyed tribute band at my wedding
2:52
I bet it do. Everybody does it, I don't care who they are
2:57
They do dance to ABBA. Now, we're talking 1976 here. That was when that was a hit, got to number one
3:04
I'm assuming, though, this was one of those nostalgia nights in the late 80s, early 90s or something, no
3:10
I'm going to be deadly honest, I don't know. It was actually when it was out, yeah
3:14
They snuck you into a nightclub when you were a nipper. They actually wedged me between them and..
3:21
and got me in because they wanted to get in. They knew they couldn't leave me behind the thought they didn't get in with them
3:30
I'm here with Jan, CEO from Teletech, and you're picking your favourite songs and telling us about them
3:37
I am. I'm giving my life history and a song lesson. I've got to say, it's fascinating
3:43
When you asked me to do this, it did bring back some really nice memories, actually
3:48
because you looked at the songs. I was horrified at how old they were, can I just say
3:53
But they did bring back really good memories, and it's lovely, actually. I mean, Andy obviously mentioned, you know, Bay's been great here through all of this
4:02
And they're getting out information to the community, and they're entertaining people with the shows
4:07
And they've been very supportive of us. So, you know, I was okay at doing it
4:10
I've been a while off the radio. So it was like, you know, okay. But I thought, no, I'll give it a go
4:15
So the next song is from, well, obviously, This is my sister's fault again, because they obviously made me into like a rebellious teenager
4:24
And then the next song is during the punk era in Belfast, where I actually originate from
4:32
That was the undertones and teenage kicks. Oh, good choice. Fergal Sharky, in fact
4:38
Fergill Sharkey, not the most attractive of men. I've met him. He was one of the big wigs of the radio authority for quite some time
4:47
He's a talented guy. I've got to say, in a very unique voice, you know, he just sounded good
4:53
But not to look at now. Oh, you are awful. In the punk era in that time in Belfast, there was a guy called Terry Huli, who had a record
5:04
shot called Good Vibrations, and then he set up a record label. And I was around all of that scene
5:09
And the undertones were sort of the milder crew of that scene
5:14
You know, there was a lot of like, there was, there was, there was, there was
5:18
like stiff little fingers and the outcasts and all of those were quite much more a bit
5:22
rocused really yeah but the undertone's got the longevity yeah excellent choice as well
5:29
love this tune undertones teenage kicks what a tune great tune right jan you're choosing
5:41
your songs for this hour i'm just trying to imagine you as part of the punk scene though in in
5:45
in the 70s. Listen, we all have a pass. You know, we all have a pass
5:50
I'm not the respectable figure I was. I am now, should say. I wasn't then
5:54
No. I have pink hair. I still have pink hair, actually. That's weird
5:58
I went all-color hair. And I'd, you know, I did the, yeah, it was total punk
6:03
Safety pins? Not in my body. They are a bit squeamish for that one, but I did put them on my clothes
6:09
Yeah, of course. It was a mark of a good punk, you know. And, of course, bondage trousers
6:13
Again, very hard to walk in. Yeah. It's all I can say
6:18
No good for running away from anything. Yeah, it was hard to commit a crime in those days
6:25
Can I just say, right, okay, what it did remind me when I looked back at all of this
6:30
and I actually did, it reminded me that I, you know, obviously I'm giving my teenage kids when
6:36
they were teenagers, not now, obviously. When I was giving them a lot of grief, I'm thinking, I'm looking back at this and saying
6:42
And I was so bad. I was thinking oh my God I was so much worse than they were No maybe not Maybe not But you know bad for the day Yeah a bit wild Let talk a little bit about Teletech How are you coping with the situation at the moment
6:59
Right. So, like yourself, as a media platform, telecoms are actually designated as an essential service
7:09
And that's because everybody needs to obviously keep connected at this point in time
7:13
because they're sort of confined to their homes, either in their family
7:17
or actually on their own. So obviously, telecoms got deemed as essential
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and that's quite right. So at the minute, what we're doing is working very hard to maintain the network
7:27
so that everybody gets fair usage on their internet. There has actually been a massive surge in usage
7:33
which is totally understandable. But if you can understand that with the mobile
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I mean, everybody will have noticed in mobile networks, dropouts and everything else
7:42
but because it's been overloaded, and all we are doing is calling for common sense
7:47
on that because if you continue to, you know, take it to the highest levels on your usage
7:53
then your next door neighbour might not be able to, even if there was a different company
7:57
because to be fair, we generally sort of share a lot of infrastructure
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So really, we're just really committed to keeping the networks operational and everybody
8:08
connected. And so far, touch with it's all going well. And the staff have been absolutely
8:14
amazing because it takes a certain amounted self-discipline to work from home. And a lot
8:19
a lot of people are used to it. We were lucky because we have the technical skills to be able to set up
8:25
very, very quickly. And a week prior to the lockdown, we actually had our own little mini cobra meeting
8:31
and decided that we were going to have to put that in place. And we had all the technology to do it
8:36
and we've amazing technicians. So we were all set up, you know, before the actual lockdown. So yeah
8:43
The staff have been amazing. The customers have been very complimentary about the fact that the staff are being that good
8:51
And so so far, touchwood, everything's working really well. You were saying about self-discipline when you're working from home
8:59
I mean, it's Friday afternoon. Is it too early for gin? No
9:04
Quite a large group of the staff are actually connecting via Zoom to actually have their Friday night drinks as they normally would
9:12
Excellent. So they're all setting up, their little beer or whatever they drink on a Friday night
9:17
And they're all connecting. In fact, I was like pushing somebody to do something last week at about 6 o'clock
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And normally they'd finish work at 6 o'clock. It was past 6 o'clock
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And they were giving me that, but we're going for drinks at 6. So, yeah, no, it's not too early because it's Friday
9:35
Let's get on to your third song then. What's this? All right. This is New Order, Blue Monday
9:40
Good joy. This is from my days when I moved to Manchester and in the era of the hacienda
9:48
That was some era. And, you know, obviously you've got a picture now. I do like music
9:52
And I do like sort of the club vibes when I was younger. And I actually saw Madonna's first appearance in the hacienda
10:01
Wow. And she was singing holiday. But to be honest with you, it didn't sum up the hacienda for me
10:08
New Order did. You know, they were the sort of making of hacienda
10:11
end it actually. But it was an experience to see Madonna and she was absolutely brilliant
10:18
I can't say I'm a biggest fan if I'm really honest, but it was an experience anyway. But no
10:24
the next one is New Order of Blue Monday. Bay Radio for Friday afternoon already got that Friday feeling. And I haven't even started on the
10:38
Jeanette, I'm here via the wonders of modern technology chatting to Teletech CEO Jan McDowell
10:45
So, Jan, what's your fourth song? So I went to see a lot of concerts, Prince, you two
10:50
I went to see, actually, one that really stands out in which is very odd, is the Thompson twins
10:56
It was brilliant concert. There was a couple of them that really stuck out in my head
11:00
So the next two songs are actually from concerts. This was literally amazing life. Amazing
11:09
This is Prince and Purple Rain. Bay Radio Friday afternoon
11:23
And what a way to spend a Friday afternoon, choosing your favourite songs. On the line I've got Jan from Teletech
11:29
is choosing her favourite songs. What's up next, Jan? We've got, because they're up
11:33
amazing live, but apart from that, this song actually does mean a little bit to me
11:39
well, quite a lot to me, actually. This is You Two and Bloody Sunday
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And the reason why this is quite special, if you like, all right, is because my family
11:52
were major animal activists. Now, they didn't do terrible things, but they did protest against animal cruelty, which I
12:02
would still do today. Quite right. The thing is that I have moved to Manchester at this point
12:08
And when I flew back to see my family, they literally met me at the airport with a change of clothes
12:14
made me go into the toilets and change, and then basically kidnapped me off to a protest
12:21
And one of the particular protest that this happened on was a hair coursing
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Now, I'm not going to go into that, but it is now banned in Ireland, so that's good
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and the song that we used to play over the protest was you two bloody Sunday
12:37
which was very apt because it was on a Sunday. Bay Radio Friday afternoon and Jan from Teletech is with me
12:48
Not with me, but with me. We'll get on to your next song in Just a Mo
12:52
Tell us a bit more about your team that are still out and about in amongst all this
12:58
Right, okay. We obviously have an infrastructure team. and we have an installation team
13:04
Now, at the minute, what we're trying to do with the infrastructure team
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what we are doing with the infrastructure team, is those guys still have to go out because they're maintaining the network
13:12
So, for example, we had an electric storm last week, and they had to go over and fix something that had been hit by lightning
13:22
So they are still out and about making sure that this network stays intact
13:26
and that's really vital. and then we have the installers who if somebody is having any difficulties with a router or alignment, for example, on wireless, they'll go out and actually fix that
13:39
Or if the installs that were booked in prior to the shutdown they were all delayed obviously because nobody knew what we were allowed to do and what we weren allowed to do So now we trying to work away through those of fibre or any other installation
13:54
Now, when they are out, there's very, very strict guidelines that they've got to follow
14:00
And they do have to be prepared with the PPE equipment and everything else
14:04
Plus, obviously, we've cut back on the amount they would normally do on a day
14:08
So just say, for example, they would normally do four. They're now only allowed to do two
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because we want to make sure they take their time and do everything correctly and safely
14:19
So they have to do this because this is part of the government directive
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but what we're doing is trying to make it as safe as possible. And so far, every client has been very accommodating
14:30
and understood or are required to do certain things for those guys to come in
14:35
So, yeah, there are little heroes, actually. they're still going out and doing their stuff
14:39
Excellent. Okay. What's your next song? Okay, so this is my calm phase I'm going into now
14:45
So this is when my kids were born, all right? And it's not my type of music normally
14:51
but it's associated with really good memories about her birth. Therefore, it's on my playlist
14:57
And it was a perfect time, really. I mean, I know having a baby's hard
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and a first baby is particularly hard because you're just like, oh my God, how did I get myself into this
15:10
You know what I mean? But on saying that, the rewards are amazing
15:15
and things did definitely get better. The first one was born in 1994
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I did start late. The older one, Emma, she's 26 now. And she's in the UK, actually, obviously not going out
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She's on lockdown too. And I love her dearly. and this is the song that was around when she was born
15:39
Things Can Only Get Better by Dream You can walk my path
15:45
Now I found you Do you mean things can only get better
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He was from Ireland, wasn't he? Peter was his... Yeah, like I said, it's not really my type of music
15:55
But it's good memories Because it's connected to Emma So, yeah Who was the scientist
16:04
who played keyboards with them. No idea. Oh, it's going to come to me now
16:08
Hang on. Professor Brian Cox. No, did he pay the... I didn't know that
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There you go. I did not... Do you know what? I'm going to go and watch that video now
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After this. Yeah, he was a keyboard player. Just to check off the right
16:25
I didn't know that. Okay, so onto your next song and another daughter
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Yes, right. Okay, I'm slightly embarrassed in here because this is in 1995 a year later
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Right. And the long came my second one. Okay. And this is Kira, good old Irish name there
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And this particular daughter rocked the world, you know, came out fighting and stayed like that for forever, actually
16:52
And the one that I'm going to play for her, which we did joke about at the time because this is so apt, all right, was Bjork
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and it's oh so quiet because I promise you she wasn't. All right, she definitely wasn't
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She literally changed our whole household. We got calm and then we got the storm
17:14
It's oh so quiet. She. She. So, Jen, what's your next song
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My next song is, feels, of gold and it's the Eva Cassidy version
17:34
Nice. Nice, yeah. It's really beautiful song and this is probably the most poignant out of all the songs that
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I picked and that will be because it's my mum's favorite song or it was my mom's
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favorite song, should I say. Sadly lost both my mom and dad many years ago
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And she absolutely adored this song and it brings back good and sad memories at the same
18:00
time. Loved my mom and dad. They were great role models for me, both teachers and were very
18:07
strict on the education front. But they had a family of five kids, so I was one of five, and the
18:15
dinner table was like a debating society. So you were allowed to say what you thought. It sort of
18:22
challenged your mind, which I love. So I was brought up with that sort of distinct for yourself
18:29
you know and then you know let somebody else have their opinion if you take that on board that's great
18:34
and if you don't you don't but everybody is entitled to their own opinion and some of the
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opinions you won't like you know there was anyway it was like a debate in society they also taught
18:44
the deaf and blind and because they taught the deaf and blind in that era um they shouted
18:51
everything so like if you wanted the salt it was pass that salt you're not made it was really weird
18:58
but really good family life. And, you know, they brought us up really well on very little
19:04
because they weren't paid that much. But we had a good childhood. So, you know, I loved them both very much
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And this was my mum's favourite song. So, Frida, so..
19:28
afternoon here at a Bay Radio and I'm chatting to Teletech boss lady Jan. It's gone from
19:34
Teletech CEO to Teletech boss lady. We're getting a bit informal now. So Jan, before we get
19:39
too informal, we're in some pretty strange times at the moment and no doubt you're working around
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it all as best you can. What have you got going on right now? Right. Okay. A lot of things
19:51
happening with Gemma. Everybody knows Gemma. She's our marketing person and obviously we've got a lot
19:56
of things going on social media as well. The customer service team we also, I mean, I've got to mention
20:01
them because they are really good people. We're all really good people, really, but these are
20:06
you know, they've got a nice ethos this lot, you know. They very quickly realized that a lot of
20:12
our clients were on their own and maybe either a little bit elderly or even if they weren't
20:18
they're going to be a bit scared. So they took it upon themselves to actually phone them regularly
20:23
and make sure that they're okay. And they're still doing that. So that's
20:26
That's really nice. We also realized very quickly that more people were making calls to their family and friends So we have put an offer out for some free minutes if you doing that on a regular basis and you a client of ours Gemma doing lots of competitions and you know making sure that we you know keeping people entertained So she done this
20:47
She's just going to launch the family got talent thing. And that was born from me actually seeing
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the video of the family doing a sort of parody of Les Mizz. I don't know if anybody's seen that
20:57
But they did this parody of Les Mizz and it was just, you know, because they're
21:01
stuck in their house. They sort of changed the words to fit that. And I thought it was
21:06
excellent. So I said to Gemma, listen, why don't we do something similar and offer like a
21:11
prize? So at the minute, we're offering a prize for that, which is an iPad. And the details
21:16
of that will be all on our website or on our Facebook. And then also we're trying to contact all
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our business days that are with us and actually businesses that aren't and see if we can help
21:28
in any way, you know, maybe put a newsletter together saying, you know, we do do a sponsored thing
21:34
for businesses quite often, but maybe a special one saying, look, we're still here, you know
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what we are doing if we've diversified. I don't know. We're trying to put that together now
21:45
so that businesses get the word out that they're still around. Excellent. What about more music
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Yeah, okay. These next few tracks are just because I love them. All right. So they're sort of covering
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different types of eras, if you like, and they meant something to me at the time
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but I think it's just genuinely because I just love the song, so they're a bit strange
22:07
Okay, I'm going to be really honest now and say that they're probably not what you would expect
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The first one is Blamange and Living on the Sealing, and people have probably never heard of this
22:17
What do you think? Oh, yeah, no, definitely. Big, big tune. Okay, then
22:21
Right, so that's one of my favorites. Friday afternoon and we're going to be
22:38
Friday afternoon and we've got Jan from Teletech choosing her favourite songs at the moment
22:42
We've gone into a second hour because, well, there's certain songs you cannot cut short
22:48
And there's a pretty good selection. So I don't mind a bit of overspill. As you know, what's next, Jan
22:53
All right. I've got T-Rex, get it on. Good choice. Yeah. Oh, that's like a sexy tune, isn't it
23:01
Yeah, it's really cool. Mark Bowlin T, Rex, and get it on
23:11
Right? I think we've probably got time to squeeze one more in. But before we do, this pandemic thing, what's it all about
23:18
Do you know what? It's obviously very sad and a lot of people are losing their lives
23:23
And you cannot, we cannot say thanks enough. to all the health service workers throughout the world, actually
23:31
risking their lives for us. Plus all the other key workers, you know, public transport or whatever
23:38
whoever's been made to go out there and actually make sure that we function as a community
23:43
you know, you can't thank them enough. But obviously the people on the actual front line where they're in COVID wards is
23:51
it's scary and they're very brave. And obviously nobody has ever seen this or anything like it
23:57
in their lifetime. I know that it is being obviously compared to the wars
24:02
And again, you know, obviously that was a terrible time for a lot of people. And there was a massive community spirits
24:08
Now, I think that's the good that's come out of this. You've actually seen a lot more community spirit where people are actually caring about
24:18
their neighbours or even people in another country. And that was something that was we were losing
24:25
There's absolutely no doubt in my mind. I had we were losing that. And I've seen it all come back
24:31
So there is some major positives coming out of this. I mean, it's not good and people are dying
24:37
But seeing people help each other again, I feel like we should all be looking at the world in a different way and probably will
24:45
This is dreadful. Don't get me wrong. This is dreadful. Dreadful for the people that are losing their lives and that are very seriously sick
24:52
It's dreadful for all the health workers that are putting their lives at risk
24:56
But I'm seeing some positives come out of it, and that's got to be a good thing, surely
25:01
Absolutely, absolutely. The world seems to be getting a reset. Sort of
25:07
I hope it's maintained. This is the thing about this, okay? I'm looking at this and I'm thinking we are now out there applauding those national health workers
25:16
or the health workers of any country. We're applauding them, all right
25:20
So we got to keep that up, folks. We can't just applaud them for this
25:25
and then not do it after this because they're great people. They care
25:31
I have to say thanks, Jen, for choosing your songs and I'm going to chat with us
25:37
Anything you'd like to add? One more thing I do need to say, all right, is that I've noticed, obviously
25:43
the media as a whole of all hopefully come together as well
25:47
But in particular, Bay Radio has really been supportive. of and it's been absolutely amazing to say Andy's basically phoned me up and said
25:57
listen, you need to get your message out there about what you're doing and how you're
26:01
operating at the minute or if you need us to put something on social media for you or
26:06
even doing this and actually getting a chance to explain to people about how we're working
26:10
from home and those that are going out and why. So Bay's been absolutely brilliant. I can't
26:16
thank them enough. They've been absolutely great. Tell you what, we'll play your last song now
26:20
Mary Mary, Shekels. Listen, this is the tune to put on in the car on the way to work
26:27
or on the way back from work, actually. And oh my God, this so cheers you up
26:33
This is like you sing loud to this. I mean, I'm sure people have witnessed me all over the area
26:40
with my hands up in the air at a stop. I see a stop, by the way, where I'm actually doing praise you
26:47
This song is absolutely. one of my all-time favourite tunes. Everybody, everybody
26:55
must get up and dance. And if you want to send a little video to us
26:59
of you dancing to this, all right, we'd love it. You'd love it, wouldn't you
27:04
I'd love it. I would love it. I might even do some dad dancing. Yeah, oh dear, no
27:09
This is a tune, and everybody's got to turn up the volume and dance
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