Inside Sydney South: Michael Boardman

With no intention of working in sales, let alone the Automotive industry, Michael Boardman’s career at Porsche Sydney South is a story of determination, dedication, and admiration for the world’s leading sportscar brand. A testament to his tenacity and hard work, Michael began his career at the dealership as a car washer and detailer, with virtually no sales experience. However, he knew the cars inside and out and was determined to climb the ranks.

“Generally our Sales Consultants come from other sales roles,” notes Michael. “They work their way up from everyday brands into the luxury market. For me though, although I had virtually zero sales experience, because I’d been washing and detailing the cars for a year, I literally knew them inside and out."

By Michael’s own admission, selling Porsches isn’t where he’d thought his career was heading 15 years ago. Having just completed his studies in Accounting, Michael struggled to find a job that matched his qualifications. “They were all asking for prior experience, and it got to the point where I just needed a job,” he recalls. “When I saw an ad asking for car washers, I thought ‘why not?’ I’d always got a lot of satisfaction keeping my own cars clean, and it sounded like physical work. I figured it was probably a good way to keep fit and earn money at the same time.” Little did he know that this decision would lead him to over a decade long career at one of the most prestigious car brands in the world.

While Michael had always been someone who’d liked cars – as a kid he’d collected model cars and followed the Formula 1 – getting to work on a range of Porsche models up close inspired in him a deeper appreciation for the brand. And when the opportunity to step up into a sales cadetship arose a year later, he seized it. His role now centres around guiding customers through their purchase, from helping them decide which model to buy, to taking them through the colour and leather options, to helping place their order and manage its delivery.

Although Michael already worked at the dealership and knew many of its regular clients, the road out of the workshop and onto the sales floor was a whole new learning experience. In addition to knowing his way around the vehicles’ interiors and exteriors, Michael embarked on training to learn about each model’s history and the design– all of which enhanced his respect for the brand even further.

What Michael says he appreciates most about the cars is that they don’t pretend to be anything they’re not.

“Porsche, to me, has a clear sense of its identity,” he says. “You particularly see this in the 911, a sportscar that’s generally considered the most iconic in the world. It’s been around 70 years now and today’s design is still true to the original. I think you could go almost anywhere in the world, show someone a silhouette of it, and there’s a good chance they would recognise the iconic 911.’”

As you might expect of someone who’s worked at Porsche for almost 15 years, Michael’s had the opportunity to participate in some extraordinary experiences. From driving the 991 911 around Tasmania’s backroads and the Boxster through Queensland’s hinterlands, to sitting in the passenger seat alongside professional drivers during various Porsche Track Experience Days, Michael has had his fair share of thrilling moments. However, his highlight experience was the 50 Years of Porsche 911 event in 2013. At the event, Porsche Cars Australia managed to obtain, restore, and display every generation of the 911 model. And if this wasn’t special enough, Michael got to drive several of the old classics back to the dealership.

Outside of work, Michael is likely to be found running around Sydney – quite literally. A true fitness fanatic who’s competed in numerous marathons and Iron Mans, he’s made it his mission to see how many days in a row he can go for a run. His current count? A staggering 615.

Despite his success as a Sales Consultant, Michael has not forgotten his roots. "In fact, I still go into the workshop every now and then to wash the odd car. Just for old times’ sake.” With over 15 years of experience under his belt, Michael is a true asset to Porsche Sydney South, and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next.