Coaching has been part of my life since I was a child: first as an athlete, then as a qualified swimming coach from age sixteen.  It has remained a constant ever since. 

 

​I spent 20 years working in industry, culminating as Marketing Communications Manager across Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) for a large multinational.  I then thoroughly enjoyed the fifteen years I spent as Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Galway (top 2% of universities worldwide), particularly co-leading an initiative to create a Mindful University and leading our Business School’s successful bid for AACSB accreditation in the area of curriculum design and assurance of learning.

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However, it was while serving as Programme Director that I came to realise how much I enjoyed helping students and graduates recognise their strengths, build confidence in themselves, prepare for working life and get their careers started.​

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I stepped away from academia to focus on being a full-time Career Consultant.  I bring together decades of experience in industry and higher education with coaching, mentoring and career development, and an innate desire to help people recognise what they have to offer, make decisions that feel right and move forward with confidence.

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My coaching credentials range from becoming a Neuro Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner while in my twenties, to more recently completing "Design Your Life" training at University of Stanford and an Advanced Coaching course at University of Oxford.  ​I am a strong advocate of lifelong learning and while my focus has long been in the area of positive psychology, spirituality and happiness, these days I find myself immersed in learning about AI.

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​When I am not working, you might find me in the kitchen, whipping up healthy and delicious meals, or staying active with a walk or a workout. I love being at home, playing the piano, tidying and organising!  Our home is a sanctuary where friends and family gather for connection, TLC, rejuvenation, and fun!

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What I bring

My career has given me the opportunity to see the world of work from several different perspectives - as an employee, manager, academic, Programme Director, coach, mentor and Career Consultant.

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I understand what employers look for, and I also understand that a career is about much more than getting a job.  ​I have long been interested in what helps us live happy, fulfilling lives. One idea that has particularly influenced my thinking is the importance of three fundamental needs we have as humans for autonomy, closeness and competence. Autonomy is about having a sense of ownership and direction in our lives. Closeness comes through our relationships and connections with others. Competence is about developing our abilities, becoming good at what we do and feeling effective in our lives.  Our careers give us an enormous opportunity to develop and use our strengths and abilities, to become good at something, to contribute to society, help others and to experience the satisfaction that comes from doing work we enjoy, that feels worthwhile.

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It is the area of competence that particularly interests me as a Career Consultant, I want to help young adults to feel effective in their lives.  ​I believe in helping them to choose a direction that feels right to them; to proactively take action;  to learn (on many levels) from experience and to be willing to rethink or pivot as they discover more about themselves and the opportunities around them.

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That is the experience, thinking and approach I bring to my work as a Career Consultant today.