Business Careers Forum
The Business Careers Forum, held recently in the College, was a very positive event for all those who participated. The following twelve Past Pupils spoke about their careers since leaving the College and provided a very positive, realistic, and entertaining presentation.
Paul Turley (1993) After leaving went to study Engineering at UCD. He graduated in 1997 with a 2:1 and then was successful in getting accepted onto the Enterprise Ireland Graduate Internship Program. He spent two years working in the EI Copenhagen office helping Irish companies establish trading links with Scandinavia. Given that he was an engineering graduate, he mainly worked with start-up companies in the IT sector during this period in Copenhagen.
Following two years in Denmark, he returned to Ireland to a job with Baltimore Technologies who were one of his clients in EI. He worked with Baltimore for 4 years in a various international business development and sales roles.
Baltimore was then acquired by HP in 2003 and as part of this, Paul joined HP. Paul now runs the HP Software business in Ireland.
Bernard Jackman (1993) Went to DCU to study International Marketing and Japanese. In 3rd year of that course turned to professional rugby with Connaught. Played there for a number of years before joining Sale Sharks and Leinster, and won a Grand Slam with Ireland. While with Connaught, completed a BA in Business in DCU. During 12 years as a rugby professional he was unfortunate to break a leg and while recuperating he used his skill sets from his College degree to work as a Sales Rep for Astra Zeneca.
Completed a Masters in Sports and Executive Management in UCD. Set up and ran a successful grocery retail store in Kilcullen for a number of years. Now splits his time as a director and partner in Front Up, a motivational and life coaching company, he is a media pundit on Setanta Sports as well as writing columns for different outlets in the world of print media in addition to being the defence coach for Grenoble. He has also written an autobiography titled Blue Blood.
Tara Flanagan (1998) Tara was the first female Captain of the school in 1997 – 1998. On leaving school that year she went onto DIT to complete a Degree in Tourism Marketing in Cathal Brugha Street. On graduating she went to work for an American tour operator in Los Angeles for 2 years as an intern. On returning to Ireland she joined their Irish Operations – Brendan Vacations Ireland where she spent 2 years as Sales Manager. Tara then went onto to Sunway Travel where she has spent the last 5 years as Product Manager for the US and Canadian Product. Tara has also studied Digital Marketing and has just set up a Marketing Consultancy TLC Marketing.
Mark O’Loughlin (1986) Studied Marketing in DIT. Mark is a serial entrepreneur and he is omniprescent on your TV promoting his two companies – Sanctuary Landscapes and hidbin.ie. In addition you will also recognise him from appearing on the Irish version of Dragons Den where he managed to use his persuasive negotiating skills and take an investment from a fellow past pupil – Gavin Duffy (1977). Gavin invested in Marks excellent idea – hidbin.
Mark won silverware while in Newbridge and played 2nd row for the College on the SCT which won the Leinster Plate in 1986, beating Clongowes in the final.
Susie Dardis (1994) Started a BA in UCD, and after 2 years she decided to make the leap into the workplace and into the world of PR and Communications. Since starting her career, Susie has been PR and Hospitality Manager for 4 years for St. Patricks Festival and also 2 years as PR Manager for Sherry FitzGerald Group.
For the last 3.5 years she has been the Communications Manager for one of the iconic brands of our generation – Red Bull. Susie has led communications for the brand at events such as Oxygen, Red Bull Floattag, Red Bull Motocross to name but a few. In addition, she is also editor for Red Bulletin a free monthly magazine sponsored and written by Red Bull, she is also the Producer of Bulletin TV.
Susie has also extensively travelled the world both as part of her job and on her free time – she once spent 6 months living in a tent in Australia while working on a fruit farm.
Rachel O’Sullivan (1991) Went to Trinity College to study Business and Economics where she was awarded a BA. Then worked for a year gaining business experience and was afforded the opportunity to study accountancy while working in IAWS. However, she decided she wanted to be more Client facing and spend less time working with figures and she moved to the UK where she worked with a firm giving financial advice to clients. After 1.5 years she came back home and undertook the financial planning exams to become a QFA.
She has worked in various organisations and is now a Senior Associate in Mercer where she gives clients advice on personal financial planning, redundancy issues, pension scheme changes and business closures.
Rachel is a past President of the Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Dublin & District Branch.
Eoin Mulhall (1988)
Eoin was School Captain and after leaving he went onto complete a BSc in Physics and Maths in UCD. First job was an Analyst Consultant with Andersen Consulting which is now called Accenture. Eoin quickly rose up the ranks in Accenture with 18 years with the organisation and even spent 2.5 years in Canada with the organisation. He has led multi-million euro projects for Clients of Accenture across various sectors from health and life sciences, travel and transportation, retail, construction and consumer goods.
Eoin is currently head of professional services in Daon for Europe, Africa, Middle East and India. Daon is a leading provider of enrolment, identity assurance and identity management software and services.
Peter Jenkinson (1977) and went straight into Aer Lingus to train as a pilot where he rose to the rank of Captain and after 33 years he decided to invest all his time into a business that he had set up as a hobby. He is the owner and Business Development Director of Groupschemes.com. It is an online business that develops and manages staff and consumer loyalty and group schemes. It is the largest provider of staff benefit schemes in the UK and Ireland and numbers clients such as IBM, Apple and Pfizer. They have won awards for schemes such as the AXA Customer Retention and Loyalty Scheme. In addition, group schemes.com run the Meteor Goody Bag campaign.
Michael Morrissey (1986) After leaving went on to study Sales and Marketing graduating with a Diploma. He has spent time working with Dawn Farm Foods, in Sales with Stamark Printing and as Sales Manager with Golf and Corporate Promotions. Michael is now CEO of Magnet Marketing Solutions.
Alan O’Sullivan (1994) After leaving went on to DCU to study Business. On graduating he travelled extensively around the US and Australia and after 18 months returned to Ireland to work with FBD in the Marketing Department. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. In addition he has worked with Lidl and AIB and now works in the family business in Tralee and Kilarney in the grocery, hospitality and bakery sectors.
Laura Grogan (1997) and went onto UCG to study Commerce. On graduating she joined PWC and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. She is still with PWC and has also completed a Masters in HR.
Morgan Mc Cabe (1975) and studied Hotel and Catering. Morgan has set up and run a very successful company in the hospitality sector. He is now a Director of Ross Morgan.
We wish all our speakers continued success in their business careers