GradLife Podcast: Recent Episodes
Gradlife Podcast
This Podcast is for anyone in their twenties - working or studying - who wants to learn more about what jobs are out there, what they will like and what they'll be good at, and who is open to being inspired by the remarkable achievements and adventures of other people the same age as you who face the exact same opportunities and challenges as you do.
The podcast is broken into three categories:
- The Careers Podcast hosted by: Danny Hogan and Kate Fullen.
- The Law Podcast hosted by: Isabel Doyle, Rebecca Porter and Matthew O'Shea.
- Game Changers hosted by Finn Hatherell
In this episode, Rory speaks to Oscar Bennett. A Mechanical Engineering graduate, he is currently finishing his masters in Advanced Motor Sport Engineering in Cranfield University, UK. They discuss about this interesting research project in UCD, his internship with Porche, and his future in Formula 1.
In this episode Rory speaks with Ciara Dillon. Ciara has just finished the highly regarded ESTEEM Graduate Programme in The University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA. Ciara is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from UCD and discusses her future in Engineering and the main differences between Ireland and the US.
In this episode, Rory chats with Darren O’Sullivan who is a Development Executive with Enterprise Ireland. They chat about graduating from UCD with a masters in Mechanical Engineering with Business, his internship in Amsterdam 3D printing bridges, his modelling career and his plans for the future.
In this episode, Rory speaks with Jamie Ó Flannúra, TV & Radio presenter. They speak about transitioning from a primary school teacher to a media presenter, New Year’s Celebrations in Dingle, his time in UCD and Mary I & his plans for 2024.
In this episode Rory, speaks with Sean Hughes about his career to date and his current role at Dogpatch.
In this episode of our Careers podcast, Ronan Mitchell speaks with Ethan Butler, Operations manager with NAMO.
In this podcast Rory speaks with Bord Bia International Market Executive, Nicole Healy. They discuss her time in UCD, growing up on a dairy farm and living in Amsterdam. They also talk about her role with Bord Bia and her integrated masters with the Graduate Programme.
In this episode our newest podcast host, Rory Monks speaks with Dan Lawlor of Enterprise Ireland
In the episode Ronan is joined by Sophie O' Grady, a business development executive with Enterprise Ireland. We spoke about her former role as director of Mountain View markets, a project she started. We also spoke about growing up in a family business and finding the balance between work and play. Enjoy!
In this episode, Tara chats to Richard Flood, a trade development executive for Enterprise Ireland who is based in Sydney, Australia. Richard and Tara discuss moving abroad at a young age, furthering your studies after college, the Enterprise Ireland Graduate Programme, and life in Sydney.
On today's episode, Ronan spoke with Eoghan Quinn, a trinity alum who is currently working as a paralegal for LexisNexis in London, while completing his FE1's. We spoke about how you can make the best of your law degree, he gave tips for people who are trying to secure a traineeship contract and he also talked about his contribution to a medical negligence book. Enjoy!
In this episode, Ronan spoke with Paddy Small, who is a commercial account executive for Datadog. We spoke about his role in Datadog, his route in education and work that got him to his current position and also how he balances a successful football career with Ballymun and Dublin GAA, with the demands of his professional career. Enjoy!
In this episode Ronan spoke with Grace Odlum, who works as a business development advisor for Asia Market Entry in Singapore. They spoke about her role within the business, adapting to moving and working in Singapore, her experience with the Enterprise Ireland Graduate programme and also her route that she took to get where she is today. Enjoy the podcast!
In this podcast our newest host - Ronan speaks with Scott Gault. Scott is a global content marketing assistant at Jameson. In this podcast he shares some advice on how to apply for their graduate programme, his passion for videography and his time living and working in India!
In this episodes of the our Careers podcast, our newest host Theo speaks with Ciaran Burke. Ciaran is the founder of Swoop, a company which specialises in helping smb's gain acres to financing. To date the company has raised €10m at a €30m valuation. In this podcast they discuss how Ciaran doused swoop, his experiences from living and working in Sydney and his advice to young graduates starting gout in their careers.
In this episode Holly speaks with Dan Thornberg. Dan has just founded a tech company called fludder which helps connects candidates and employers in the entry level job process.
In this episode of the GradLife careers podcast, Finn speaks with Sean Buckley. Sean has just set up his own football academy which is helping young kids excel and take their game onto the next level. He has had great success with it to date already working with 120 full time clients. This is a great listen for anyone interest in finding out more about how to create a career in sports.
In this podcast, Tara chats to Michael Culleton, an investment manager at Corcom, a residential and commercial property development company. Michael discusses graduating from TUD and completing a MSc in Milan in the height of the pandemic. Tara and Michael then chat about his different work experiences to date in sectors such property consultancy, chartered surveyors, sales and advertising. If you have any interest in Real Estate Property Investments, and Valuations of property, this interview is a must listen!
In this episode Holly speaks with Daryl Egan. Daryl is a market executive working at Enterprise Ireland, who is currently working in their Amsterdam office. Daryl has lived and studied in numerous different countries across the world including the Middle East, Asia, North America and Europe. Daryl works to help connect Irish businesses to industry stakeholders in the Benelux region, a great listen for any students/graduates keen to find out more about the Irish global reach.
In this podcast, Our newest podcast host Tara chats to Ellen Kelly who is currently living in Paris after recently graduating from HEC Paris following her Master’s thesis. Ellen tells us about life in Paris, factors contributing to women’s success, and how to invest your money sustainably. She is also the co-founder of Savvy, a mobile platform that allows for investing in carefully selected impact funds combined with educational, social and impact quantification features.
In this episode Holly speaks with Jonathan Nally. Jonathan is currently working in Amazon in London as a sales representative. He talks to us about his current role on the Amazon web services team, where he specialises in cloud computing. Outside of his career, I speak to Jonathan about the two Ironman competitions he has completed in recent years. A single competition consists of a whopping 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride and a 26.22 mile run. It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world!
In this episode Holly chats with Evan Mcghloughlin is CEO and CO-Founder of language learning start up Weeve. They weeve foreign words into English sentences of books, so you can pick up a new language through context! They offer a range of classic books so that learning can be made easy. Weeve are looking to launch their brand new app in the next few weeks, so for anyone looking to improve their language skills, make sure to keep a look out. As a student who studied neuroscience in college, Evan takes us through his path to becoming an entrepreneur, giving us some great insight into the risks and rewards of creating his own company.
In this episode of the GradLife podcast, Lucia catches up with Crypto Journalist Adam McCarthy. They discuss Adam’s studies at Trinity, his career journey and some of the hot topics around Crypto right now, such as the recent crash, regulation and the future. A great episode for anyone keen to learn more about crypto.
In this episode, Holly chats with Sebastian Long. Sebastian is now an senior account executive with one of Irelands biggest tech success stories- intercom! They discuss his journey from studying Bess in trinity up to how he got his role at intercom. This is a great listen for anyone curious to know more about life at a rapidly growing start-up.
In this podcast, Michelle and Mark discuss stepping forward in your career and not being scared to make a change. When Mark finished college he completed the LIDL graduate program and then decided to make a career move and work with Wayflyer, Ireland's newest Unicorn! If you're undecided about what you want to do, this podcast specifically highlights that there is always space for change, and sometimes it's for the better!
In this episode, Lucia speaks with Darragh Cuffe. Darragh is an Institutional Crypto Sales Manager at Huobi Global. They discuss Darragh's journey to his current job, what it's like to work in the Crypto Industry and advice for starting a career in this area. The episode also touches on some topical matters in the world of Crypto. This episode is a great listen for anyone interested in a career in crypto sales or trading or even those who aren't quite sure about their future career
In this week's episode, Michelle chats to Tom Clancy, President of Ireland's first Student BlockChain society, Blocsoc. Tom initially studied Agri Business and went back to study Computer Science where he developed a real interest for Blockchain. In this podcast Tom chats about all things Blockchain and Cryptocurrency and explains in plain english what they are and the significant role they will play in our future. Blocsoc aims to prepare students for the future of work in the domain of Blockchain and Web3. Get ahead of the curb and get a better understanding about Blockchain and how it could further develop your future career. Follow their journey on Instagram @BlockSoc
In this episode Finn speaks with Mark Nicholson. Mark graduated from Trinity in 2016 with a degree in science. He moved to New York after graduating to work as a male nanny with the original idea of it being a gap year. However as different opportunities began to pop up Mark managed to prolong his stay in NYC, which lead to him being able to study in NYU and is now working in sports marketing. In this podcast Finn and Mark discuss his career to date and why New York has played such a pivotal role in his own personal development.
In the 6th episode of the Game Changers podcast Finn speaks with Niall Woods. Niall is the founder of Navy Blue; Ireland's leading sports marketing agency representing some of the country's best sporting talent. They discuss how he transitioned from his career as professional rugby player into talent management and why his network was so key to getting him started. Niall shares some great insights into what the role of an agent is and the skills needed in order to succeed in this industry. This is a great listen for anyone interested in learning about the business of sport.
Michelle chats with Patrick Lynch, Co-Founder and CEO of First Circle, in this edition of our Careers podcast. Patrick was a key figure in the founding of Trinity College Dublin's Student Management Fund, and he emphasizes the value the role societies in college had on his career. Patrick highlights the importance of putting oneself out there and the benefit of meeting new people. A must-listen for anyone with an entrepreneurial spark or for anyone in college wondering what they can do to start making moves for their future career!
In this episode Kate speaks with Andrew Lynch. Andrew who is CEO of Mason Alexander speaks about his journey going from school straight into business. They discuss the MA’s expansion into America, the importance of having mentors and his connection with Richard Branson!
In this episode of our Careers podcast Siofra speaks with Mark Nealon. Mark is a Product Manager at Intercom where he is responsible for a number of the company's Conversational Engagement products. Previous to Intercom, he worked as a Product Manager at LetsGetChecked and founded EdTech start-up myStudyPal. Mark studied Biomedical Science in University College Dublin. This is a great listen for anyone looking to pursue a career not related to their degree.
In this episode, Kate chats to David Ola about working in Venture Capital. David started out at SeedCamp in London and is now working at PointNine in Berlin.
In this episode of our careers podcast Finn chats to Conor Gilsenan. Conor has had a fascinating journey to date from being a professional rugby player, to working with an early stage start-up and now recently adding reality tv to his many experiences! They discuss his career as a rugby player, the highs and lows and why he decided to retire. They then go on to speak about his decision to go on The Apprentice, the experience of filming and what it was like to deal with Lord Sugar!
In this episode Lucia McNamara speaks with both Cormac Yalloway and Aine O'Neill. They discuss the ISCG and the opportunities it has for students interested in pursuing a career in consulting. A great listen for any students looking to gain real life work experience while still in college!
https://www.iscg.ie/
In the 5th episode of our Game Changers series, Finn speaks with Hugo MacNeill. They discuss his career as a rugby player and how he used his profile to help North and South relations. They then go onto speak about the incredible work he has done with the Trinity centre for people with intellectual learning disabilities and why he is running for the Seanad.
In this episode of our careers podcast Síofra chats to Will O’Brien, Vice President and Head of Growth and Government Affairs with Zipp Mobility. They discuss Will’s decision to study economics and finance in UCD, his early exposure to entrepreneurship and why he chose to head straight for the start-up world after college. We also touch on the importance of taking risks, being passionate about your job and living life to the full! An interesting listen for anyone looking for an insight into the start-up world!
In this episode of the Gradlife Podcast, Finn speaks with Cillian Hilliard. Cillian is a man of many talents; his full time role is in venture capital with Kennet Partners and also run's his own jewellery company called the Dana Project. On top of all that he also recently appeared in Made in Chelsea meaning he can now add reality TV star to his ever expanding CV!
In this episode Finn speaks with James Daly. James has had a fascinating career to date as en ex professional footballer to now working in sales and trading at Morgan Stanley. The discuss his time spent at the Chelsea academy to then playing for QPR. They then speak about the small margins that separates Premier League players from non-league and how big a factor luck plays. Finally they discuss why he is passionate about other ex-athlete's transition into the corporate world and why investment banks are keen to hire more people from non-finance backgrounds.
In this episode of our careers podcast Danny Hogan speaks with Jack Cantillon. They discuss his time in Trinity, studying law and setting up the Trinity horse racing syndicate. They then go onto speak about his time in London, working with Linklaters and why he decided to leave it all behind to start his own company.
In this episode, Isabel speaks with Megan, an assurance associate at PWC. As a recent graduate, Megan speaks about why she chose PWC and what a career in the firm looks like. This is definitely a worthwhile listen for any students or graduates interested in accounting.
In this episode Siofra discusses with John his time studying global business in NUIG, his Erasmus in America and why he decided to choose to begin his career with PwC.
In this episode, Matthew speaks with Carl Delaney, Management Consulting Associate at PwC. On the show, they chat about Carl's time studying Economics in UCD, his exchange to the University of British Columbia, and Carl's time so far with PwC. Carl also shares his insights on what makes a successful candidate for PwC. A great episode for anyone who is considering a graduate role in management consulting!
In the final episode of our series with A & L Goodbody, Finn speaks with the founder of Xelda India Healy O'Connor. In this varied podcast they cover everything from India's journey studying Bess in Trinity to working in interest rate sales with Goldman Sachs in London and finally her new role as the founder of Xelda. This is a really inspiring listen for anyone interested in discovering more about the highs and lows of starting your own company.
In this episode, Siofra speaks with award winning writer Cauvery Madhaven. Cauvery was born in India and moved to Ireland 34 years ago. In this podcast they discuss how her upbringing in India impacted her writing style, her love for Ireland and her several books published to date. This is a really great listen for anyone interested in pursuing a career in writing or journalism.
In this episode, Isabel chats with Charley Nordin, a rower and silver medallist at the Paralympic games. In this varied podcast they talk about everything from his path to rowing to his disability, accident and recovery. They also discuss social justice in the form of disability in sport and Charley’s Black Lives Matter protest on the Paralympic podium. This is an inspiring podcast for anyone interested in sport or social justice.
In this episode, Matthew speaks with Feven Yohannes, Trainee Solicitor at A&L Goodbody. On the show, they discuss her journey to Dublin from Norway, covering her time spent in the UK and then Dublin, before going over her time spent securing a training contract and sitting the FE1s. A great episode for anyone who wants to know more about what trainees do on a daily basis!
On this episode, Isabel speaks with Joe O’Sullivan. Joe is the Client Technology Director at A&L Goodbody where he helps set the vision for the Innovation & Client Technology strategy. He responsible for leading innovation and business transformation through the adoption and implementation of next generation technologies. Previously, Joe was Head of IT Innovation within Allianz Partners. In his 21 years of experience Joe has also held senior management roles within Allianz Care and Oracle.
This week on GradLife, Ruby speaks to Orla Fenton, a newly-qualified solicitor in A&L Goodbody's Corporate Department. They discuss her route to corporate law, including the infamous FE-1 exams and the importance of soft-skills in the workplace. A worthwhile listen for anyone planning to go down the corporate law route.
In this episode, Isabel speaks with Olympic finalist, Cillín Greene. Cillín is just back from competing in the 4x400m mixed relay, as part of the first Irish relay team to make an Olympic final. He recently graduated from DCU with his law degree and has just started his Master of Law in Trinity. Isabel and Cillín chat about a lot in this podcast; athletics, law, personal motivations, advice, music and books. This is an inspiring and really interesting podcast for everyone from sports fans to law students.
On this episode, Isabel chats with Jason Milne, a partner in A&L Goodbody's Environmental & Planning group. Jason previously worked as an environmental consultant and, as a result, has over 19 years' experience in the field. They chat about Jason’s path to law, environmental law today and what makes a good solicitor. This episode is definitely useful for any aspiring corporate solicitors.
In the fourth episode of our Game Changers series, Finn speaks with Simon Kuper. Simon is a well renowned author and journalist, perhaps best know for his pieces in the weekend Financial Times ranging on all topics from politics to books and football. His most recent book on FC Barcelona covers the rise and fall of what he see's as the world greatest football club. In this episode Finn discusses with Simon how he ended up writing football articles for the FT despite it being a newspaper that doesn’t cover sports. They then go onto discuss his new book, the recent transfer of Lionel Messi and what he see's for the future of European football.
In this episode, Kate chats to Mia Carroll who works for LetsGetChecked, an Irish startup that recently became a unicorn! Mia chats about her day to day as a European Account Manager, the perks of working at a startup and her college experience at Trinity.
In the third episode of our Game Changers series, Finn speaks with Chris Williamson. Chris has had a fascinating career to date from being a reality tv star, club promoter to now running one of the UK's biggest and most successful podcasts. This is wide ranging chat covering topics such as the role interviewers must play in stress testing ideas, externalities in becoming a public figure and why legacy media must evolve in order to ensure its own survival.
In this episode Kate chats to Ben Butler who joined Stripe straight out of college as one of the first employees in the Dublin office. He is now the Head of Talent at Irish venture-backed startup Evervault and has plenty to share on working in the startup world, picking a job that’s right for you and more.
In this episode, Matthew speaks with Shane Curran, Founder and CEO of Evervault, the data encryption startup based in Dublin. After winning the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in 2018, Shane has gone on to be named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, and has secured funding from the likes of Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and Index Ventures. On the show, Shane shares insights from his journey up to now, as well as his time studying Business and Law at UCD.
In this episode, Kate chats to Alex Bowers who is working at Irish startup Robotify as an International Business Development Executive. Alex chats about the fast-paced startup world as well as his time spent working at Enterprise Ireland.
In this episode Danny speaks with Chris Best, the founder of Frontier Sports Management. Chris's career journey has taken multiple directions and this is a great insight into how he pivoted career to pursue his passion. They speak about his journey from UCD to Cass business school and how he eventually realised sports management was the best path for him. There's a lot of value in this for any students or graduates interested in pursuing a career in sports.
In this episode, Mark speaks to Conor Joyce. After graduating from BESS in Trinity with a first-class honors in 2015, which included a stint studying in Boston, Conor completed the Grad Program in KPMG's Deal Advisory team. This sparked an interest in property development and investment, which saw him join Lioncor Investment Group as an analyst on the Investment & Acquisitions team. Here he talks about all of these experiences, giving invaluable insight to anyone interested in a career in investment, real estate or finance in general!
In this episode, Mark speaks with PwC's head of graduate recruitment; Sarah Madigan. Mark digs deep into what are the essential qualities PwC looks for in its graduates. They discuss how covid has impacted the job market from internships to graduate programmes, what students can do to stand out on their CV, and how to impress in an interview. This is easily one of our most valuable podcasts to date with so much valuable information on the recruitment process and how to ace it!
In this episode, Matthew speaks with Róisín Costello, Assistant Professor of Law at DCU. They discuss her path in legal academia from studying Law in Trinity College to now, covering her Masters from Sciences Po and Georgetown University, as well as her PhD from Trinity College. A really informative discussion for anyone thinking of going into legal academia!
On this weeks episode, Mark sits down with Chloe Carney Conaty. Chloe tells us about her journey from studying Zoology to becoming a Tax Associate in PwC, and some interesting similarities between the two!
On this weeks episode, Mark sits down with Sean Finn. Sean is a Limerick Hurler and Risk Assurance Associate at PwC. He talks us through his role in Risk Assurance and shares some very interesting insights on time and personal management balancing exams, work and essentially, the training schedule of a pro athlete! A really interesting listen.
In this episode, Kate speaks to Josh Ash. Josh spent nearly 3 years working in LinkedIn and has now made the jump to venture-backed start-up Humaans where he is part of the partnerships team. They discuss working at a big tech company vs. a start-up, taking a gap year, and how to decide that it's time to move jobs.
In this episode, Mark chats to Patric Evason, a recent graduate of NUIG now working in Wealth Management in PwC. They discuss his time spent at university, why he decided to study commerce in NUIG and then go onto complete a masters in accounting. They then speak about his career to date in PwC, working in asset management and the skills he needed to get him there. A great listen for any business students out there!
On this episode Isabel speaks with Danielle Curtis, a barrister, activist, and Founder & CEO of Legal Diaries. They discuss Danielle’s college experience, her unconventional path to King’s Inns, her time studying at the Inns, and some of the issues that women face in the barrister profession. Danielle speaks about her passion for human rights work and explains what she does at Mercy Law Resource centre, a free legal aid clinic. Finally, they chat about Danielle’s recent founding of Legal Diaries, a business with the goal of helping other small businesses navigate through the law. This episode is a worthwhile listen for any aspiring entrepreneurs, or anyone interested in the bar and human rights work.
In this episode of the Gradlife legal series, Isabel chats to Samuel O'Connor, a recent graduate of UCD and now a practising barrister. They discuss his time spent at university, the process of applying to and studying at King's Inns, devilling, and being called to the bar. The episode is really helpful for any aspiring barristers, and covers in detail the unknown and somewhat mysterious process of being called to the bar.
In this episode of the Gradlife podcast, Kate chats to Ciara McNulty aka. thefakevegan. Ciara talks about her job as a dietician, working as a trainer at Perpetua Fitness, running her Instagram page, and what hacks she uses for productivity and time management.
This week we sit down with Laura McGettigan, who works in the Corporate Finance division of PWC in Dublin. Laura walks us through her day to day, the career opportunities that stem for working in this (prestigious) division, and gives us a very valuable breakdown of how the skills required of a grad are quickly evolving, and how you as a student can get ahead and keep up with them!
Orla Walsh is an Irish triathlete and student at University College Dublin. She has represented Ireland at several international events since 2018. She is the current national champion of Ireland and one of the youngest athletes ever to secure the title. Alongside her training, she is in her final year of Business and Law at UCD.
In this weeks episode, Danny sits down with David Gannon, a Wealth Management Executive at Goodbody Stockbrokers. David studied BESS in Trinity College and followed up in his interest in finance by undertaking the MsC in Finance from the UCD Smurfit Business School.
They chat through the ins and outs of wealth management, company culture, diversity in his role and what motived his job selection.
A really interesting chat with someone who has really given their job choice a lot of thought and time. Plenty of good takeaways for any incoming graduates or those with an interest in finance.
Róisín Finn (Tech, Innovation and Employment) and Matthew Gregg (Corporate Banking), both associates in McCann FitzGerald, talk us through their journeys through college to where they are today. Neither Roisin nor Matt studied straight law, and each describes the advantages and disadvantages (there aren't many!) of coming from a non-traditional background into one of the top law firms in Ireland. They also touch on the FE1s and their Blackhall experience, answering a lot of the questions we often get on these topics.
In the second episode of our Game Changers series, Finn spoke with Bryan Rosenblatt. Bryan is an investor with Craft Ventures, he joined Craft back in 2018 as its first full-time New York city hire. He is exceptionally well versed in the tech ecosystem with previous roles at Reddit, Twitter, and CBS Radio. Bryan has also been an active angel investor in New York for several years, managing a syndicate of over 500 accredited investors through Riverside Ventures. In this episode we discussed Bryan’s incredible career to date and then spoke about some more generic topics like his thoughts on NFT’s, bitcoin and the future of New York city post pandemic.
In this episode, Matthew speaks to Rosemary Hennigan, Policy Coordinator at Focus Ireland. They discuss her journey from Law in Trinity College to her current role, covering her training as a solicitor in corporate law and pursuing an LLM in the University of Pennsylvania as a Fulbright Scholar. Really insightful for anyone who's in two minds about the corporate route!
This week Kate speaks to Bryan Mulry who is working in sales for Google Cloud. This is an episode not to be missed by anyone looking for a job or thinking about their next move. Bryan has a great approach to navigating the jobs market and shares his tips during this episode.
This week Ruby speaks to Sarah Farrelly, a Pro Bono Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys. They chat about Sarah's career to date, including her time as a Senior Legal Manager at TrustLaw, the global pro bono legal service of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A really interesting episode for any aspiring lawyers with an interest in human rights or legal aid.
In this episode of The Outlier, we have Gary Featherstone, or Coach Gaz join us for an extremely engaging, enjoyable and insightful conversation. Gary fills us in on how he made the transition from Computer Science to becoming a full time CrossFit Coach and Business owner. We talk about how to deal with uncertainty during challenging times, and how getting comfortable with the uncomfortable allows us to grow and understand ourselves better. We also discuss how comparison is the thief of joy, especially when it comes to fitness and the minefield that is the Instagram feed. Gary has an awesome outlook on life that is truly infectious, he lives his passion for fitness and helping others every day, it was great to gain some insight into how he manages to be the positive force that he is!
In this episode of the law podcast Mark interviews Jennifer Halpin. Jennifer is a Real Estate Partner at McCann FitzGerald. Ireland has had a big boom in property, and it is a dynamic sector. Jennifer’s experience in this will no doubt be inspirational for anyone looking at getting into the legal or the commercial space.
In this week's episode, Kate chats to Sorcha O'Byrne, an associate consultant at management consulting firm, Bain & Co. Sorcha demystifies the world of consulting by taking us through her application process, her daily work routine and the type of projects she works on.
This is an episode with Catherine Deane, Partner and Chair at McCann FitzGerald. In this episode Catherine talks about her experience starting off in the aviation industry with McCann and working her way up to partner of aircraft financing and leasing. This sector has had lots of growth over the past few years and makes a riveting podcast for anyone who is interested in getting into the legal or the commercial side of leasing.
In the debut episode of our new Game Changers podcast, Finn Hatherell interviews one of Irelands most respected angel investors - Brian Caulfield. In this episode Brian discusses the dot com crash of the naughties, the future of big tech and his thoughts on AI.
This week on GradLife, Ruby speaks to Matthew Nuding, a Junior Policy Analyst in the Digital Economy division of the OECD. They chat about his time in Trinity, which included a year spent as President of the Phil. Matthew speaks candidly about his experience as a Grad upon leaving Trinity, before he began in the OECD through the Young Associates Programme. A really worthwhile listen for anyone interested in the intersection between law and politics.
Only fitting that we would have GradLife founder Mark Maxwell as the first Guest on Outlier. Mark has a story that some would struggle to squeeze in in 60 years, let alone 30! In this episode we hear about some risqué job application techniques Mark adopted to get his ideal role, how a trip to peaceful New Zealand almost proved fatal and how doing what you think is expected of you isn’t always what is actually what’s right for you, and much more. Mark’s honesty, energy and passion for life make him a force to be reckoned with, it was brilliant to have him tell his story on the Podcast.
Mr. Justice Peter Kelly has been described as a “fearless, forthright and formidable legal force”. After establishing himself as a remarkable barrister, representing several high-profile clients, he was appointed a judge of the High Court. During his career he gained much recognition for his admirable handling of cases concerning those most vulnerable in our society. He played a pivotal role during the aftermath of the financial crisis, condemning banks, property developers and businesspeople. Mr Justice Kelly spent time in the High Court, the commercial court, and the court of appeal before returning to the HC on becoming president. He retired in 2020, after 24 years’ service on the bench.
This week Danny chats to Paddy Ryder, Co-Founder of Covid Interns and MSc Finance & Accounting student at Imperial College London. The guys talk about starting a social enterprise in the midst of covid. the benefits of societal involvements at college, moving to London and breaking into the world of Investment Banking.
They also delve into how the opportunity cost of trying new things has never been lower, which in part led to Paddy setting up Covid Interns, enabling him partner students/graduates with organisations seeking assistance during the pandemic.
In this episode, Ruby speaks to Jonathon Boylan, auditor of the 87th session of the Trinity Law Society. They discuss his time in Trinity, his involvement with Law Soc, and the challenges he’s faced this year as auditor of a society in the zoom era. We also learn how an interview with Niall Horan brought him significant social media attention. A great insight into what is involved in running one of Trinity's busiest societies.
In the second episode of the Law podcast, Ruby speaks to John Neeson, a senior associate in the corporate group of McCann FitzGerald. They discuss his route to corporate law, which included a stint in a criminal law firm and a year in Australia, as well as his favourite aspects of the job. Well worth a listen if you haven’t quite made up your mind about the corporate law path.
In our first Gradlife Law podcast, we speak to Karyn Harty, who is a litigation partner at McCann FitzGerald. This is a really remarkable chat on life and career, if if Law/Litigation don't fit within your career plans!
This week on the podcast, Kate chats to Shreya Pattar about her work as a freelance content creator, her chat with the former CEO of LinkedIn, how she manages her following of 85k+ followers on LinkedIn and 40k+ followers on Instagram, how she balances client work with college work and much more. Shreya is nailing her work in so many ways and has lots of advice to share - enjoy this one!
In this episode, Kate speaks to Hannah Lynch about her work in the blockchain space and how she sees blockchain shaping the world around us. Hannah also describes her college experience including her involvement in the Matheson hackathon, the Trinity Dragon's Den competition, Techstars' Start-up weekend and more. A really insightful glimpse into the worlds of blockchain and startups!
This week on Gradlife, Danny talks to Tom Lynch, a pricing analyst for Avolon, one of the world's top aircraft lessors. Tom gives us an insight into his role as a pricing analyst in Avolon's Hong Kong office and also details his involvement in the 'Project I' study around the development of Ireland entrepreneurial ecosystem. A quick but fascinating chat with one of Ireland's top young prospects in aviation.
Charlie Butler talks about his journey to being Founder of Bounce Insights, including the practical steps, tough decisions, and sacrifices he needed to make along the way. Great listen!
Kate Fullen (Venture Capitalist) and Danny Hogan (Entrepreneur) are Gradlife's two newest hosts on the business podcast. Here they tell their stories and interview each other so that you can get to know the two legends behind the mic in our latest episodes!
Great to have Conor Leen, Founder and CEO of BOOMING Social Enterprise Stampify, returns to Gradlife to drop some more wisdom, inspiration, and and update on his incredible success with Stampify to date.
This week on the Gradlife podcast Kate spoke to the one and only, Orla Comeford. They discuss the Orla's journey from the leaving cert to the Rio games, studying at NCAD, the peaks and troughs of following your passions and much more.
Tanner O'Connell talks about his journey through KPMG and into Venture Capital. The benefits of working at a small fund, the roles and all they entail, and the mental journey he has been on to getting there - seriously, a ton to learn from this man and so happy to finally get him on!
This week on Gradlife, Kate spoke to Gabriel Ogundipe. Gabby is a Trinity MSISS graduate who is currently working at fintech, Checkout.com.
During his time as Trinity, Gabriel co-founded a start-up, Luminary Hub, and secured a place in the Trinity Launchbox programme, placed in the world finals of a case competition in New York, and was the vice-president of the Irish Student Consulting Group. Gabby also secured the George Moore scholarships to complete a masters in the US upon finishing college.
We talk motivations, the importance of extra-curriculars in college, job applications, and more.
Emily and Suzanne, from KPMG's Grad Recruitment team, walk us through everything you need to know about how to get a job in one of Ireland's most prestigious graduate programs!
Rachel Browne tells us about her journey to becoming a designer with Vivienne Westwood while at the same time achieving som real success as an actress too!
Aisling Byrne of KPMG tells us about her experience from Commerce in UCD (including 6 months in Singapore!) to being named the Gradireland Graduate of the year in 2020! She also talks everything from life in consulting to managing exams on top of an already busy schedule.
Ian talks us through his experience on the ESB Grad program as an engineer, moving to Bahrain the Middle East to work and live for 6 months on an ESB project, and how to get into these cool jobs in energy - probably the most important industry in the world right now!
Maeve Coll of ESB tells us about her journey from college to a great job in ESB's HR team; a journey that took to Melbourne and Cambodia along the way! Very informative and insightful into ESB's great Grad Program, which you can apply to between Sep 24 and Nov 02 2020.
Listen to Jessie O'Leary's story about how she turned a hard time into a wave of momentum that saw her start a business out of college, and what a business it is!
This is a seriously good episode. Jack Kennedy gives very thoughtful insight into:
Moving from consulting to tech
Moving from Tech Account Manager to Product Manager
Being Employee Number 1 in a Start-up
Founding his own Environmental Start-up
Doing all this as an Introvert
Kez went from Trinity College straight to being a Venture Capitalist in San Francisco, the heart of the action! She has now moved back this side of the pond and is the Head of Climate & Environmental Initiatives at a company called Intertrust - really cool job! Lots to learn from Kez as she talks about her career and evolution to date.
Eoin talks about going from being confused in college to landing on his feet in Heineken where he has been promoted 3 times in 4 years!
Jane Mernagh talks about her journey from Global Business in DCU (Via Germany), to Salesforce Dublin and on to Yelp in NYC!
Jack Kavanagh is someone I have known for 15 years, and he is an inspiration to me. The toughness, the positivity, the spirit of this guy, never ceases to amaze me. We have said for 2 years that we must do a podcast, and now we have done it. Listen to this with a pen and paper, as you will learn more about life from Jack than you have in a long time!
Ollie chats to Polly Goss, ex-teacher, sales-person and start-up entrepreneur about the power of networking and much more!
A real estate agent talks about what the job is like, how to get in, and what the pros and cons are.
To be a REA is a very good career that can pay very very well when done successfully. It's a form of high end sales and is heavily built on relationships, which suits a lot of people down to the ground!
Everyone talks and hears about the <1% of great startup successes. We hear lots about the top 10%, who all work out reasonably well. But what about the other 90? Where do they go?
Kevin Holler has the realest experience of startup life where things don't go to plan. He tells his story here and talks about the lessons learned and mindsets required throughout the founder journey. It's a fascinating story that is worth hearing regardless of your interest in starting a company.
Whether it will make you want to start one more, or put you off it, is completely up for interpretation!
Enjoy :-)
A real treat to be joined by Taylor Brown, co-Founder and COO of Fivetran, one of the world's fastest growing and most exciting Series B startups in existence. Taylor talks about his journey up to founding Fivetran, and how you often might be on a much more clear path than you yourself realise!
Fivetran was one of the fastest growing tech companies in the world in 2019, thanks in part to the success of it's EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Division that is run out of Dublin by Nate Spohn. Nate, who grew up in Canada, opens up about his experience searching for a career in Canada, Germany and the US, before finally coming across Fivetran. From a university called 'Chaos Pilots' to inventing board games, this is a story that will inspire any student or graduate to back themselves and meet their full inner potential!
Chloe Best tells us about her experience both as an entrepreneur and as a trainee buyer at Primark, a very prestigious role for many graduates out there and a great way of combining interest in both business and fashion!
What would you do if you were diagnosed with cancer out of the blue?
It's a question people often ask themselves as a way of checking in, and seeing how far off their ideal lives they actually are.
Well, for Elle Flood, this concept became a reality one day in 2018. In this interview, she talks about that very moment, the journey that ensued (and the incredible resilience she showed), and the impact it has had on her outlook on life.
Elle is also doing really well in sales in Adroll, and has a lot of advice to offer there, which we focus on in the early stages of our conversation.
This is one of the most moving conversations I've ever had, and I guarantee it will move you too.
While he was in college in Trinity College Dublin, Dan Hobbs and a friend embarked on a startup venture together; not with a novel idea, but with a vision for making an existing service, better.
This is a great story in perseverance, commitment, and the ups and downs that life as a founder can present.
Imperative listening for anyone who is interested in starting their own business some day.
Conor Leen, the CEO and founder of Stampify (a fantastic Social Enterprise in Dublin which uses a loyalty card system to feed the homeless) talks about his journey of setting up a social enterprise while also working full time (at Google), the sacrifices and rewards involved, and how he selected his team. Really, really inspirational for anyone who feels like they have more to offer than their 9-5 allows them to.
Stephen Keenan is a business graduate from UCD who, having run a startup throughout his undergrad, returned to do a masters in Computer Science, just to round out his business education and skillset. He talks us through this decision and who he would recommend it to, why it was beneficial etc.
Stephen also talks to us about Microfinancing, which is an incredibly powerful agent for social change in developing country. Steve is part of the Neem Fund (www.neemfund.com) which is doing some great work in this area in Ghana. Feel free to reach out him on LinkedIn if you would like to get involved!
Dan Hinds, UCC International Business graduate, Accenture Management Consultant, and Founder of the Millennial of the Year, which raised €175,000 for Down Syndrome Ireland in 2018, talks about his graduate and professional journey so far, why everyone should be thinking more about China, and how he turned an idea into €175,000 raised for charity in 6 weeks!
MK Slattery talks about mindfulness, detaching from pain, Washington Ireland program, as well as talking very openly about her struggle with Anorexia as a teenager. Fantastic episode with an amazing girl!
Evanna McGrath, who runs the LIDL Grad program in Ireland, tells us all about the LIDL grad program, which in my opinion is definitely one of the best in Ireland if you are looking to move into business operations, sales or a retail environment.
Listen to Rob talk about his 'Grad Life' (Minus the 'grad', of course!), the professional challenges he has dealt with to date, the risks he has taken and the direction he sees himself heading in from here!
Ailsinn Mahon, General Manager of Huckletree Dublin, talks us through her fascinating career moving from Enterprise Ireland's Grad Program, living and working in Hong Kong with Brandtone, to helping to grow Web Summit out in Europe. Aislinn is also a Yogi which, in my eyes, makes her outlook on career extra interesting!
Former DCU SU President Lorna Finnegan runs us through her interesting Grad Life, which took from working in events in Dublin to Media in Chicago, back to Google in Dublin
Eilis Delany of Fjord (Accenture Dock Building) teaches us about Business Design as a career and life inside Accenture Dock. Business Design is definitely an interesting career path for anyone looking at a career in business, and one that doesn't get quite as much attention as it should. Design Thinking is at the core of every consumer-facing application - technological or otherwise - so is we worthwhile studying either formally or in your own time.
Audrey Sheils tells us how she went from struggling to get a summer internship before final year to being offered grad jobs from top Tech, FMCG and Consulting companies a year later. She also tells us how much fun she had doing this and how the things that make you more desirable and hireable for employers should also be fun to do!
Serial Entrepreneur (and now VC) Finn Murphy talks to us about starting a business while still in college, merging with another business, and the challenges and lifestyle involved in each. Very inspirational guy and great material for anyone with an entrepreneurial streak to satisfy!
Life lessons from a management consultant, with a particularly fresh perspective on work/life balance and the dangers of pursuing greatness
Shane McCallion, a Big 4 Tech Consultant in Dublin, talks to us about: - Management Consulting - Tech Consulting - Masters in Management Consulting - 1 Year Internships
Tom Kelly talks about the pros and cons of working for a small business rather than a large corporate at the start of ones career, and tells us how he has come to appreciate the ambitions and values of people that differ from his own
Hear the remarkable Tommy Browne talk about:
Rowing 5,000 miles across the Atlantic in 5 weeks Growing a startup from 5-30 employees Volunteering and living in Kenya for 5 months Human Rights Law, and living and training in a Spanish Tennis Academy as a teenager!
In depth conversation with Cillian Hilliard of Atlantic Bridge Capital in which we discuss Venture Capital day to day, how to land a job in VC, the M&A Industry in Ireland, and Cillian's own impressive journey through university
Hear from Conor McGann from Google Dublin about life inside the tech giant's EU Headquarters, what the role of account manager entails, and how he matches the intensity of his job with his passions outside of it.
Ross McHugh of Linkedin talks about life inside the tech giant, the lessons he has learned over the early years of his career, and why he wants to go travelling at this time of his life.
You never know who you'll meet while your travelling! Here, I talk to Kieran Gleeson, who gives us the ins and outs of the life of a primary teacher in Ireland, what it would be like for someone to transition from business into teaching, and what direction education is heading in.
GREAT conversation with Aadil Razvi and Garrett Goerger, who, respectively, run a Bitcoin investment fund and a successful e-commerce site from their laptops in Buenos AIres! This discussion provides an insight into their motivations and experiences both as entrepreneurs and of the widely-coveted laptop lifestyle!
In this episode myself and Ed discuss productivity and other related themes that are of interest to students and young professionals alike,
In this episode I chat to Rhys Thomas, an actor, watchmaker, entrepreneur, ex-Google and ex-Stripe national Sales head, and we discuss business, life and different perspectives on the role your career can play in your life!
Great chat with my long time friend Alan Cremin who worked in EY for 5 years across Ireland and Sydney before recently moving into industry. Al gives us the ins and outs of the 'Big 4' accounting firms, how they work, and the good and bad parts about working there. Very useful for anyone not sure what they want to do after graduating.
Great chat with Ed Napper who graduated and entered Goldman Sach's M&A team in Sydney, where he spent two years, from which he shares his experiences here.
Pat is a USA International Rugby Player who played in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, a Stanford Business Graduate, and a Googler in Sydney. Here we talk about his fascinating journey so far, the courage it takes to go after something you love, making the most of responsibility-free years.,and how to deal with imposter syndrome!
This is a great episode, which I divide into 2. First, we hear about a very interesting career from a girl with a fantastic attitude to life, travel, and new challenges. Then, we get a great insight into what Google and the other top tech firms are looking for when they hire grads. The four pillars that they interview on, and the things you can do now to set yourself up for a job at these places!
Ever wonder what life is like for the people who work in the tourist spots you visit? Are you ever tempted to hit the road yourself and start working in the travel industry? Joel Walton has done this. He shunned a career in the corporate world and has been working in travel all over the globe for the past 10 years. Here, he shares the highs and lows from his experiences and shows us that the travel / work dilemma is not as black and white as you may think.
This is an insightful chat with Laura Jones. Laura, 25, has already ran two retail businesses (at the same time), worked in recruiting, and recently moved from the UK to Sydney to work with Google. Very accomplished girl who enjoys life to the full!
In this episode, we hear from Rob Lagudi, a great young guy doing very well in tech sales with Sugar CRM in Sydney. It's a great conversation that I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely benefit anyone out there figuring out what to do, even if that has nothing to do with sales!
In this episode I talk to Tami Terzakyan who, 3 days after this interview, quit her job in Google Sydney to go travelling the world for 18 months! We talk about that decision as well as her fascinating career to date which has seen her work in Radio, Walt Disney Studios and Google, and jump between her homeland of Argentina and Australia. Enjoy!
This is episode 1 of the Gradlife Podcast! In this episode, I explore the world of Sydney Startups, Sales and Google with Tommy Buckingham of Google.
You'll learn what it's like to work in a startup vs a big company straight out of uni, what it is like to work in sales, to work in Google, and what a salesperson can look forward to in the future.
You will also certainly be able to relate to some of the challenges that Tommy has faced both in university and in his early career.
Share with any friends in their twenties - this is an information sharing MOVEMENT!