‘It’s really sad to see all the rollbacks that are happening in the US with regards to equality and DEI’

Growing up with two parents who were entrepreneurs, I was always interested in business and appreciated and understood the hustle of how hard you have to work to run your own business. 

While I don’t own my own business (watch this space!), I’ve ensured that I am entrepreneurial in my own career and take risks which has led me to the fortunate position I now have working for the iconic Billie Jean King. 

In college, I studied… surprise, surprise, Commerce in NUIG.

I then went to Smurfit to pursue a Masters in Organisational Behavior. I’ve always been interested in business and what motivates people. I’m also invested in all the changes that have yet to take place in the world of work, mostly as it relates to the representation of women in positions of leadership and more diversity across every organisation. 

My most formative work experience was working in my parent’s hotel from the age of 12 – I did every job from cleaning rooms and polishing cutlery and glasses to working in the bar and restaurant to a stint at the reception desk. 

It was an incredibly formative experience for me and it equipped me with the hospitality skills needed to take you all over the world. I actually think it should be a rite of passage for every young person to work in customer service as you learn so much about people, patience and above all, yourself. 

I’m not sure what constitutes a “real job” but my first corporate job was my acceptance into the Analyst program at Accenture. 

This was an incredible opportunity for me and for anyone who had just graduated as I was placed in a “start group” of 30 people who were all my age from different backgrounds and incredible friendships were built. Unfortunately, this was short-lived as I started with Accenture in 2008, was brought through incredible training and mentorship and then the 2009 recession ensued and the majority of graduates were placed on a paid leave of absence. That helped me move to New York though and I forever hold Accenture in the highest regard and am deeply grateful for this first “real job”. 

I learned two really valuable things early on in my career, both of which are related.

The first is to ask for what you want. You may not get it but you should always advocate for yourself and just try. I attribute a lot of the success I’ve had in my life to asking others for help. I know some people struggle with this and unfortunately, it’s documented that women in particular don’t want to be seen as demanding whereas men rarely suffer from that problem. It’s one thing I always tell young people who are just starting their careers – the answer is always no if you don’t ask. The second is to network. It’s related to my first point but again, it was through meeting people, asking people for additional introductions and just the overall power of showing up (even if that’s on your own sometimes and you have some awkward moments over appetisers) that anything happened for me in New York. Most of the best things that have happened to me happened through the network I built up. 

A common misconception about what I do is that I only focus on non-profit work. 

I am so lucky to get to work on Billie Jean’s foundation but I also get to be involved in advising companies on their women’s sports strategy, deals, licensing and athlete representation. 

I’m lucky to work for the GOAT of women’s sports who is a great mentor. 

Another person I go to constantly for advice is my former boss Kim Davis. She’s someone who had a huge impact on my career and is now an Executive Vice President at the National Hockey League. 

It doesn’t seem that risky to Irish and European people but in the US they are not really au fais with sabbaticals and in 2018, I did just that. 

I quit my job and travelled the world for six months. I remember so many of my US colleagues at the time being shocked and asking me things like, “What about your career?”, but truly it was the best thing I ever did. I’m a big fan of the quote, “Travel is the only thing you buy in life that makes you richer”, and my experiences with different people and cultures have undoubtedly impacted me for the better. They’ve helped make me a better leader. 

I wake at 7:30am to 8am which is likely late for some people, especially in the US but I love sleeping!

I drink iced coffee 365 even if there’s snow on the ground, it doesn’t matter – I’m sipping that cold brew. My morning routine is stretching and getting a workout in if I can depending on the day’s schedule. I listen to NPR news headlines every morning and usually an episode of the NY Times The Daily. I love news aggregator emails also, especially Fortune Most Powerful Women so if I read nothing else on the day, I’ll read that. 

I can’t go to work without my Powerbeats. 

I’m an audio junkie and music is always playing either on my speakers at home or in my ears on the move. 

I travel to work by subway but I’m lucky that the majority of my job is remote with fun travel dotted in. 

On an average workday, I have lots of conversations about development in women’s sports and talk with sponsors, investors and founders either in person or virtually. I start my working day at 9am and the first thing I do is respond to emails that may have come in overnight. I also read the Gist or Just Women’s Sports to catch up on all the developments that have happened in the past 24 hours in the world of sports. There’s never a dull moment!

When I’m on the move, I have a salad for lunch.

When I’m working from home I’ll make myself avocado toast with a fried egg or a tuna wrap – I could eat those two things for lunch forever I think. 

The most useful business tool I use every day is Slack, for getting quick responses from my colleagues. 

So many years of working in consulting have also helped me develop an addiction to PowerPoint. I think in slides… seriously, it’s scary. I save time by putting things in a PowerPoint. I’m a big fan of all our new predictive text technologies and use AI where I can. 

I rarely get through my working day without texting my friends.

I love to be in touch with my pals as much as I can. To me, friendship is everything. 

The best part of my day is when I learn about new investments, increases in viewership or crowd size for women’s sports. 

And thankfully, that happens more days than not! 

For most of my career, I’ve been focused on efforts that advance gender equity and DEI. 

It’s really challenging and frankly sad to see all the rollbacks that are happening in the US as it relates to this work. 

I know it’s been a good day if I’ve done all the things on my “to-do” list and responded to all the people I have to respond to.

Inbox zero will never be possible for me though. I usually end my day at 6pm but I’ll be emailing all evening if something is going on… a lifetime in client services will do that to you! 

I switch off from work by socialising with friends or taking advantage of the many amazing shows, events, and live music NYC has to offer. 

Before I go to bed, I’ll check my inbox one more time (again, client services PTSD) and refresh The New York Times to see if anything is breaking. It’s not the most zen wind-down routine but surprisingly, I fall straight to sleep. 

I often prepare for tomorrow by mentally visualising the next day and what I’ll be wearing so I don’t have to think about that in the morning!

After a long work week, I destress by doing SoulCycle every Saturday – it’s my church and I love the routine of it in a life where I have very little routine. 

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is running the New York Marathon in 2017.

I really invested in it and took the training seriously and it was just such a rush crossing that finish line.

If you want to get into my line of work, my advice is to pursue paths in consulting, communications or advertising. They all focus on delivering for clients and you can take that skillset with you anywhere, especially into the world of sports! 

I’ve just finished working on The Power of Women’s Sports Symposium in Malaga, Spain alongside the Finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. We’re currently working on the next Summit and delivering for our clients in the women’s sports space ensuring they’re generating a return on their investment while also maximising this moment and the momentum in women’s sports. 

Photography courtesy of Therese O’Higgins.