Embracing Multiple Roles Beyond Managing Director

As I write ‘managing director, O’Brien Learning Solutions’ I realise that I am much more than that as a person. While I love the work that I do, I also know that the work doesn’t define me and that there is much more to me, and to life than ‘work’.

With that said, I find that running my own business, gives me the desired amounts of growth, challenge, creativity and flexibility that I need from my career at this stage of life.

A Life Rooted in Shannon and Growth Through Challenges

From the articles I’ve written for the Clare Echo, you may have already read that I am from Shannon and that I spent my career working in Shannon and raising my daughter, Eva. Eva turns 24 this year and I am now in a new phase of my life where I have more time to myself.  It’s an unsettling phase of life in ways too, as you realise that it’s probably less than halfway to the finish line, so to speak. One can get quite reflective at times, wondering ‘Have I done enough?’ in terms of career, family, friendships, hobbies etc. Or ‘What’s next?’.

Thankfully, I am of the mindset, that there is always more to learn and I am open to learning new things. In this week’s article for International Women’s Day, I am writing a more about myself than perhaps I am used to, but as always, I am grateful for the opportunity to share a little part of my story. As a managing director, I have had the privilege of shaping my career path and influencing the success of my business through continual learning and personal growth.

The Journey of Self-Discovery and Letting Go of Baggage

The aim of sharing my story is always to inspire others, and to help others to break through any limiting ideas that they may have about themselves. Sometimes we carry baggage with us throughout our lives. I realised over the last few years, the value of leaving down the metaphorical suitcases, allowing myself to gather in the process, the ways and means to live a contented and fulfilling life.

Early Life and Educational Pathways

I grew up in Shannon and I went to school in St Senan’s National school. Then I went onto St Patrick’s Comprehensive school, completing my leaving certificate in 1994. I was bright in school and I went to college in UCC at a very young age of just barely 17.  

Coping with Life’s Challenges and Shifts in Career

I had undertaken an arts degree and wanted to get into journalism but that wasn’t meant to be.  Unfortunately, while I was in university, my mother took very ill with a brain tumour. Looking back, I didn’t have the coping skills needed at that stage of life to deal with living away from home and all the challenges that presented for me as a young person at the time. This, coupled with my mother being so ill resulted in me packing it all in and coming back home to stay with my parents.

I ended up working in Shannon and eventually getting a job in the newly formed GE Insurance Services (which started out as CFI), taking my first ever job in financial services. The next two decades of my career were spent working for various organisations in Shannon where I learned about training, development, coaching and leadership development among lots of other transferable skills. I managed teams of up to 200 staff with at one point in my career and learned so much about how to lead people, what to do to support people in their roles, and also what not to do!

Balancing Career, Motherhood, and Personal Development

In August 2000, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl when I was 23 years old. At that stage, I had a good career and eventually I went back to college by distance learning and did a degree in business studies and marketing. I also became a proud homeowner not too long after Eva was born. I bought a beautiful new townhouse in a lovely area in Shannon, where I still live today.

Just after my daughter’s second birthday, my mum sadly passed away, leaving a gap in the family unit that could never be filled or repaired.  

Reflecting on the Journey and Future Aspirations

Today, I look back over those last 23 years or so, since I became a mother, and all that has happened since. My career developed and went from strength to strength, until a redundancy offer came my way and gave me a secure foundation to start my own business. I am grateful for the people who supported me at those early stages, and especially those who had faith in me and offered me contract work, which got me off the starting blocks 8 years ago.

Next week I will celebrate eight years in business. When I started out, a good friend and mentor told me to give it at least two years. I was terrified! But here I am eight years later, with lots of wins under my belt, still learning and still moving forward.

Embracing Imperfection and Life’s Lessons

I am proud to be the woman that I am. I never get things perfect, but I am always willing to learn new things. I’ve found that life itself is the greatest teacher and that anything I’ve experienced has shaped me into the person that I am today. Today, I am grateful for it all.

Managing Director Denise O’Brien