UL MBA Alumni Stories | Kemmy Business School Corporate MBA

Leading with confidence

Our alumni share their stories of proactive leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate their unique business environment with confidence in times of change.

Finula Crowe

I’ve always had a strong drive to run with fresh ideas; to take a risk and put those ideas into action. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why I decided to apply for the MBA back in 2010 when I returned to work in my family’s golfing and hospitality business after 16 years in Australia.

Sean McGowan

I’ve always followed my own course and pushed myself to the limit. My graduation from UL illustrates this perfectly because while my classmates celebrated with friends and family, I rowed solo across the Atlantic. After a period of intense work and study, I chose to dive straight into another challenge, rowing alone for a total of 118 days. It was exhausting, but it also gave me time for reflection.

Hilda Mulvihill

When I initially applied to study for the MBA, I had recently started in a new position as a Business and Process Development Project Manager with a Global Medical Technology Company. The role was great, making full use of my technical knowledge around medical device testing & approvals, yet all too often I found myself struggling, I was grappling with an unfamiliar language, particularly around finance, strategy, economics and marketing and I knew I needed to up my game.

Eileen Fitzgerald

I’ve been in the banking sector my entire career. It’s an environment with wonderful opportunities: to work in diverse locations across different countries and jurisdictions and achieve progression with focus and hard work. Undertaking an MBA helped solidify my career experience so that I was able to avail myself of these opportunities to the full.

Ken Stockil

From an early age, I wanted to start my own business. With a background in electronic engineering, my primary objective in studying for an MBA was to develop a deeper business awareness. I was keen to broaden my understanding, as well as my leadership capabilities, but I was also excited to explore the entrepreneurship modules, which promised to fuel my own startup ambitions.

Mark Cahill

Investing in further study might seem like a big ask, especially if you have a young family at home, but in my experience, it’s worth every penny. In 2006, I decided to take the plunge and pay for the programme myself. It’s the best investment I’ve ever made, enabling me to accelerate and diversify my career into other areas.

Mike Finucane

"With over 15 years’ experience in engineering and manufacturing, I realised I had become pigeonholed. The MBA helped me break free to take on challenging new leadership roles." Learn more about how Mike took the learnings gained from his MBA experience to effectively change industry and inform his management style.

Kenneth Lynch

"With core skills for leadership and a broad business perspective, I was empowered to realise my goals, confident that no area of business was ‘out of bounds’." Find out how Kenneth took the skills learned in the MBA programme to switch industry and role, and achieve his business ambitions.

Kevin Coen

"With various finance models, plus specialist electives, I realised I could tailor my MBA around my career goals, which was a big draw." Discover how Kevin moved into the field of Market Analysis & Risk Management using the skills and experience gained during his MBA programme.

Colm Cryan

"The MBA helped me to identify and strengthen my leadership style, to provide clear, consistent, and effective leadership in times of change." Learn how Colm effectively utilised the soft skills and strategic thinking gained from his MBA experience to more effectively lead his team to success.

Sinead Dolan

"Thanks to my MBA, I’m ready to take on a leadership role to direct our digital strategy and focus on realising proactive change." Find out how Sinead used the teachings from her MBA to gain insight into the customer experience and drive proactive changes for her business as a result.

Tom Brennan & Patsy Carney

"Without our MBA experience, I don’t think EirGen would have thrived as it did. Part of being an entrepreneur is taking risks, but we also had the tools to make astute decisions." Discover how Tom and Patsy used their MBA learnings to launch and successfully run their own company.

Billy Nolan

"There will always be factors that you can’t influence and for which you can’t prepare, but with MBA thinking behind your leadership, you will get through any crisis." Find out how Billy used his MBA to gain the essential skills he needed to make strategic and financial decisions for the betterment of his company.

Marie Clifford

"Without the critical-thinking skills I learnt during the MBA, I’m not sure I would have been so well equipped to modify my strategy and adapt to rapidly changing conditions." Learn how Marie used critical-thinking and strategic skills gained during her MBA to steer her company to success during the COVID pandemic.

Peader Forbes

"The MBA has opened doors for me, and my career has accelerated faster than I could have imagined." Discover how Peadar used his MBA learnings to successfully achieve his dream role and gain a seat at the strategy table.

Siobhan Ryan

"The MBA gave me the skills to go for senior roles, but it also gave me the confidence not to settle for positions where I felt I wasn’t realising my full potential." Learn how Siobhan used the skills gained from her MBA programme to successfully advocate for her own role and experience.

Gerard Bracken

"I am so proud to think that the skills I learned in the MBA programme are now benefitting the children and families in my community." Discover how Gerard learned to use his experience in the MBA programme to benefit his wider community with strategic and effective advice and guidance.

Suzanne Dunne

"The skills I learned during the MBA enabled me to adapt in real time; to be the strategic, agile, and resilient leader that UL Hospitals and my team need." Find out how Suzanne used critical-thinking skills gained from her MBA experience to lead her team effectively during the COVID pandemic.

Eithna O'Leary

"The UL MBA gave me the spark to further succeed and all of the skills to progress my career with confidence." Learn how the MBA programme gave Eithna the full complement of skills she needed to succeed in developing a rural business for the global market.