Guest Speakers

First day at UCDublin campus. After an eventful bus ride taking everyone’s luggage and squishing into the full double decker bus-we made it to the classroom. On a side note: those Irish bus drivers are so kind! Helping you navigate, taking time to wait for you to catch your bearings, and just a little bit more politeness for those catching the bus, especially American tourists.

Preparing mentally for the day of guest speakers and a little worrisome about recalling the reading was a good start. Overall the day was packed with great information, accents, and PowerPoint slides to help for the business days with our companies. There were quite long presentations and take away thoughts. So I’ll condense this into a more concise format:

Andrew Parish

His great ideas about harnessing offshore energy using buoys was fascinating. As a presenter I liked how straight forward Andrew was and his bluntness really caught my attention. He was a very likable person with opinions and ideas willing to share, if prompted.  One of the things I struggle with is being too nice and fickle. His advice on being clear with your goals and to be honest were refreshing to hear about. Instead of pleasing with sugar coating, there is more benefit from being more open, clear, and listening. His lessons from failure were far more valuable than constantly hearing about the successes of other corporations.

As a student and a human I deeply understand making mistakes. I have always been told by my family, “Don’t fear mistakes. Try to avoid them and not to repeat them-but don’t fear it. There is no better way to live than to learn.” This was what echoed through my mind during his lecture. Something I try to master is to avoid repeating mistakes. His lecture made me feel better about not worrying about being on a stage and that, “leadership is a humbling experience.”

My favorite quote of his was, “You have two ears and one mouth-use them in that ratio.”

Professor Cunningham

This one was one of my favorites of the day. His lecture on cows and biological influence might not have been expected with the rest of the business theme. As a public health student and some science background this was something I was able to, finally, understand exactly.

The growing field of public health is on the brink of technological frontiers for health and to start making impacts that affect traceability. His was a great amalgamation of business and public health to connect my presence on this trip. I really liked how the company was built by academics and the research behind the product. I think that this is very important to the world and for health policy all over. A huge movement for: public health officials, governments, and for food security.  It’s so interesting what new technology can be built for and how it can be used across fields.

Paul Bryne

“WOW”

I really liked the emphasis on the customer and on quality. As a consumer it’s nice to have that considered and not to completely be profit driven.  Instead of pushing sales, it’s nice to take a step back and also think about how your own likability is important.

His advice on failing was great too. “Learn from mistakes, fail fast, learn, and move on,” instead of beating yourself up, it’s also very important to pick yourself back up. I think that as leaders when a devastating setback happens it’s hard to move forward, when you try so hard to be proactive. When you are in a leadership role failure is definitely a scary notion. To have to lead people when they expect knowledgeable leaders not to make mistakes, can be a lot of pressure.

This really made me think about myself and my own credibility.  Thinking, “Why should people follow me? Why should they do what I say?” I think that is vastly important, instead of feeling entitled to lead people.

Peter Lenox

One of the core parts of leadership that I don’t really think about is mentorhip. How important it is that you’re not just telling people what to do and trying to get yourself ahead. To encourage others and as a leader to take time to coach, instead of manipulate. The integral parts of my success can be attributed to those who took time to encourage me to help me down my own path. Those teachers who have guided me and also wished for success for me too, have been the reason I did not give up.

Favorite quote was, “If you help them get what they want, they can help you get what you want.” The principle of reciprocity is big in Navajo culture. It is something ingrained in me; to have balance in life. This harmony is important as a leader and what I saw connected with presentation.

Kieran Daly

Kieran is a very delightful person, his voice was non-threatening.  The lesson I liked from his lecture was about repurposing. After he wanted to pursue computer science but ended up in international business, but he still found a way to combine and do something that was still relateable. This is always my search and insecurity-to follow my passion and hopefully be good at it.

Another health connection, made this lecture interesting once more. I liked his product! The idea of it kept the wheels turning in my brain. Adhearance to medication and compliance are huge in health care and for public health officials to find a way for it to happen in the complex world of behaviors. So to hear about devices and technological solutions to assist was something I didn't really think about. How to improve adherence to antibiotics to diabetes and make them more accurate by developing a product, blew my mind.

Both business and public health connections were the most intriguing to me. It’s nice to know there are options out there. That it doesn't have to be one or the other, you can build the life you want and live it.