Show Notes
To say that the guest on this episode had a varied career could be considered an understatement. It is a career that spans the private, public, international, Not for Profit, NGO and family- owned business sectors.
Helen Brophy, now the Director General of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Ireland discusses the lessons from her wide-ranging career with Jim and Ellen. These lessons include the importance of team working, why 75% of change management programmes fail, the challenges when promoted and the opportunities in the public service.
As well as lessons from her career the conversation covers topics such as change management, the benefits and challenges of a role in the public service, dealing with conflict, preparing countries for EU succession and preparing Ireland for its leadership role in the EU later this year.
Just some of the senior positions Helen has held are Manager of the Export Division, and then some years later, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) – Irelands Seafood Development Agency; Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council: a Board Member and Director of the Executive Development Programme at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and today Director General of the IPA .
The role of the IPA is to advance the understanding, standard and practice of public administration and public policy in Ireland. Since joining in late 2022, Helen has led a substantial transformation programme in working towards achieving the vision of the IPA as Ireland’s centre of excellence in building capacity and capability across the Public Service.
In addition to her Master of Business Studies (MBS) from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Helen holds an Executive Masters in Consulting and Coaching for Change from Insead Business School, France, a BA from Dublin City University and a range of further graduate qualifications in coaching, psychometrics and leadership development.
A key takeaway from this episode is that if you do not have a specific career path planned be sure that what you do is driven by a vision, be passionate and love what you do.
As for the time Helen stopped the music in an Irish pub in Shanghai. It was in the late 1990s while she was managing the BIM Export Division. The pub was considered to be the first Irish pub in China.. When she walked in the band, which was Irish, stopped playing and the lead singer said “O my God, an Irish person has just walked in.” The band had been playing in the pub for three months and Helen was the first Irish person they had seen there. It is much different today where there are considered to be over 40 Irish Pubs in China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Off the Fence with Purpose
What does it really take to be successful — and how can we make sure success doesn’t come at the expense of the rest of our lives?
The guest in this episode is Mac O’Brien an 18 year old entrepreneur who began building businesses when he was just 13. If you listen once you will want to go back and listen again and again.
Coming from a family with a strong work ethic provided Sarah Carey with the necessary strength to overcome adversity and learn many life lessons which benefitted her in her business career. Her family business encompassed auctioneering, retail, teaching, farming as well as a strong involvement in local politics, her father William was a councillor on Meath County Council for 47 years.
For Denis Donohoe being bi-lingual paved the way for a career that brought him from Ireland to Asia through the UK and Eastern Europe and back to Ireland.
If there was one word to describe Brid O’Connell it is energetic. Her energy is palpable in this episode of Off the Fence with Purpose as she describes her career and the many lessons learned upon the way.