Home: New York, NY. Birthplace: Ireland. Profession: Simplifier. Organization: Siegel+Gale. Title: Global Chief Marketing Officer. Significant other: My husband, economist Jim O’Sullivan. Alma mater: Harvard Business School (MBA); University of Ulster (BA). Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Gaelic.
Current project: Hosting and producing Siegel+Gale’s award-winning International Women’s Day global programming. This year’s theme is inclusive storytelling. Recent recognition: The team I lead was shortlisted for Campaign’s Agency of the Year 2023. Latest contribution to others: My passion project #WearingIrish. Celebrating talented Irish fashion designers and their creations. Last book read: Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More With Less, by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz. Recent unique acquisition: A leather harness by Irish designer Una Burke.
Personality profile: ENTJ. How do you define a perfect friendship? Appreciating you exactly as you are; no desire to change each other. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Essential, reciprocal and evolving. What is your greatest joy? My sons. What word or phrase do you use far too often? Let’s double click on that. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Politicians, public servants. What’s your walk-up song? Take a Chance On Me (ABBA). What is at the top of your bucket list? Traveling to Japan and India.
What three emojis best describe you? 🙋♀️👩🎓🎤.
What was your favorite college course? Leadership and Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? World Book Encyclopedia. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My kindergarten/first-grade teacher, Mrs. Sheehan who instilled in me the confidence that I could be anything and anyone I wanted to be. What’s the best advice you received growing up? My father always told me, “Keep your promises.” What is your favorite app? LinkedIn. What is your go-to source of news and information? The Economist. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Being a first-generation college graduate. Education has been my pathway.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Using my platform to amplify diverse marketing voices. What change would you like to see in the world? Access to high-quality, affordable education. What mega-trend most excites you? Generative AI, for its potential for faster innovation and business progress. What mega-trend most concerns you? Generative AI, for its potential to perpetuate long-standing bias.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Grit, Gravitas and Grace: Memoirs of a Simplifier. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Teacher. What advice would you give your younger self? Aim high. Don’t limit your ambitions. What piece of wisdom do you particularly appreciate? Always be curious about the people around you, because everyone has a story to tell. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My thirties. I would like to have worked in Asia.
Ideally, where’s Waldo? On #WearingIrish Instagram finding a new signature outfit!
Personal mission: To never lose the drive for creating community and connection. Personal motto: Recognizing and making connections is in my DNA. Favorite quote: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” (Maya Angelou).
