Maebh in The Hot Seat

What was your very first job, and what did it teach you? 

I worked in my local shop while I was in Leaving Cert year. I loved the idea and independence of it but quickly realised I couldn’t do the hours and do my schoolwork at the same time, so I left after 8 weeks. 

I know that the manager was unhappy with me because as I now know there’s a lot of work in recruiting and training staff only for them to leave soon after. I think I learned to take a job a bit more seriously and to think things through a bit more! 

If you hadn’t ended up in the charity sector, what career path do you think you would have taken? 

That’s a tough one because I’ve done lots of different things in my professional career from fitness instructor to hotel management, to gym and spa manager to charity CEO. 

Never mind the past – what’s next I wonder!! 

How would your closest colleagues describe you in three words? 

Hopefully – human, supportive, direct 

What’s the most unusual or surprising thing in your office right now? 

I have a lot of pictures of my two daughters (aged 3 and 5) and their priceless art work all over my office! 

The Charity World – The Highs & Lows 

What’s one misconception about leading a charity that you’d love to set straight? 

That you can run a charity without dealing with money – charities right across the country are full of great, qualified, dedicated people, and have multiple costs that need to be covered to be operational and sustainable.

Charities cannot deliver to service users or be innovative if they’re not funded properly and are constantly focused on the next set of bills to pay! 

Can you recall a defining moment in your career that shaped the way you lead today? 

I’ve learned a lot over the years and the leader I am today is a world apart from where I was 10, 15, 20 years ago.

Learning to lead by example and from within a team rather than top-down has been my biggest shift.  

What’s the toughest challenge you’ve had to navigate as a CEO? 

The COVID pandemic obviously springs to mind but managing cashflow shortages I find particularly stressful.

In small organisations you know everyone, you know their circumstances, and so you know the potential impact if things go wrong. You can’t leave that at the office at 5pm!  

What’s been the most rewarding part of your role? 

Here at the Rutland, it’s two-fold because you have the life changing impact of the work your team are doing unfolding in real time before you with clients and their families.  

But I also personally love it when a colleague experiences real career success, either with internal promotion, or if they move on to another great position externally.

I’ve been supported so many times by so many people in my various roles that I hope I’m paying it forward for others.  

If you could change one thing about how charities operate in Ireland, what would it be? 

Access to consistent multi-annual funding – help us innovate and meet emerging need by taking the pressure off! 

The Nosey Questions 

What’s the most unexpected or unusual task you’ve had to take on as CEO? 

Abseiling off Croke Park last year – I hate heights! 

Have you ever had a major event or meeting go completely off the rails? What happened? 

We once dropped a couple’s wedding cake as we carried it to the function room before the guests arrived.

A quick repair, some fake filling, and strategic positioning on the cake stand got us over the line!  

If we looked in your fridge right now, what would we find? 

Random items that we expect to pull a dinner for 4 together with  

Have you ever had a brush with fame? Who did you meet, and how did it go? 

I was in New York for Thanksgiving a number of years ago and Ron Howard and his family were at the next table! That’s the height of it! 

What’s the one Irish phrase or saying you find yourself using all the time? 

It’s grand! 

A Bit of Fun 

If you could have dinner with three people—living or deceased—who would they be and why? 

That’s a tough one – I think maybe my grandparents who I never met or only met as a small child! 

If your life had a theme song, what would it be? 

With 2 small daughters it has to be something Disney……. 

What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? 

Relax! Enjoy the moment! (But also, start a pension!) 

What’s a simple pleasure that never fails to make you happy? 

Watching Home and Away – I unapologetically record it and then binge watch it when my husband is on a late shift!!