Get to Know Stephanie

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

Well I grew up on a farm and my very 1st PAID job was picking strawberries for a neighbouring farmer at the age of 11! It was fantastic fun and taught me financial independence at a very young age. Lucky me! 

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

Wow, well I was in the for-profit world first and emotionally and physically, felt depleted working there – so a jump back to the charity world beckoned. I had volunteered in the non-profit world while at Trinity College as an undergrad and my intuition told me to go back there. In another life I’d love to be an Ambassador for Ireland, representing our beautiful country around the world. 

How would your closest colleagues describe you in three words? 

Hard-working, fun and energetic! 

What’s something people often assume about you – but isn’t true? 

I like to be around people all the time – NOT true – I LOVE my down time alone. 

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

You could find anything and everything in my office. I like to call it my den instead. Possibly the most unusual thing is a horse shoe ring I was given as a good luck charm from American friends on my wedding day! 

 

The Charity World – The Highs & Lows 

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

Well I don’t lead my charity, I lead the Fundraising & Communications team but I think it would have to be that people think just because we are passionate about the causes we work for we don’t get burnt out – we absolutely do! 

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

The defining moment or time in my life actually happened outside of my career – it was when I became critically ill and took a long time to recover. It has absolutely defined how I am as a leader, I hope in a positive way! 

What’s the toughest challenge you’ve had to navigate as a Head of Fundrasing?

Leading a team as a relatively inexperienced manager during COVID – navigating complex issues and fear about the future. It was unchartered territory for everyone as you know. 

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

Hands down leading people and watching them flourish, all while helping the clients we work hard for and seeing how they benefit from our work. 

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

Cut the nonsense about costs – we need to run like businesses in order to be efficient and at our most productive! 

The Nosey Questions 

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

As a leader in an organisation I need to be willing to take on any task and lead by example. Perhaps my most surreal moment was sitting in the Teachers Club in Dublin, where I spent many a personal hour doing drama, at the 10th anniversary celebration for a charity I worked for at the time, shooting the breeze with Lord David Puttnam, our patron! 

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

Unless you consider nearly knocking the then President of Ireland off a stage, then no! If yes, it ends well. The event and I recovered and then President Mary McAleese was wonderful to me. I wrote to her years later and she came to our ARC Christmas Lunch in November! She’s a real lady. 

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

Lots of bits and bobs but most importantly a bottle of prosecco chilling for a catch up with friends tomorrow! 

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

See aforementioned story about a former President of Ireland! I’ve met some famous people through my work over the years but honestly I think the way to treat famous people is the same as you’d treat anyone – just be your authentic self – they are still human like yourself! 

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

Bye bye bye – like twenty times, particularly when saying goodbye on the phone to one of my sisters, followed in close proximity by “Have you any craic?”! It got me into trouble when I lived in America! 

A Bit of Fun 

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

I’d love to get my wonderful Granny around the table again. She died during COVID at the age of 100 and I’d love her perspective on life now, my career, my writing and my boys! 

I’d actually love to put her in a room with Mary McAleese for a good natter. 

My 3rd choice? I’d have to go with the author David Nichols as the 3rd – he created such wonderful characters in Emma and Dex in ‘One Day’ I’d love to pick his brains for the afternoon! All 3 together, Granny, Mary, David and I! 

What’s a skill or talent you have that people might not expect? 

I’m really good at relaxing! People might not realise it about it but it’s true. I went through too much, too young, not to appreciate the importance of self-care. 

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

Definitely “Walking on Sunshine” – it’s upbeat, it’s happy and like me, it tries to stay on the bright side of life. 

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

Keep doing what you are doing. Be free. Be independent. (I threw myself a 25th birthday party when I lived in California, and I wouldn’t change my memories of that time for anything). 

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

Baby girl, I mean dog, jumping up and down with joy to see us when we come home. The unconditional love we receive from our dogs is sacred