To celebrate International Women's Day (IWD), we are shining a light on some of the amazing women who help shape National College of Ireland. Find out what IWD means to them.
Karen Ryan, Executive Assistant in the President’s Office at NCI
International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2025
Shining a light on the women of NCI.
My name is Karen Ryan and I’m the Executive Assistant in the President’s Office at National College of Ireland, where I’ve worked for nearly 7 years.
Before NCI
I studied Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, and Sales. Although I’ve not directly put this qualification to use, given the chance, I could probably sell sand in the desert! I have worked as an Executive Assistant for over 25 years and have gained experience in the medical, financial, legal, and educational sectors. I believe the most impactful careers today are built on range – the more experiences you have the more diverse skills you develop, and you create opportunities to expand your professional network.
Inspiration and Aspiration
My biggest aspiration would be to be half the woman my Mum is! She is a significant role model in my life and has too many amazing qualities to list. I admire her strength, resilience, creativity, kindness and generosity and she has definitely shaped my values and goals in life, particularly when I became a Mum in my 40s.
Personal goals would be to keep healthy, find new experiences and adventures, nurture close relationships with friends and family, continue to enhance my skill set and find ways to manage work responsibilities while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Motivation
What motivates me as a woman is setting a positive example for my little boy, contributing to providing for my family, and having a sense of independence and personal fulfilment. I also get great satisfaction from working somewhere that helps ‘change lives through education’ (the mission of National College of Ireland) and where I too can continue to learn, grow, and develop new skills.
What International Women’s Day means to me
International Women's Day raises awareness of ongoing challenges women face in the workplace and more broadly in society. I find it an inspiring and motivating day, to hear about so many different women’s journeys and experiences, the progress being made and their future goals and aspirations.
It’s a celebration of ALL women, irrespective of culture, background, status, and acknowledges the various hats that women wear in both their professional and personal roles as Mums, Sisters, Daughters, Partners, Caregivers, Friends, Mentors, Leaders - we juggle a multitude of roles, responsibilities, passions, and perspectives, which can be both exciting and exhausting.
IWD emphasises the importance of empowering and supporting the sisterhood and being cheerleaders for each other. As they say, “It takes a village,” and I’m truly fortunate to have an incredibly supportive family, group of friends and colleagues in my village and wider community.
Work, family life, and me-time.
Juggling work and parenting responsibilities can be demanding, people don’t always see the invisible mental load we carry. International Women's Day is a fantastic platform to raise awareness about the need for better support systems, including affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements and equal opportunities for advancement. There have been several initiatives and policy changes implemented in NCI, it’s a movement and we are moving in the right direction.
Through working at NCI, I was encouraged to apply and earned a place on Advance HE’s Aurora Women’s Leadership Programme in 2023/2024, which provided me with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and the tools to further enhance my leadership skills. I can see the positive impact this programme had on me at work but also in my general approach to problem-solving and strategy, even in my personal life.
As a 'Boy Mom,' while my son may not encounter the same challenges I have, I aspire to be a positive role model for him, instilling a strong work ethic and ensuring he understands he can achieve anything he sets his mind to, irrespective of gender. Additionally, I want him to recognise the importance of treating boys and girls equally - at home, in school, and as he matures into the workplace.