Tell us a bit about your education and early career

My parents are French but I was born in Germany and grew up in Osnabrück in Lower Saxony. I have always been advocate of European values and European spirit and hence my ambition from my early years on to do something internationally. It’s also why I wanted to study in English and have an international scope.  

I started with my Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Economics at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. From high school I’d always enjoyed subjects relating to economics and politics so this was a perfect combination. My time in Maastricht allowed me to spend one year in China back in 2013/4, which was very exciting and influenced my life and character a lot. I did one semester exchange at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. Then, after finishing my Bachelor’s Degree I returned to China for a half-year internship at BMW, working in import/export at operational level. It was a very exciting and unique environment. 

I wanted to continue studying while having a more pragmatic study track, hence the natural choice for me was to do a Master’s in Business or International Management. I applied to do the CEMS programme at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. My brother had previously done it and enjoyed it and it brought him a lot in terms of personal growth so I said I want to do the same. 

My time at UCD Smurfit was the best time of my student life. It was a great student community, great professors and classes and I still carry all the learnings with me today. I did the second half of this holistic programme in Universitá Bocconi in Milan. 

As part of the CEMS programme I did an internship in PWC in Digital Strategy Consulting in Luxembourg and then transitioned into a full time role there. This drove my passion for new tech and AI being the next thing after digitisation.

After a while I wanted to experience something different so I went to work for Délifrance, a small to medium sized company in the global food sector. That was through a government sponsored programme for young talent in France aimed at helping companies build out their export business and internationalise. This was a really pragmatic experience that gave me exposure towards what digitisation means and what change management means.  During this time I was a Global Project Manager for the CRM system and other sales technology tools that were implemented across the business units and countries.

Then, at the beginning of 2019, I turned to another challenge at the World Economic Forum, where I work today, based in Geneva. I started on the partnership team for Europe and North America and brought my technology lens and digital lens from my past background. I did that for a bit more than two years and helped to move the needle internally for fostering or influencing more tech-driven processes and decision making. I also got to know the artificial intelligence (AI) team, which I joined one and a half years ago. 

I’m now the project lead and central curator of the artificial intelligence and machine learning platform. What that means is that I curate initiatives and scale projects around AI governance and AI for good. That’s my life task for now.

What does your role involve? 

The World Economic Forum is the international organisation for public private partnership. My role is to work with multi-stakeholder communities, bringing together leaders and decision makers from the private sector, public sector and also civil society, including academia to collaborate on projects around responsible AI and AI for good. 

One example of this is with our Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Turkey (C4IR Turkey – we have 16 of these centres across the world), where we work with the local business community on leveraging AI to combat, predict and mitigate wildfires. My role is to bring together the necessary experts and align everyone to a common vision, and also make sure what we’re doing can be replicated around the globe and be freely accessible. The World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit so everything we do is openly available and freely available.

What motivates you?

It might sound a bit kitschy, but really what motivates me is doing good for the world. My role currently is to shape artificial intelligence to benefit humanity while minimising the risks that come with this general purpose technology.

The vision of the organisation I’m working for is also very important to me – in the case of the WEF it’s to improve the state of the world.  

Last but not least, it’s also the people I’m working with – both my team and the people around the globe who have the same passion and are leveraging this exciting technology to do good. 

Who has influenced or inspired you?

Many people have inspired me and influenced me on my journey. I would have to mention my parents and their resilience– they always keep their heads up when facing challenges and never give up. Also, I look at my siblings who teach me every day to dare. 

If I look towards my organisation, the executive chairman Klaus Schwab is very accessible and I admire how he has reinvented himself and the Forum continuously. And I mustn’t forget my current and past managers who have actively shaped my leadership style and aspirations. 

One more person I’d like to mention is Michael Smurfit himself. He gave a keynote at the very end of my study programme at UCD – it was an inspiring speech and his humour has really stuck with me.

How would  you describe your leadership style?

Based on team mates’ feedback and various leadership assessments, characteristics that keep coming up are that I’m an empathetic leader, people oriented and a true believer that everyone has a talent to offer. I believe that sometimes talent is a very obvious and sometimes less so. I think a good leader should get this talent out of people and make them grow.

I also like to have a clear vision and to take a structured approach in trying to support that vision. 

Is ongoing learning important to you?

Ongoing learning is extremely important, especially nowadays with all the technological advancements that are shaping our lives and jobs. I think ongoing education and learning is key to success, as are staying curious and being adaptable. 

I recently concluded an executive programme at MIT around AI and AI Strategy for Business which really helped me to rethink the topic on AI governance, the future of jobs and also AI for good. It’s really influencing my role and the project I’m working on. 

But informal learning is also important. I really like reading books and these are not necessarily related to my job but bring in creativity and new perspectives. 

What’s your best piece of career advice? 

For me it’s listening to your gut and doing what you’re passionate about. It takes a bit of courage but I would recommend everybody to do that – it hasn’t disappointed me so far. 

I would also say everything is possible. This is something I was convinced of before, during and after being a student and I still hold to that. Ultimately, it’s related to following your gut. I would say follow your gut, decide what you want and go for it. 

What are your plans for the future?

I can see lots of interesting challenges lying ahead in my current position and organisation and I’d like to widen and deepen my leadership role. In the very long run, I’d like to try out my entrepreneurial skills. Technology is something I’m passionate about so if I did start a start-up one day it would for sure be innovative and tech-oriented. 

Insight Track

How has your degree benefited your career?

It has given me a solid business knowledge foundation and a network to tap into.

What is your fondest memory from your time in UCD Smurfit School?

The Three Tun Tavern.

How important is your UCD alumni network to you?

More and more important.

What are your main interests outside work?

Horseback riding and outdoor activities.

What piece of technology can you not live without?

Email.

Do you have a favourite writer or book?

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

What is your favourite dish to cook?

Omelette.

What is your favourite place in the world to visit and why?

Switzerland, love the mountain views.

Where is home and why?

For now, Switzerland having lived here for five years. It just fits with my French-German background.

What charities or causes are closest to your heart?

Environment, child safety (online/offline), education and culture.

July 2022

Always keen to have positive impact and step outside her comfort zone, Vivian Pucher left her native Germany to spend six months volunteering in a women’s cooperative in Guatamala at the age of just 18. Six years on and she’s working at Google in Dublin and a member of the Seachange Foundation board, as well as planning a triathlon and a stint in Tanzania working with entrepreneurs. 

Tell us a bit about your education and career to date
I grew up in the German Black Forest and after graduating from high school there wanted to see a bit of the world so I went to Guatemala for half a year to work in a cooperative of Mayan women. There I realised that nobody – including me, of course – had any idea how to run an organisation and that’s why I decided to study business. Because I’d learnt Spanish in Guatemala I went for a double degree between ESB Business School at Reutlingen University in Germany and Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid. After graduating in 2015, I went on to do my master’s in strategic management at Smurfit.

During my studies I did several internships in consulting and in the automotive sector as well as working for a start-up. Besides that I have always been very involved in university initiatives and did a lot of voluntary work. For example, during my time at Smurfit, I did a project on social impact measurement in Gujarat (India) with Shanti Life India Foundation, a microfinance organisation focusing on empowering women through business and sanitation loans. I am also now on the board of Seachange Foundation, a partner organisation of Shanti Life based here in Dublin.

Tell us about your role in Google
Last November, I joined the sales department in Google in Dublin where I am an account strategist. This involves working with small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany on how they can grow their businesses nationally and internationally with online marketing. It’s a fantastic team and I get to work with very smart people.

How do you feel your degree at UCD has benefited you most?
I think there are two dimensions to what I got out of my time at Smurfit. One of those is the personal side. In Smurfit I really made friends with people from all over the world. It always sounds so simple but I think we underestimate a lot those cultural differences between people. I learnt an incredible amount about working with very different cultures. On the other hand, content wise we learnt about many concepts that I wasn’t really aware of during my primary degree. I sometimes wondered why on earth we would learn this in strategy management. Now, being in the corporate world I see it all the time and remember back. It really turned out to be very useful for me in terms of being able to see the bigger picture.

What motivates you?
I think what motivates me most is to have an impact in a positive way and to be able to see what my work has done. In my current work, making clients happy is really motivating for me. So, it’s really about positive change.

What are your career goals? 
I have a mid-term plan and a longer term plan. I have done a lot of consulting, working on very strict business projects, and also NGO work and I would like to combine the two in the future. I would like to work more on the social side of business and that could be within Google or somewhere else. In the long term, I would like to return to university some day and share my experience. I could really see myself going back to academia... but that’s far away!

What for you is good leadership?
I think it depends a lot on the stage an organisation is at, but ultimately I would define it as being inspiring, having strong values and allowing your people to take risks and to think big. It’s not about showing what to do but more about showing what we are doing something for.
I have led projects in the past but haven’t yet been a leader professionally, but I think that’s the kind of leader I wish to become one day.

Who or what influences and inspires you?
I read recently that you are mostly influenced by the five closest people around you. Hence, I have been influenced a lot by my family and close friends. Nevertheless, when you move places a lot, also the people around you change. So it’s always shifting a bit and I see myself changing with it. So I’m probably really the cross sum of all the people that are close to me.

In terms of inspiration it’s a bit different. I’m really inspired by people who have strong ethical values and clearly stick to them. I’m inspired and interested by people who dedicate their lives to something amazing but manage to do so in a selfless manner. One, but certainly not the only, example would be Sheetal Walsh who I mentioned earlier. She is incredibly successful from a business point of view but still dedicates a huge part of her time to run a charity.

What achievement stands out for you so far?
Probably it’s the time I spent in Guatemala. I went there when I was 18 years old and spent six months in a mud hut. It was a very tough time. Since then, whenever things are getting difficult I always remind myself that I was able to do that at such a young age and that the challenge I’m facing now is not so big compared to it and I can probably achieve so much more. So, I always use it as my anchor point to put things into perspective.

Are there any failures you’ve learnt from?
Primarily my plan was to not even do a master’s degree but rather to start working right away. But I honestly failed at getting the job I really wanted straight after my primary degree. I was probably overconfident in what I had achieved and after I got rejected my whole self confidence broke down. Now I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. It was a really good learning that when something doesn’t work out the way it was supposed to then another door opens. Hence, I learned to move on and look forward.

What are your tips or advice for success? 
It might sound extremely naive but the thing that I benefited from the most and that I try to continue doing, is to say “yes” as much as possible. I try to embrace any opportunity that crosses my way. I think it’s better to have a bit too much on your plate than just staying inside your comfort zone. And I’ve always benefited in some way from the additional experience I have gained from just saying, “yes, sure, I will give it a try”.

Any immediate plans for the future you’d like to talk about?
For now, I’ll try to move on in my current workplace and will continue the work I’m doing with Seachange and Shanti Life. I’m also going to Tanzania for two weeks this summer with Google, working with entrepreneurs there. And I’d like to do a triathlon – that’s actually another point on my list for this year!

What are your main interests outside work?
I really like to do sports and I also love to travel. And I enjoy reading and I have just started painting recently.

Insight Track

How important is your UCD alumni network to you? 
So far it has been extremely helpful for having lovely friends in Asia when travelling there. But at the same time I see them all getting into great work positions, so also from a professional aspect I’m sure we’ll benefit a lot from our connections in the future.

Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you
Unfortunately I’m very chaotic and even more unfortunately I’m allergic to mangoes.

What is your pet hate? 
People walking super slow in front of me – I love being lazy but I hate to waste time unnecessarily.

Who’s your favourite writer?
Paulo Coelho has been extremely inspiring to me.

And what is your favourite band or musician?
It’s mainly one song that always gets me into an extremely happy mood: Golden Age (The Asteroids Galaxy Tour).

What’s the last gig you went to that you loved?
I went to a jazz concert by Christian Scott (my first one ever) two weeks ago and it was absolutely amazing.

What is your favourite dish to cook? 
I always like to cook exotic things I’ve never made before. And even more if they are really spicy.

What is your favourite place in the world to visit and why?
Freudenstadt (which actually translates to happy town) in the Black Forest...because there is no place like home.

Name three things on your bucket list
Run a marathon, be published somewhere and speak five languages fluently.

Tell us a bit about your educational and career background

My name is Kayode Nubi, but I’m generally called Nubi Kay. I’m from Nigeria and I moved to Ireland in 2013 to study in Smurfit Business School on the back of being involved in a tech start-up in Nigeria. I had done my undergrad in electrical engineering at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Turkey and then did a Master’s in IBusiness - Innovation Through ICT (now MSc Digital Innovation) in UCD. 

The plan was to spend one year here doing the Master’s and to then go back to Nigeria to work on another start-up. But while I was at UCD I won Accenture’s Leaders of Tomorrow Award for developing a smartphone app. That landed me a six-month internship with Accenture and then I got a full-time role there for two-and-a-half years in the Financial Services Division working as a Project Manager and a Business Analyst. I was mainly working on projects with bank clients.

I got exposed to fintech there because of Accenture Fintech Innovation Lab and I thought it sounded interesting. I knew because of my first start-up how hard it was to integrate payments online and so I got to learn about Stripe. I subsequently joined Stripe in 2016 and I’ve been there for almost five years. 

I joined Stripe as a product specialist, supporting customers, including helping start-ups get up and running. I did that for about a year and then moved into a Programme Manager position, which I did for another year. Then I moved into a sales role as I wanted to explore other parts of the organisation. That allowed me the opportunity to get back to my roots and deal with start-ups. So I was working with CEOs, CTOs and Heads of Finance in start-ups to figure out how to better leverage Stripe to help them with their growth and scaling up. I did that for about six months. 

What is your current role?

In the last couple of months I’ve just moved into a new role on the Paystack side. Stripe acquired Paystack, a Nigerian payments company, for around US$200m last year. It’s part of Stripe’s expansion strategy into Africa. I’ve been seconded to the Paystack side as Start-up Programmes Lead. My job will be to explore how Paystack can better work and support start-ups in Africa in their growth. It’ll involve talking to founders and the start-up ecosystem stakeholders, like investors, accelerators and incubators, and developing programmes to make things easier for these companies and their founders. 

Once the world opens up there’ll be a lot of travel back to Africa. We’re in Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana right now and we have plans to launch in three more countries over the next few months and that will require me to be on the ground engaging with start-ups. 

What motivates you?

I’m very motivated by helping to enable growth, progress and success in people, whether it’s individuals with their careers or working with start-ups and businesses and seeing them leverage technology and optimise their processes and get tangible growth as a result. 

About 18 months ago a colleague of mine in Stripe and I started a community fund, HoaQ.club, to invest in early stage start-ups and it’s been phenomenal. We started it as an experiment and before the end of this year we’ll be deploying about a million dollars in African start-ups and founders. That gives me energy – playing the role of facilitating partnerships, knowledge transfer and anything that leads to tangible growth and development.

Who are the main people who have inspired you?

There are a few people. My dad is one. He’s a Pastor and a Professor in Nigeria and he’s somebody who’s dedicated to a life of service and lifting up people around him: as a Pastor he feeds your soul and as a Professor he feeds your mind. He could have gone and done anything he wanted to do professionally and looked to make a lot of money but he put himself in a position of service to his congregation as well as his students. 

It was great to see that example not too far off. 

My grandma is another influence. I guess my dad got the influence from my grandma so I got it from her. 

And my wife is another big influence. She’s definitely one of those go-getters. I’ve seen how she’s evolved as a person, from an athlete who got so many accolades and then going from an undergrad to doing a Master’s and now a PhD in so short a period that we've known each other. She's done all these gracefully while parenting our two wonderful daughters, Kike and Ire.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I have a coach kind of style. I want to be in the trenches with you but at the same time give you the room so you can grow yourself. My style is really hands on and engaging but trying to ensure there are results. As a coach or a mentor I’d be asking what’s the goal and what’s the plan, and then checking in regularly to see what progress has been made, what the blockers are and how I can help to unblock those. 

So I won’t be telling people what to do, but looking at what needs to be done and helping them to work towards the goal or outcome. 

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

I’m only getting started. There are things I’m proud and privileged to have been able to achieve but I haven’t scratched the surface yet. 

Is ongoing learning important?

It’s very important. I’m a big believer that you never stop learning. And that’s beyond the school walls. I like to consume knowledge in many different ways, whether it’s from listening to podcasts, reading articles or interacting with people who are on the same level or have gone before you or are behind you. There’s always something to learn from those interactions. I’m definitely one for continuous learning. 

What’s your best piece of career advice?

The biggest one is to start with what you have and where you are. I think it’s important not to push things back to when you have a certain amount of money or everything is perfect to start things. Even though what you want is not what you have right now, just start building towards that. 

When we started the fund it was just several of our friends putting together €1,000 each into our first deal and we just did that again and again and again. You start with what you have. 

Do you have career or business aspirations for the future?

I try to keep an open mind and focus on what looks like success or fulfilment for me. And that for me is enabling others to be successful. I try not to think about roles or titles but think more about how I scale the level of enablement that is possible.

Insight Track

How has your degree benefited your career and/or personal life?

My degree at UCD made me a better manager and entrepreneur. It provided me the knowledge and skills to work cross-functionally and think critically through problems to come up with solutions that are both feasible but also scalable.

What is your fondest memory from your time in UCD Smurfit School?
Running into my wife-to-be on the Smurfit campus while she was canvassing for votes to run for student representative. It happened to be on the same day as the Smurfit Ball. I later ran into her on the day the votes were being counted. She didn’t win the seat but I often joke that she got the better prize, me. 

What are your main interests outside work?

Faith – I am music and word minister at the Kings Arena Church, Dublin.
Family – spending time with my wife, Nana and our daughters, Kike and Ire.
Travel – I love to visit new and old places to make and relive memories.
Food – I love to cook and also eat out.

Tell us something most people don’t know about you

I started a band in college (Turkey) and composed original music that outlived my stay at the institution.

What piece of technology can you not live without?

My smartphone – communication, payment and resource all in one.

What is your pet hate?

When people are unkind.

Who’s your favourite writer and what’s your favourite book?

The writer is Malcom Gladwell and the book is Stubborn Attachments by Tyler Cowen.

And what is your favourite musician?

Brymo.

What is your favourite place in the world to visit and why?

Istanbul because it’s the best of both worlds – Europe and Asia.

Where is home and why?

Home is where the heart is – a little bit of Ireland and Nigeria. 

What are your insider tips for visitors to Nigeria?

Be open minded and try new things. It helps to have a local friend while exploring.

Name three things on your bucket list

1. Climb Kilimanjaro
2. Hot air balloon in Cappadocia 
3. Dinner with Jay-Z

What charities or causes are closest to your heart?

• Habitat for Humanity
• Girls in STEM
• Foodcloud

November 2021

Tell us a bit about your career to date

I started in events at Viacom in New York and once I moved to Los Angeles, I shifted into production which really provided me tremendous knowledge around post-production, television promotions, and commercial producing. It allowed me to develop an incredibly strong base that still proves useful today. My entry into Disney was a product of a merger and since then I’ve worked across four different business units within The Walt Disney Company, spanning various areas of marketing such as synergy, on-air promotions, integrated marketing, affiliate marketing, content marketing, and multicultural and inclusive solutions.

I left Disney in 2008 to pursue my MBA at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. It felt like the right decision coming to Ireland as my maternal grandmother was from Belfast and my grandfather was from the Munster area. While they’re no longer with us, it remains a nice connection to have. Originally, I had been looking at MBA programmes in the Los Angeles area, but I quickly realised I was seeking something different and wanted a change of scenery. I needed a programme that not only served my needs in that moment, but also would set me up for future forward.

The MBA programme was at first a challenge. I think I came into the programme believing this would be “easy” as my career to that point had been very demanding accompanied by long hours. Figuring out how to successfully navigate the MBA programme was an important part of the learning experience.

After completing my MBA, I stayed in Ireland for another four years and worked at RTÉ as Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy and was very fortunate to hold several meaningful contract roles with various organisations in Dublin. And then a long-time friend and past colleague reached out regarding a dream role that opened at ESPN, which is owned by Disney. I was offered the position in early 2014 and within six weeks I moved back to the States – New York City specifically – with my family and started the position.

It was great to be back at Disney and doing more of what I love. A couple of years later, I was presented with an amazing opportunity at NBCUniversal that took me back to Los Angeles and, while I wasn’t in that role for long, it very much left a significant mark – great people and an outstanding portfolio. After leaving that position, I had the great fortune to spend four years with Discovery. And with utter delight last April, I returned to The Walt Disney Company.  Simply put, I love this company! Over the years, I have been provided opportunity, access, support, autonomy and development, along with the best colleagues that I also get to call friends, and so much more.

What is your current role?

I’m the VP of Disney CreativeWorks and Multicultural and Inclusive Marketing (MC&I).

With team MC&I, I work across the Disney portfolio to create authentic and meaningful brand solutions that drives awareness to our DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) work by meeting targeted audiences where they are. We are working to drive significant change with an engaged effort to shift culture, mindsets and behaviour. Amplifying, empowering and celebrating underrepresented groups in ways that provoke deeper understand and appreciation means a lot to me. It’s also a huge priority for the Walt Disney Company. It’s great to have this team and I’m delighted we deliver continued momentum through deep support and commitment from across the organisation.

And Disney CreativeWorks, is a full-service branded content studio and creative consultancy with world class talent and IP, unparalleled access, and a legacy of producing breakthrough, culturally relevant content that resonates.

We create data-infused creative solutions across Disney platforms that reach consumers in impactful ways through global scale, outcome-based measurement and, most importantly, consumer trust.

What motivates you?

People that live life with kindness, compassion and a desire to help.

Also, I’m a problem solver by trade and in my personal life. Is it odd that I take great joy in being introduced to a challenge that needs to be solved, understanding the expectations that need to be delivered upon and then working through the necessary outcomes and how to achieve?

Plus, being afforded the opportunity to chase my curiosity. I love going down a path of learning and discovery. It’s with great joy I get to experience the same in my nine-year-old son who is often on the same pursuit. I adore when this journey of curiosity brings you to a place of revelation – a real thought, possibility and/or action.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Open, honest and direct!

I find career development critical and want to help my team achieve their aspirations. I’m very much in it with the team and hold myself to the same expectations and accountability that I would hold them to. I work to lead through transparency, empowerment, support and collaboration. My team means everything and are honestly the best of the best. I’ve been blessed with great teams across all my positions.

Do you have people who have inspired you?

I take inspiration from everyone I meet. And I feel incredibly lucky to have had people show up at exactly the point in my life when I needed them most.

What’s the achievement you’re most proud of?

I’m very proud of my career and the accomplishment and recognitions I’ve worked very hard to reach, but, if I’m being honest, my biggest achievement is, hands down, my son. Great responsibility comes with raising a little human. Making sure he’s set up for success and has the best opportunities I can provide. Teaching him the importance of gratitude, self-worth, resilience, kindness, respect, and everything in between. It’s honestly the most rewarding role. 

What is your best piece of career advice?

Always be curious, have fun and laugh, never get complacent or feel trapped in the mundane, chase your passions or whatever it is that motivates you. And really enjoy what you do!

Is ongoing learning important to you?

Yes, absolutely. Both formal and informal learning is what keeps us young, right? Theory and practice are two very different outlooks, but both bring great value to most situations. Therefore, I make it a priority to take various certificate programmes to help enhance my skillset.

Any plans going forward you want to share?

I have always wanted to be a part-time lecturer while maintaining my full-time marketing role. I have been looking into getting my PhD. However, there’s still a lot to evaluate ahead of making any decisions, but I do aspire.

Insight Track

How has your degree benefited your career and or personal life?

It has given me greater perspective.

What is your fondest memory from your time in UCD Smurfit/Quinn School?

The school itself was beautiful, some fantastic classmates, and Niamh Brennan.

What are your main interests outside work?

My son, ballet, and horseback riding.

What piece/s of technology can you not live without?

My phone! 

And what is your favourite band or musician?

Whitney Houston is my absolute favorite singer.

What’s the last gig you went to that you loved?

New Edition and Jodeci. Okay, maybe it wasn’t loved, but with this pandemic I hadn’t been to a concert in ages, so I was just overwhelmed being back in a venue.

What is your favourite dish to cook?

Right now, it’s fish tacos, but that can change next week.

What teams do you support?

Up the Dubs, but stateside it’s the Denver Broncos – US football; Dodgers – baseball; and Clippers – basketball.

What is your favourite place in the world to visit and why?

Greece…sunshine, good food, and loads of R&R.

Where is home and why?

Los Angeles, California. The weather!

Name three things on your bucket list:

1. I want to travel everywhere…may not be possible but giving it a real go

2. PhD

3. Win the lottery (it’s really on the list)

What charities or causes are closest to your heart?

Supporting underserved communities, children’s health and wellbeing, and access to education.

May 2022

A love of learning took Rebecca Heins from a well-established human resources career in HP Bangalore, India to study at UCD in Dublin. She’s back in Bangalore leading HR strategies at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, as well as running several networks, including the local UCD Alumni chapter.

Tell us about your education and career progression

Though my undergrad degree was in commerce, I did not want to end up as a finance professional so followed up with a post-grad diploma in business administration from Bangalore University.  Right after my PGD, I started to work in advertising.  

My career has taken some unexpected but interesting twist and turns from marketing to human resources. I started with advertising, moved into market research and later into marketing communications. With HP I had a stint of more than a decade, but was fortunate enough to hold various roles, from communications to managing employee engagement for a business with over 3,000 people to human resources.

While I was working a lot more closely with HR in my communications role, a fully-fledged HR opportunity came up that required a branding background and I was invited to apply.  With this role I moved to HR to manage employer branding for India and my role later widened to manage talent acquisition and a talent channels for India. Subsequently, I was promoted to a more strategic role of leading talent channels for Asia Pacific and Japan and reporting into the APJ talent acquisition director based in Singapore.

I’ve always loved to study – every few years I have had the study itch! While I was able to get an executive MBA along with working, I never had the satisfaction of studying full-time once I had started work.

My parents dissuaded me from quitting a well-established career for full-time study. Fortunately, my manager was supportive of my ambition and approved a year’s sabbatical and I was able to convince my parents to let me go. And that’s how I ended up in Ireland in 2013 to do my master’s in international business at UCD.

My sabbatical was for a year so I could look at only one-year programmes. When I got admissions in the UK and UCD in Ireland and was confused about which one to choose, my close friend who was already living in the UK for many years said the Irish are really a friendly lot (that I experienced first-hand once I got there) and it would be a lot easier than with the English folks who take time to open up.  To top it all, everyone raved so much about Ireland’s beautiful countryside.  UCD being one of the top universities in Ireland, its amazing campus and globally well-known triple accreditation really helped make my choice a lot easier.

And it was the best decision I ever made. My time with UCD will remain memorable for my lifetime. I met really wonderful people and I remain friends with a lot of them.

Even though I had worked for a multinational company and for ex-pat managers and travelled in Asia before, I never had a chance to live long-term in an international multicultural setup. As well as giving the opportunity to meet and interact with different people, studying abroad offers an insight into perspectives from various cultures. I recommend an international master’s to everyone after experiencing this myself.  

My personal opinion is that it should be encouraged, more so for Indian girls. Mostly, Indian girls grow up in a close family culture, protected by family and friends, living a sheltered life. Coming out of the protected environment and living independently encourages them to take decisions on their own and helps them build confidence and discover their true identity, independent of their family.

After I completed my studies, someone else had taken over my Asia role and my manager recommended me for a contract position with the HP UK & Ireland compensation and benefits team, and so I ended up working at HP’s Kildare office for some time.

Now, I’m back in Bangalore and currently working with the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) as a senior HR manager leading the talent acquisition and compensation and benefits areas. And that has aligned nicely with my affinity for education as the IIHS is primarily a research, consulting and academic institution in the areas of climate change, water sanitation and sustainability.

What motivates you?

Every day I want to be able to look forward to the work I do.  Passion for my work drives me and I want to be able to make a difference wherever I am. Whatever I’ve learnt, I would like to be able to teach. That’s my motivation – to be able to come to work and share what I have learnt and also make a difference at work and in the lives around me.

What is your leadership style?

I like to nudge my team towards common goals, encourage people to develop and discover their own abilities, empower and equip them to take the lead and guide them when they need. Perhaps this was largely influenced by a US ex-pat business leader – Larry Terrell – I worked with many years ago.  I saw how he positively inspired and influenced many of his first-line leadership team’s capabilities and the culture throughout the organisation.  I would like to think I have imbibed that in my leadership style so far.  

Who or what has influenced or inspired you?

Professionally, it was Larry; he has continued to be a mentor in my life, even after he retired from work. Personally, my mum and sister are two big influences in my life. Despite all the hardships we have had, I saw how my mum sacrificed and pulled us through, but still has a big heart and is kind even with the most difficult people.  My sister is strong-willed and pursues her goal with all vigour and makes it happen with a lot of perseverance. I always call her a one woman army. Her tenacity has been an example in my life.

What has been your biggest achievement?

It’s probably how far I’ve come, personally and professionally. I was a very quiet, shy child who hardly spoke. Now I would like to believe I am a lot more confident and comfortable enough to connect with people. There are some parts of the little child still in me, but I think time and experiences have made me a stronger woman than I was before.

Are there failures or mistakes you’ve learnt from?

There have been failures on work projects where I have relied on someone else to do their part and it did not turn out like it should. For a while I hesitated to take up initiatives for the fear of failing. My mentor said, “Rebecca, if you are not making mistakes it means you are not doing anything”. That struck a chord and I learnt failures are a part of life’s experiences and you can only learn and grow from them.

What are your tips and advice for success?

Be open to learning! Take only the positives out of your experiences and move forward. Nothing is too small and no one is too young to teach you.  Be open to learning from experiences, people, books, the internet, everything. Take every experience, every challenge and every failure as an opportunity to learn. Personally, every difficult situation has taught me something. I think by keeping a positive mindset and viewing it as an opportunity to learn you will take away something good that can only enrich your life.

What are your plans for the future?

My sabbatical to study in UCD and being in Ireland helped me look beyond work. If I get passionate about something I devote 100% to it and it has been all work for a long time and I have not given enough time to my personal life. So I have decided to take time off at regular intervals and to also do other things I’m passionate about like writing, travelling and volunteering.  I have already taken a step in this direction by taking off on a vacation to Bali a month ago with a friend I met on a UCD international student trip.  We met in Bali after not seeing each other for almost two years.

Tell us about your involvement with the Bangalore chapter of UCD Alumni

Before I went to Ireland I never really knew the value of investing in networking. After I came back, I realised I have a lot of connections and there could be real value in bringing them together. So I created a network for people who work or have worked in human resources in HP in India and we now have 200-plus HR alumni professionals in that group who work across various industry sectors and senior levels. It’s mainly a social networking group to share HR topics, news and discussion and we also catch up offline for lunch once in a while.

Also when I was in Ireland, I noticed that international students coming in to study ended up asking the same questions over and over again. I thought bringing together people who have studied there with people looking to study in Ireland would really help answer all those questions; basically connecting alumni with the new aspirants.

So I set up and moderate another group on Facebook called Study in Ireland – Community Help and we now have over 500 members from UCD, TCD, DIT, etc, from various courses and I think it’s helped answer questions about studying in Ireland, queries and concerns from an international student (non-EU) perspective.

UCD Alumni, India heard about my initiative and asked if I’d be interested in getting involved in its Bangalore chapter, which it was hoping to set up. The chapter is only a few months old at this stage. I’ve tried to get a few people together but it’s not really active yet. We held a reception recently to help get the word out and I had a chance to meet a few more alumni. Over time I hope people will see the value of networking and coming together.

What are your interests outside work?

I am a practising Christian so I spend my weekends being a part of the church band, involved with other church activities and volunteering.

I have always had an interest in all forms of arts, including writing. I started blogging about lifestyle and business related topics but my current work takes up a lot of time so I haven’t had a chance to do as much as I would like.

And I love reading. With work, trying to find time to do some uninterrupted reading becomes difficult, so to push myself I have enrolled in the Goodreads reading challenge. I was pretty successful last year with 12 books read in total. This year I am aiming to double that number.  My most recent read that left an impact is The Grit by Angela Duckworth. She talks about how talent counts, but how passion and perseverance play a significant part in successes. It definitely is an inspiring read.

Insight Track

What is your fondest memory from your time in UCD Smurfit School?

The Vietnamese Festival Celebration and Halloween, where all my classmates got everyone included in the festivities.

Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you

I am so picky about being organised that I have an Excel sheet tracking how many days I’ve worked out every month for the past couple of years. That helps me to be consistent with my workout and not to slack off.

What piece of technology can you not live without?

Like many, I am attached to my iPhone, from using it for waking up till I sleep!

What is your pet hate?

People talking loudly on the phone in public places.

Who’s your favourite writer and what’s your favourite book?

Steven Covey is my favourite author and his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a classic and will always remain relevant.

What are your favourite dishes to cook?

Various types of biryani, along with masala ginger chai.

Name three things on your bucket list

Slow travel, deep sea diving and getting a vacation home.

What are your insider tips for anyone travelling to India?

Don’t go with media defined perspectives of India. Go with an open mind. If you are not overwhelmed, I am sure you will be touched by our hospitality and the amazing diversity in our ancient culture. 

What charities or causes are closest to your heart?

Causes relating to children and education have always been close to my heart and I support U&I, a local charity that works in these areas. I’ve always held education in high regard because I believe it makes a difference in lifting people up in their lives.