Current Role: Communications Executive, Bord Bia – the Irish Food Board

Just two months after finishing up my time at Maynooth University in 2019, I began my placement on the Bord Bia International Graduate Programme. Combining an MSc. in Global Business Practice along with 23 months of industrial placement in a Bord Bia office, the programme felt like the perfect next step for me and has been an incredible kick-starter for my career in business. The education element of the programme has allowed me to further my knowledge of international business, learning from world class educators at UCD Michael Smurfit Business Graduate School.

My industrial placement has seen me join the Communications team at Bord Bia HQ in Dublin. Coming from a background of English and Business Marketing, this placement could not have been better suited to me. My role involves content creation for social media, writing and disseminating publicity material, and engaging in media relations. I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some really exciting projects, from the 2019 Food and Drink Awards, to 2020’s #BloomAtHome digital campaign. I’ve also been encouraged to pursue passion projects of mine – for example, I interview colleagues for a weekly ‘Working From Home Life’ internal newsletter, circulating what they have learned and tips they can share. As well as this, last year, my fellow International Grads and I volunteered at the non-profit enterprise Food Cloud and raised over €4,000 for their cause.

My time in Bord Bia has prepared me for real-world opportunities and challenges, and with the programme coming to a close this summer, I am excited to start the next chapter of my career in marketing.