Work for IDA Ireland

What made Ciara choose a career at IDA Ireland?

When she was growing up, Ciara Mullarkey remembered hearing about major jobs announcements by multinationals in various localities, and hearing the name of IDA Ireland associated with that news. So when she found out about IDA’s graduate programme during college, she was attracted not just by the variety of the work but by knowing how the agency’s work had a direct, positive impact on communities across the country.

“I think it does have a really tangible effect. You can see foreign direct investment change lives and create opportunities for people in Ireland,” she says.

Ciara began her graduate programme in 2019 and what followed were three whirlwind years. IDA Ireland’s graduate programme is designed to give graduates a taste of the many aspects involved in the work of attracting foreign investment into Ireland. Ciara spent four nine-month spells in roles spanning corporate support, regional development, client-facing duties and an international posting in Chicago working on the technology and consumer portfolio.

“The chance to dip my toes into different roles really appealed to me. It was a huge learning curve but so enjoyable. You learn things you like or areas you want to pursue further – or ones that aren’t for you,” Ciara says. 

What does Ciara’s work at IDA Ireland involve?

In September 2022, Ciara settled into her current role at IDA Ireland’s west coast USA office, based in Mountain View, California. From there, she helps to identify and target companies that are not yet in Ireland, covering multiple industry sectors across the technology, consumer, business content and emerging business division – but that’s not the only variety in the work.

“My weeks vary significantly, and it’s probably one of the best things about this job,” Ciara says. “You’re constantly meeting people, meeting different companies, doing different events, travelling to different places. I always say no week is the same: it can go from hosting events and lunches to cold calling, and looking at which companies have raised capital and might be interested in Ireland.”

What does Ciara like best about the work?

Ciara doesn’t hesitate with her answer: “The people you learn from, who train you and give you opportunities, and the people you get to work with. IDA is so full of sound people.” 

What’s something you might not expect about Ciara?

Ciara has a degree in Sociology and German, and she’s grateful that IDA Ireland supported her continuing study in German after she graduated.

What is Imed’s role at IDA Ireland?

Imed joined IDA Ireland in 2021 and is based from the Galway office, where he helps to attract inward investment into the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. “Sometimes, when I’m walking in Galway city I see some of the companies that came to us originally as a query. Seeing them planted in a city is such a fulfilling part of the job,” he says.

What was Imed’s career journey?

Wanting to study abroad led him to take a degree in international business at the University of Limerick. After a graduate fair in Ireland, he heard about Enterprise Ireland’s international graduate programme and after being successfully accepted, he was placed in the United Arab Emirates. “I remember very distinctly graduating on a Friday and getting on a plane to Dubai on the Saturday.”

He enjoyed his time in the UAE where he got to experience different cultures of the region while leaning on his knowledge of languages. “Being a first-generation immigrant into Ireland has paid off tremendously.”

How did Imed’s education pave the way for his current role? 

Imed’s interest in business kindled during transition year at school, when he took part in an entrepreneurship competition where he and his fellow classmates developed an innovative business idea based on their shared love of gaming.

He also enjoyed studying English. He says this gave him the vital skills of critical thinking and the ability to break down an idea and explore it from different points of view. “That definitely helped me today … That is so important. When I’m in a room with high-level executives who are from different cultures, who are looking for specific things, I need to break down all of that information and make sure that what I’m telling them fits all of that.”

What’s the best part about working at IDA Ireland?

Imed appreciates the welcoming environment of working with IDA Ireland. “Being able to join an organisation that celebrates diversity and really welcomes it, and where being diverse helps you thrive, is definitely a great aspect of joining the public sector and joining the IDA in particular.”  

What’s something you might not expect about Imed?

Growing up, Imed spoke French and Arabic at home. 

 

Niah’s role at IDA Ireland?

Niah joined IDA Ireland in 2019 and was part of the organisational development team for two years. In 2021, she started working in her current role as equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lead. 

Niah’s enthusiasm shines through when she talks about her work to make the organisation welcoming and accessible. “Everybody should have the opportunity to thrive in their chosen career,” she says. “That creates a lot of practical work to make sure our processes and procedures are available to everybody. I also get to lead an amazing team of six volunteers who bring their own passions and respective experiences into focus areas for neurodiversity, social mobility, LGBTQ+, gender, multicultural and disability.” 


What does Niah like most about working at IDA Ireland?

When the USA native first thought about joining IDA Ireland, its mission spoke to her. “I love Ireland, I love living here, so it’s this nice mirror of a personal experience where we say to companies: ‘it’s wonderful here, you should be here too’.”

She also loves the working environment at IDA Ireland. “I’m allowed to be myself and I’m allowed to be creative. And I’m supported and celebrated for that unique aspect that I bring in,” she says.

Above all, the people shine out as her favourite part of the work. “We have some team members who have spent their entire careers – 30, 35 or 40 years in the organisation – going through different roles, different career paths, and they have such a wealth of experience. They'll know more about FDI and the landscape of Ireland than I will ever know, in probably 12 lifetimes. And they're just all really lovely people.”


What’s an achievement she’s most proud of?

Her team’s work led to IDA Ireland becoming the first public sector organisation to receive the Gold Investors in Diversity accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity (ICD), and Public Sector Organisation of the Year 2023 at the National Diversity and Inclusion Awards.


Name someone who was a big influence on her future career path?

Niah began her career in the USA working in the hospitality industry where she remembers her HR director was a big influence on her subsequent career path. “She was so passionate about EDI even though at the time, it wasn’t talked about in that way.”


What’s something you might not expect about Niah?

Niah studied creative writing at the University of Florida. Although it didn’t directly influence her subsequent career in HR and learning and development, she believes the experience gave her resilience and skills that translate into the work environment.

How did Aidan’s career progress to his role at IDA Ireland today?

Aidan joined IDA Ireland in 2012, and his time there began by working with existing enterprise technology companies that already had a base in Ireland. “This introduced me to some meaty projects and would have laid the foundation for my posting in Mountain View, California in 2016. I spent five years working with some of the biggest brands in Silicon Valley, under the backdrop of three US Presidents, Brexit, GDPR and Covid, which was, looking back, amazing, if not daunting at times,” he remembers.

Now based in his hometown of Sligo, Aidan enjoys the work involved in attracting investment into the Northwest of Ireland, and thinking about the many factors that influence a company’s decision to set up an operation there. 

What does the work involve?

“I’m a scientist by background, I’ve worked with big tech and now I’m promoting a region across multiple industry sectors,” Aidan says. His broad experience prepared him for the variety of life at IDA Ireland where no two weeks are the same.

“Without a doubt, all of my education and experience has set me up for the unpredictable nature of the job with IDA … All of my roles have given me a perspective that helps me focus on doing the best job I can with empathy and pride.”

A lot goes into planning an itinerary for visits that the IDA team hopes will translate into a successful investment. That ranges from meeting the companies themselves, getting to know local stakeholders they’re likely to need such as recruiters, accountancy practices or universities, talking to local councils and presenting properties the company might want to locate in. As he puts it: “From wheels down to wheels up, what do they need to see that will convince them that this is the right decision for their investment?”

What does Aidan think about the impact of his work?

Aidan is conscious of the positive effect that multinational companies have on the local community. “You have a chance to impact people’s lives by winning investments that employ people from all walks of life and this impacts the local economy, the schools, and the sports and social aspects of the wider community,” he says. 

What was Aidan’s career path before joining IDA Ireland?

His first post, as a graduate, was at Enterprise Ireland’s London office which gave him exposure to the technology and construction sectors. He followed that with roles at an SME and a service provider, later forming a start-up, and subsequently volunteering with a charity. 

What’s something you might not expect about Aidan?

Aidan is a biologist by training, who then pivoted from spending time in laboratories to working in a very different environment: the world of marketing and business development. He gained a M.Sc. in Marketing (B2B) from TUD, followed by a post-grad Diploma in Sales Management from UCD Smurfit School of Business.