Dáire Martin

Can you tell us your name, job title and the course you studied at ATU? 

Dáire Martin

Leadership and Representation Coordinator 

Professional Leadership – MA Level 9 

Can you share your career path to date?

After I finished my undergraduate degree, I had the privilege of serving as President and CEO of ATU Sligo Students' Union for two terms. During my tenure, I discovered a deep passion for leadership, advocacy, and representing others, which significantly shaped my career aspirations. This role also instilled in me a profound respect and admiration for the Higher Education sector.

Upon completing my term as President, I transitioned to a new role as a Leadership and Representation Coordinator at the University of Limerick in 2023. This position allowed me to continue my dedication to advocacy and leadership development within a dynamic and supportive academic environment. My experiences have continually reinforced my commitment to enhancing the student experience and contributing positively to the Higher Education landscape.

What does your current role involve?

As Leadership and Representation Coordinator, my role encompasses a variety of responsibilities aimed at enhancing student life and ensuring comprehensive representation. I am responsible for developing leadership, induction, and training programs for students, which are designed to help them build essential leadership skills and prepare them for leadership roles within the university and beyond.

In addition to this, I work interdepartmentally to ensure that all student demographics, communities, and groups are represented within the university. Furthermore, I assist in lobbying efforts both locally and nationally, engaging with policymakers to influence policy development, enhance the student experience, and secure additional supports for students.

Overall, my role is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment for all students at the University of Limerick.

What motivated you to start studying? 

I have always had a strong interest in leadership and management. Serving as President of the Students' Union exposed me to leadership within a higher education context, which further sparked my interest. During my tenure, I realised the significant impact that effective leadership and advocacy could have on the student community and wanted to further develop my ability to lead within a professional context.

Why did you choose this course from ATU?

Aspiring to influence decisions and advocate for others, I sought ways to enhance my skills and deepen my understanding of leadership theory. The Master's in Professional Leadership stood out to me as an ideal opportunity to achieve this. The program promised to equip me with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to lead effectively within a professional context. My experiences and aspirations drove me to pursue this degree, with the goal of becoming a more effective leader and advocate in my career.

How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging? 

Studying online offered a lot of benefits, the most notable being the ability to study concurrently while working over the two-year period. This meant I didn't need to take time out of my career to study full-time, allowing me to maintain a steady income and remain in a healthier financial position.

The two years were undoubtedly very challenging, as balancing work responsibilities with academic commitments was something that was brand new to me. However, the experience was incredibly rewarding. I was able to apply what I was learning directly to my professional role, as I was learning it, and vice versa, enhancing both my work and my studies. The support of my classmates and the academic staff was also invaluable.

How did you balance work and study?

I found that I got better at it as the months went on. Developing healthy habits early on was crucial. Recognising that I would be living a different lifestyle for the duration of the program was also important. It meant making certain sacrifices, but I believe they were worth it looking back on the two years. The experience taught me a lot about discipline, time management, and resilience. The skills and knowledge I gained from the program, combined with the support from my classmates and academic staff, made the journey incredibly rewarding.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer? 

They were extremely supportive, they were able to provide me with extra working-from-home days, flexible annual leave days, and adaptable core working hours. This flexibility was crucial for me to balance my work and academic commitments effectively, so I’m deeply appreciative of their support and flexibility. In terms of relevancy, I found what I was learning being directly applicable to what I was doing in work, and vice versa. 

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying online?

First and foremost, I would say go for it if you are considering it. It's easy to chop and change in your head and ponder over the decision, but for me, it was important to commit, as it aligned with my professional goals. I really believe in lifelong learning and think everyone should embrace it.

I would also add that you may will to recognise and accept that there will be a lifestyle change for the year or two you're studying. Some sacrifices will need to be made, but I found them worth it. Balancing work and study requires a lot of adjustments, but getting across the line while continuing to work was extremely rewarding and is something I am immensely proud of. You learn a great deal about yourself during the duration of studying and managing work commitments, so that was also a nice little bonus.

In what way has studying online with ATU benefitted your career?

Studying online has significantly benefited my career in numerous ways. It has provided me with an extensive toolbox of both theoretical leadership skills and practical, abstract skills, that I was able to apply to my professional career as I learned. This has made me more confident in my ability to lead and step up to manage people. 

Additionally, it has instilled in me a deep enthusiasm for research and data analysis. My ability to strategically manage projects has been honed, and I now have a much deeper understanding of governance within business. Overall, these skills, I believe, have positioned me as a more capable and forward-thinking professional.

Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?

Absolutely. While I genuinely believed from the beginning that I would find the course interesting and useful, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the research year. The supervisors I had for my dissertation were incredibly enthusiastic about my project and research in general, and their passion was infectious. This has led me to actively seek opportunities to include data analysis and conduct research within my current role.

Additionally, I developed a keen interest in strategic management, which aligned perfectly with my professional work at the time. This welcomed alignment not only enhanced my strategic thinking but also provided timely insights that I could immediately apply to my job. Overall, numerous unexpected benefits and aspects from the course have truly enriched my career in ways I hadn't anticipated, making the experience even more valuable.

Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role? 

The elements I studied had significant practical relevance in my day-to-day role. For instance, the leadership theories and strategic management principles I learned were directly applicable to my responsibilities at work. They enhanced my ability to develop effective leadership programs, manage projects strategically, and make informed decisions. My confidence also grew professionally as I felt more assured that my decisions and actions were based on sound business practices taught by industry leaders.

Moreover, the emphasis on research and data analysis equipped me with the skills to integrate data-driven insights into multiple projects. These practical applications not only made my work more effective but also reinforced the value of the course learnings in a real-world setting.

Learn more about the Master of Professional Leadership here.