60 Seconds with Libby Ryan

 As Libby settles into her new role with us at Enterprise Ireland Australia & New Zealand we took 60 seconds to get to know her a little better. Read on to find out why she joined Enterprise Ireland, what she is most excited about living in Australia and who are her ideal dinner guests!

What excites you most about making the move to Australia? 

The diverse range of clients and sectors that the ANZ team engages with is something I'm really excited about. Australia’s strong emphasis on innovation, climate change, sustainability, and its reputation for early adoption of emerging technologies are aspects I’m eager to experience firsthand. I’m also looking forward to learning about the APAC region and gain exposure to its varied markets and sectors.

The sun and the lifestyle don’t hurt either!

What was your first job?

Apart from helping with family businesses from a young age, my first job was with Harvest, a Dublin based learning and development company. It started during lockdown, and I looked after the social media and email marketing campaigns. It was a great first job to have as I learned so much about the learning and development industry, as well as digital marketing.

Why did you want to work for Enterprise Ireland?

Growing up surrounded by family businesses, I have seen the positive impact that Enterprise Ireland can provide for Irish SMEs. Enterprise Ireland provide their people with so much trust and responsibility from the get-go, which is really important to me as I start out my career.

What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?

In July I finished up my time on the committee of the UCD Ladies' Boat Club, where we had a brilliant season. I am very proud of the impact I had on the club, with the season culminating in our largest attendance at Henley Women's and Royal Regatta, and two national championship titles for the club.

In three words or less, how do you define success?

Impact, fulfilment, and enjoyment.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To do the right thing when nobody is looking.

If you could step into the shoes of one businessperson for the day, who would it be and why?

While Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT might be an obvious choice, witnessing his role at the forefront of our current technological revolution would be fascinating. With ethical concerns and the potential societal impact of AI currently in global conversation, Altman undoubtedly holds one of the most interesting jobs in the world right now.

What do you do to relax?

One of my favourite things to do to relax is go for a sea swim and grab a coffee afterwards, so I think I may have landed in the right place!

What are your aspirations for the future?

I'm not too sure at the moment - I'm currently just trying to absorb as much as I can about different roles and industries and will see which one sticks.

Finally, if you could invite three people to dinner who would they be and why?

My answer is heavily influenced by the brilliant Irish performances at the Olympics. After watching the Olympics and the European Athletics Championships over the summer, I think both Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke were a phenomenal show of both character and sportsmanship.

My third person would be Matthew McConaughey. I just finished reading his autobiography, 'Greenlights', and he has had an incredibly interesting life, with many of his successes and breakthrough into the film industry happening by chance. He even spent a year here in New South Wales!