SHSS Alumnae Link - Lisa Collins

Welcome to SHSS Alumnae Link!

This is where we connect with past pupils and find out what they’re up to now.

This week we linked with Lisa Collins who graduated in 2012.

Name and position: 

Lisa Collins, Associate Manager at Accenture.

Lives: 

Clonakilty – Covid presented me with opportunity to work remotely so I moved back from Dublin in 2020. I had been living there for 3 years, but now I am renting in Clonakilty. My work is based out of Dublin, but all my work can be done remotely.

Best memory of Sacred Heart:  

Transition Year as a whole was stand out for me. Not only did we get presented with so many opportunities to try our hands at different ‘real life’ projects and initiatives, I also got to know more of the girls whom I may not have usually sat next to in traditional classroom structure. I hadn’t interacted with some of them much in the first few years, but through TY, they are now my life long friends. During Transition Year I was also introduced to debating by Sheila Gilbert, and this really became a passion project throughout 4th and 5th year.  On a personal level I got so much from that: the importance of critical thinking, crafting a delivery speech, working with a team, researching all sides of an argument and ultimately having confidence in your delivery. To this day I often reflect on what I got from that right through into my professional career. I will be forever grateful to have been given those opportunities. 

What were your favourite classes?

It hard to pick a ‘favourite’ subject per se, as to be honest ,even if I wasn’t particularly strong at a subject (Maths, sorry Ms Hennessy and Mr. Kiely) – I always enjoyed classes at Sacred Heart, particularly in Senior Cycle, as we really did have ‘the craic’ with the teachers. 

Of course, Religion with Betty Keohane was always a treat, it was like a ‘warm hug’: a 40 mins timeout from exam material, where you could chat about this or that or take time to unwind and reflect on any ‘pressures’ we may have been feeling particularly in Leaving Cert. 

If I had to pick a favourite subject, I would probably say History and English were my favourite subjects from subject matter perspective. I have always loved History and I still do.  I always looked forward to History class with Mrs Fitzpatrick and Ms Harte.  Mrs O’Donoghue was instrumental in fostering that appreciation for English. She really can bring out the best in every student and I gained so much from her mentor ship.  

Tell us about your career progression to date: 

After the Leaving Cert in 2012 I went to University of Limerick to study History and Politics. It was my top choice after seeing the university at the open days. I looked the ‘feel’ of the place. I graduated in 2016 with a first class honours in history and politics, having spent a semester in Sweden under the Erasmus programme, and also a semester on placement in a company called Media HQ in Dublin. 

In 2016 I was selected to become part of a team of 30 people to represent the Washington Ireland Programme for 2016. The Washington Ireland Programme for Service and Leadership (WIP) is a unique year long programme of personal and professional development that brings university students from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to Washington D.C. Through this I interned at Capitol Hill for the summer with Congressman Brendon Boyle which was an experience of a lifetime. We also got to meet some pretty incredible people in the Irish American community in DC and New York while also developing key leadership skills and working on research papers for the betterment of the future of the island of Ireland. I was lucky enough to get to return in November of that year to introduce Ireland’s then U.S. Ambassador, Anne Anderson, at a Conference in D.C. run by the UCD Clinton. I still pinch myself when I think of it.  I have made some life long friends from the WIP and would encourage anyone to apply when after secondary school. I’m happy to help anyone with the application process!

After returning from D.C. in 2016, I did a Masters in Political Science in U.C.C. and also worked part time in Fig & Olive Clonakilty to fund it. I graduated in 2017 with first class honours with my thesis on the Brexit referendum campaign in Northern Ireland titled ‘ Why Campaigns Matter?’ . Following completion of my Masters I went straight into a role in Accenture in their Dublin office in 2017 as an Analyst working within Public Safety. I am still there today now as an Associate Manager and have worked on some incredibly interesting and exciting projects within public safety. In particular, I have been mainly focused on implementing and rolling out a  European border security and integration system for Ireland which involves working across multiple stakeholders including European bodies and EU agencies, Irish departmental bodies and multiple offshore teams. 

Outside of this I also involved with  the organisation of series of events for Centenary Commemoration Programme for Dick Barrett. I look after the PR and social media. I also assist with social media for the Cork and Ross Diocesan Facebook page. My time as ‘school journalist’ with Beth Keohane has helped me with these voluntary PR type roles greatly … 

If you weren’t in the job you have, what would you be doing?

Potentially something in foreign affairs or research. I love learning and research so potentially a job in Academia or else a foreign service role with the Department of Foreign Affairs would be rather interesting if I could brush up my language skills ! 

Advice you would give your teenage self:

Don’t worry about not having it all figured out – follow what you are interested in and passionate about and the rest will all work out. Oh and once you have done the Leaving Cert, no one ever asks you what ‘points’ you got. It’s not even discussed in college, so don’t fixate on that. 

Favourite quote or motto?

A good ol’ Sheila Gilbert classic ‘There is an opportunity in everything’. I still say this to myself if there is something I am nervous about doing or reluctant to do – afterwards we usually gain something from an experience no matter what it is. 

What is your hidden talent?

I wouldn’t say I have particular ‘talent’ but in my downtime, I like to paint. I thank Judy O’Connell for the skills she thought me all those years ago In Junior Cert. I only recently took up painting again during Covid , and was amazed about how much came flooding back. A great outlet, from an often demanding day job. 

Huge thanks to Lisa for taking the time to answer our questions!

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae LInk.