1. What attracted you to apply to the UNITECH programme?

The structure of the programme was what first drew me in. UNITECH offered a unique combination, which is the chance to study abroad while also completing an internship with some of Europe's leading companies, which felt like the best of both worlds.

2. What did you enjoy most about your UNITECH experience? How has the programme helped prepare you for the next steps in your career?

What I enjoyed most was being consistently pushed out of my comfort zone — whether that meant adapting to life in two different countries, working through case studies with corporate partners, or learning to collaborate across different personalities and cultures. The coaching I received throughout the programme was a huge part of that growth.

In terms of preparing me for the next steps in my career, UNITECH gave me a safe space to explore what kind of leader I want to be. It taught me how to navigate the corporate world with confidence and gave me practical experience I can carry directly into my career.

3. If you compared yourself before and after UNITECH, what changed the most?

The biggest change has been my self-confidence. Before UNITECH, I hadn't really stopped to think about who I was as a leader or how I showed up in different parts of my life. This year changed that — I developed a clear sense of self, a stronger independence, and a genuine belief that I'm capable of achieving anything I set out to do.

4. Tell us about your Academic Exchange. Where did you study, and what did you enjoy the most? Were there any courses or experiences that particularly stood out?

I studied at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. I particularly valued the variety of courses on offer — one course in particular, Sustainable Energy Futures, redirected the trajectory of my career interests entirely. The interactive teaching style meant I was genuinely engaged with the material throughout the course.

Beyond academics, the strength of student life at Chalmers stood out to me, as did how welcoming and easy it was to engage with local students. The international student community was instrumental in helping me settle in. Among my most memorable experiences were the trips I took with my cohort, including visits to Chalmers' saunas, swimming in Lake Delsjön, exploring the archipelago, and a final trip to Lapland. Regular touchpoints with my cohort, such as biweekly dinners and Wednesday nights at Yaki-Da, further enriched my time there.

5. Tell us about your internship. Where did you complete it, and what was the most valuable experience or lesson you gained?

I completed my internship in the Emerging Technologies & Incubation team within the R&D department at Omya International in Switzerland. The most valuable lesson I took away was the power of crafting a compelling narrative and how it can influence decision-making in the workplace.

Beyond that, I developed initiative in managing my own work, learned to receive and apply constructive feedback, and gained hands-on experience leading research projects independently. I also came to understand how important stakeholder alignment is especially when the goal is to fundamentally redefine how a team works.

6. Has UNITECH opened any opportunities that you might not otherwise have had?

UNITECH has opened doors I don't think I would have had the confidence to pursue otherwise, most notably, applying for further study in China through the Schwarzman Scholars programme. The philosophy behind Schwarzman Scholars builds directly on the foundation UNITECH gave me; without it, this opportunity would have felt intimidating and completely out of reach. UNITECH has genuinely made the impossible feel possible.

7.  Looking back, what do you think your university experience would have been missing if you hadn't joined UNITECH?

Looking back, I think my university experience would have remained largely limited to an Irish context without UNITECH. The programme genuinely shifted my thinking beyond national borders, giving me a more global mindset and encouraging me to engage with bigger, more complex problems. That shift had a direct influence on the courses I chose for my Master's and the topic of my thesis, and it pushed me to think more ambitiously and push boundaries further when I returned to university.

8. What advice would you give to someone considering applying to UNITECH?

Apply even if you feel underqualified or unsure — the programme is designed to develop you, not just select people who already have it all figured out. Once you're in, stay open-minded and say yes to everything, even the opportunities that scare you a little. Those are usually the ones that end up shaping you the most.