In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Sarah O’Toole, newly-appointed executive director of Samaritans Ireland
What was your first job?
My first job I earned money from was picking strawberries in Wexford as a teenager. Back breaking work for little reward but must admit we ate most of the produce. After college my first job was with Aer Lingus as a revenue accounts clerk. Great business training and I still apply a lot of what I learned there today. I loved working at the airport, the wages were low but the perk of concession travel made up for that.
What qualifications do you have?
I have a master in international strategic marketing from DCU Business School in Dublin. I’m a firm believer in continuous learning and a couple of years ago attained a professional diploma in creativity, innovation and leadership from the UCD Innovation Academy in Dublin. The Academy takes a very different approach to learning and this course gifted me with new ways of thinking and approaches to my work.
What do you attribute your success to?
Being open to try new things, taking risks and being solution driven. I’m been very lucky to have managers over the years who afforded me the opportunity to progress in my career and for organisations willing to support further studies.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
Honest and fair, willing to collaborate and support.
Who do you look up to in business?
I admire and am very inspired by women who lead on social and justice issues. Women like Ailbhe Smyth, Caoimhe de Barra and Catherine Corless.
How do you get the best out of people who work for you?
It’s not possible to achieve success for any organisation without a valued and performing team. So for me it’s very important to ensure people are provided with a supportive environment in which they can thrive. This equates to not only things such as flexible working but effective performance appraisal systems, objective setting and encouragement to try new things. And it’s okay if things fail too, that’s how we all learn.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
I don’t think I would change anything, though I would encourage businesses to promote good mental health in the workplace. Mental health issues are often hidden at work, managers and staff may be unaware what the colleague at the next desk or the other end of a Zoom call is going through and their need for understanding and support. The issue is particularly acute in Northern Ireland, which has the UK’s highest rates of poor mental health. One in five adults here have experienced a mental health problem - 25 per cent above England. And the costs to business are steep: low employee productivity, absenteeism, high turnover, lost potential. Creating an open, supportive culture highlights the integrity of an organisation. What’s good for your people is good for business. We have just launched our work place training in Northern Ireland which is uniquely delivered by our own volunteers.
What website or app could you not do without?
My podcast app, great for the train commute or walk on the beach.
What was the last book you read?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Currently reading The First 90 Days by Michael D Watkins, gifted to me before I started my new job in April.
What car do you drive?
Mazda CX3
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I’m much too modest to say!
What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?
Special Olympics – I first volunteered at the World Summer Games held in Ireland in 2003. This led to me joining Special Olympics International as a media volunteer at the games in Shanghai and Graz and I’ll travel to Berlin to support the World Summer Games there later this month.
