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International Women's Day: Accelerate Action

Published
March 4, 2025
International Women's Day: Accelerate Action
For International Women's Day 2025 and its theme of "Accelerate Action," our Managing Partner, Niamh O’Driscoll, shares her thoughts on the progress and challenges for women in business. While women now hold 36.5% of senior management roles in Ireland, 16.3% of firms still have no female representation at this level, and only 19% of CEOs are women (Grant Thornton) Niamh discusses the need for real action—through mentorship, sponsorship, and equitable opportunities—to close this gap and create lasting change in life sciences and beyond.

What motivated you to step into a leadership role, and what has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

When we founded Fastnet 25 years ago, I didn’t initially see myself as a leader. In the start-up environment, it was truly all hands on deck—my focus as an entrepreneur was on getting the business off the ground. I often think of the swan analogy: everything appeared calm on the surface, but beneath the water, I was paddling furiously. Over the years, as I led the company through both triumphs and challenges, I gradually embraced my role as a leader. Without a doubt, the most rewarding part of this journey has been the people—the incredible talent I’ve had the privilege to learn from, support, and watch thrive. Seeing their growth and development, along with the impact we make by partnering with life sciences companies to help them achieve their ambitions, is what I find most fulfilling. At the end of the day, it all comes down to my true passion: people and the powerful impact they can make.

What’s one defining moment in your career that shaped your leadership style?

Rather than a single defining moment, my leadership style has evolved through a series of experiences and lessons learned along the way. Every challenge, collaboration, and even setback has influenced my approach as a leader. I believe that leadership is an ongoing journey not a destination.   Growth happens every day and we are always learning from colleagues, mentors and the incredibly dynamic environment we work in. 

Niamh
O'Driscoll

"By providing guidance, advocacy, and opportunities, leaders can help other women navigate their careers, gain visibility, and access leadership roles. We need to work together to create a pipeline of talent that is diverse and supported."

This year’s IWD theme is Accelerating Action—what does that mean to you?

For me, ‘Accelerating Action’ means moving beyond conversations and taking tangible steps toward creating equitable opportunities for women. It’s about recognising the urgency of change and being intentional about building environments where women can not only participate but also lead, inspire and innovate.

What’s one concrete action leaders can take to drive gender equity in life sciences?

I believe that building on the implementation of mentorship and sponsorship programs specifically for women would be very impactful. We are surrounded by so many strong, inspirational women in all walks of life and it is important that we find structured ways to harness that capability and experience.  By providing guidance, advocacy, and opportunities, leaders can help other women navigate their careers, gain visibility, and access leadership roles. We need to work together to create a pipeline of talent that is diverse and supported.

What advice would you give to women looking to advance their careers in life sciences?

Believe in yourself and the value of your perspective—never underestimate your potential. You don’t have to navigate your career alone; seek out mentors, build a strong professional network, and embrace opportunities that challenge you. Growth often happens outside of your comfort zone, so be open to new experiences. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who uplift and inspire you. Most importantly, be yourself and never underestimate the impact you can make in life sciences. 

Have you seen progress in gender diversity in leadership roles, and what more needs to be done?

Yes, I have seen significant progress over my 30-year career, particularly in organisations that genuinely ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion—not just as a matter of fairness but as a strategic business priority. I believe we need to place greater emphasis on education, research, and reinforcing the ‘win-win’ outcomes of gender diversity. Robust studies consistently show that organisations with gender-diverse leadership teams are more innovative, make better decisions, and outperform their peers financially. While equity is undoubtedly a social justice imperative, it’s equally important to highlight its tangible business benefits. True progress is achieved when we recognise that equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—they are mutually reinforcing.

What’s one change you’d love to see in the next five years for women in STEM and leadership?

In the next five years, I’d love to see a significant increase in the representation of women in leadership roles within STEM. I believe this is important to not only demonstrate progress toward gender equity but also bring diverse perspectives that drive innovation and business success. To achieve this, I believe we require more mentorship programs, equitable hiring practices, and environments where women feel empowered to lead authentically and confidently.

Get in touch to arrange a call and discuss how we can work together to accelerate action.

 

Contact Me

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info@fastnettalent.com
+353 21 450 9200

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