IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MSD CARLOW
Eva Gallagher is the site lead for MSD Carlow, a state-of-the-art facility operating at the cutting edge of global biopharmaceutical manufacturing
MSD Carlow is a vital part of the wider MSD Ireland network, spanning eight locations across six counties and this year celebrating 50 years in Ireland. Eva’s career has seen her navigate an array of roles and divisions across the organisation. Supported by a business that prioritise their employees, the mother of two is proof that a successful career needn’t be linear.
How did you get started in your career in pharmaceuticals?
Science was a subject I loved from an early age. I was fortunate to have a teacher in secondary school who sparked my curiosity and inspired my interest in science. That led me to pursue a career in the sector, although I didn’t necessarily have a specific destination in mind.
From my very first day in the industry, I’ve enjoyed working in an environment where you’re always learning, adapting and looking for better ways of doing things. There’s a mindset in our industry of never standing still, of always asking whether something can be improved. This, coupled with our clear purpose of making medicines to save and improve lives, has kept me inspired throughout my career and continues to motivate me today.
You have held many roles in the pharmaceuticals industry. Has that diversity been important to you as your career has progressed?
Absolutely. I think that the breadth of experience I’ve gained from moving across different functions and taking on lateral opportunities has been invaluable. Every role, every site and every team I’ve had the opportunity to work with has helped shape the leader that I am today. That hands-on experience helps guide so many of my leadership decisions.
Looking back, I see my career in three phases: developing technical expertise, building breadth across the business and then moving into senior leadership. Each role taught me something different, stretched me in new ways and, ultimately, prepared me for opportunities that came later. I don’t think I would have gotten to where I am today had it not been for the first two phases, focused on gaining hands-on skills and expanding on that as much as I could.
What do you enjoy most about your current role as Site Lead of MSD Carlow?
I love the variety. It sounds like a cliché, but in my role no two days are genuinely the same. As my career progressed and I moved into senior leadership roles, the scope and diversity of the challenges increased dramatically.
One day I might be focused on a local issue affecting our site and community, and the next I might be working with global colleagues on strategic priorities or travelling to meet international teams. The range of perspectives, stakeholders and challenges keeps the role incredibly interesting.
As part of my current role, I’m also very passionate about joining wider industry conversations, looking outside of our MSD network to make a positive impact for our sector and communities more broadly. Whether that’s by supporting local initiatives or working with important groups such as Balance for Better Business or Women in STEM associations, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to contribute towards the future in a tangible and action-driven way.
Across all of that, pharmaceutical manufacturing remains my anchor. I often joke that it’s in my blood. No matter where my career has taken me, I’ve always stayed connected to that foundation, and the significant sense of purpose that comes with making medicines and vaccines that can help improve the lives of so many people and patients, both in Ireland and around the world.
Do you feel it’s important to keep challenging yourself and explore new things?
Very much so. Some of the most rewarding opportunities in my career have come from saying yes to something that felt unfamiliar, or slightly beyond what I believed I was ready for.
Over time, I’ve learned that growth comes from being willing to embrace new experiences and trusting your ability to adapt, as much as any other skill. Technical expertise is enormously important, but so too is curiosity, resilience and the confidence to learn quickly when you’re faced with something new.
It’s important to have ambition, but it’s equally important to stay open to opportunities you may never have anticipated. Some of the best decisions I’ve made came from being open to possibilities rather than following a rigid plan.
MSD is a global company with a strong Irish presence. What opportunities does that provide for the team here in Ireland?
One of our greatest strengths at MSD Ireland is that we combine a strong local presence with the reach and scale of a global organisation.
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years in Ireland which is such a remarkable milestone. It represents five decades of supporting patients, investing in communities and advancing scientific innovation from our sites across the country. It’s something we’re incredibly proud of.
I’ve been fortunate to work across multiple MSD sites in Ireland and collaborate with colleagues around the world, learning from different teams, cultures and perspectives along the way.
For our teams in Ireland, it means being part of something much bigger than a single site or location. People have opportunities to contribute to global projects, work alongside international colleagues, learn from global leaders and build careers that can evolve in many directions, all while remaining rooted in Ireland.
You have two teenage daughters. How did you navigate progressing your career while raising a young family?
I was fortunate to have strong support around me, both at home and at work. There were certainly times when family and career demands coincided, but I never felt I had to choose one over the other and that’s down to our culture at MSD Ireland.
From a professional perspective, supportive leaders and colleagues made a real difference. I vividly remember being offered a significant career opportunity while on maternity leave: seeing the confidence my leaders showed in me at that moment had such a lasting impact.
That experience shaped how I lead today. Creating an environment where people can succeed professionally, without feeling they have to compromise on family or other commitments, is something I care deeply about. At MSD, we often say that people are at the centre of everything we do and I try to reflect that every day in my own approach as a leader. My role is to help create a culture where people feel supported and trusted to balance those demands successfully.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned?
That there is no single route to success. Early in your career, it can feel like there’s pressure to have everything mapped out, but careers rarely follow a straight line. Some of the most valuable experiences come from opportunities that don’t appear to be a promotion on paper, but they broaden your perspective, build new skills and prepare you for future leadership roles.
It’s a perspective I like to share with members of my team. Sometimes a move can feel sideways rather than forwards, but that broader experience often becomes the foundation for the next opportunity.
I’ve also learned the importance of being authentic. Especially as you move into more senior roles, it’s easy to feel pressure to fit a particular mould of what leadership should look like. The most effective leaders, in my view, are those who are comfortable being themselves.
As a successful leader in a STEM industry, is mentorship important to you?
Very much so. Throughout my career I’ve benefited from people who shared advice, challenged my thinking and encouraged me to pursue opportunities. I believe that we all have a responsibility to do the same for the next generation. For me, helping someone realise their potential and seeing them progress is one of the most rewarding aspects of leadership.
Mentoring isn’t about providing all of the answers. It’s about helping people build confidence, recognise their strengths and see possibilities that they may not have considered for themselves. I also think that the importance of reverse mentoring can’t be overstated – we have so much to learn from newer generations too, both inside and outside the office.
At MSD Ireland, mentoring and coaching are a hugely important part of our culture. We place a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for people to learn from one another, whether through formal programmes or informal coaching; it’s a huge part of how we stay collaborative and, above all, innovative. It’s that diversity of thought and perspectives that keeps us pushing to deliver in better, faster and more inventive ways, and it’s what makes our culture on site at MSD Carlow and across the MSD Ireland network so inspiring.
To find out more about exciting job opportunities available across MSD Ireland’s network, please go to jobs.msd.com/Ireland.
