The Investment Club was created in 2021 and our Goodbody experts have been with us every step of the way, providing practical tips on investing, and insights on pensions and inheritance tax, among other key topics. From tracing their career paths and how to attract more women to the financial services industry to their sage advice and hobbies, we invite you to explore our Women in Wealth series.

My journey to a career in financial services: I began my career over 20 years ago and I’ve been lucky enough to have worked in many different organisations and areas, holding various positions. My financial career started in investigations at Citigroup. I later worked as an FX dealer in Bank of Ireland Global Markets and set up the liquidity desk on the trading floor. I then moved to BOI Private Banking for twelve years before moving to Ulster Bank Private Banking. I joined Goodbody in June 2022 and haven’t looked back.

What females bring to the industry: A lot of research shows that the leadership behaviours which are the most effective for addressing future challenges are not the traditional behaviours that we think about such as: autocratic control, corrective action, and individualistic decision making.  These are seen as the least critical for future success and if anything, can be demotivating. Intellectual stimulation is much more important, and the research conveys that this applies to both men and women equally.

There are other characteristics that are regarded as key to future success, and these are: being inspirational, supporting employees via development and reward, role modelling and participative decision making. According to the research compiled, women apply these traits more frequently than men. Studies have shown time and time again that having women on teams, significantly improves results.

I have been extremely lucky over the years and have worked with some amazing, visionary, and inspirational leaders who are still my mentors to this day. Being surrounded by leaders who care, support, and want you to succeed has been invaluable to my working career.

Career highlight to date: Outside the financial area, presenting on Sky Sports Xtra, TG4 and being Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland where my focus was on girls’ education and gender parity in Yemen.

I am lucky to be a part of one of the most amazing female networks that anyone could ever wish for: The Rose of Tralee.  These women lift each other up. They are strong, intelligent and a true force to be reckoned with.

Three investing tips for beginners:

1. Speak to your financial advisor and understand your needs and goals in the short-term, medium and long-term

2. Start now, don’t wait. The earlier you begin, the more you will benefit.

3. Expect and accept the ups and downs, ride them out

On my reading list: My favourite book is Where the Crawdads Sing. I tend to read it every few years. I am currently reading Gabor Mate’s book Hold On to Your Kids. I have four children, so every little bit helps.

A podcast I love: On Purpose with Jay Shetty, very insightful and covers a multitude of extremely interesting topics.

A quote I love: “Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them” – Michelle Obama

On attracting women to the financial services industry: We should have financial education as part of the school curriculum for both genders. It’s an industry where you can rise to the top and still be a great mother, you can have both. We should encourage more graduates to move into financial services. Creating a diverse and inclusive culture is a key focus for Goodbody. Companies should set up mentoring schemes for women to support women. Women tend to veer towards the why in work, so enabling them to focus on their personal values and purpose is key.

Make Every Decade Count

What does “financial decade thinking” mean to you, and why is looking at life in ten year chapters so powerful for women?

To me, financial decade thinking is a simple but very liberating mindset shift. It gives women space, space to grow, to change direction, and to make progress without the pressure of having everything figured out right now, which is ok! We don’t always have to be right or always get things right, it’s ok to make mistakes.

Ten year chapters are powerful because they’re long enough to allow for real life – career changes, family, setbacks, fresh ambitions – but short enough to feel manageable. For many women, finances can feel overwhelming or intimidating. Decade thinking moves that from fear to ownership. It says: you don’t need perfection, you need perspective. It gives you the confidence to get where you want to and need to.

From your experience, how do women’s financial priorities typically shift from one decade to the next – and what’s most important to recognise when those shifts happen?

What changes most is the balance between opportunity and responsibility. In earlier decades, priorities often envelop on building foundations – career, independence, first savings or pensions. As women move through their 30s and 40s, competing demands peak: mortgages, children or caring responsibilities, career acceleration, and often less time for themselves and we usually put others first too. Later decades tend to bring a stronger focus on security, choice, and control – protecting what’s been built and planning what’s next.

The most important thing to recognise is that these shifts are normal and expected. Financial plans should evolve as life evolves. When priorities change, it’s not a sign you’ve gone wrong – it’s a signal that your financial strategy may need to change with you and that’s where financial advice and planning is key.

Women’s lives and careers are rarely linear. How can a decade by decade approach help women adapt their financial planning through change rather than feel they’ve gone “off track”?

This is exactly where decade thinking really earns its keep. When you think year by year, any disruption – a career break, redundancy, divorce, illness – can feel like failure. A decade by decade approach reframes change as part of the chapter, not the end of the story. For a lot of people, including me, it’s a fresh start and new beginning and it’s the next positive chapter in your story. It creates permission to pause, reassess, and reset without judgment. Instead of asking “why am I behind?”, women start asking “what matters now, and what do I need for the decade ahead?” That shift is incredibly powerful for confidence and decision making.

At the start of a new decade, what single financial question would you encourage women to ask themselves before making any major decisions?

I’d encourage women to ask: What do I want my financial plan and goals to support and protect over the next ten years?

Not just returns or outcomes – but real life. Security, flexibility, choices, independence, peace of mind. That one question helps cut through noise, guilt, and comparison. It anchors decisions in intention rather than pressure – and it works whether you’re in your 20s, your 40s, or starting a completely new chapter.

SEE MORE: Invest In You: Make Every Decade Count