Sabrina Staunton

Believe it or not, I originally wanted to be an accountant. TU Dublin appealed to me because of its grounded, practical approach; learning that connected directly to the real world, and that felt like the right fit for where I thought I was headed. But careers, as I've come to know well, are rarely straight lines. Mine has been wonderfully squiggly. What stayed constant was the ambition: I wanted a career with real substance, where I could keep growing and work alongside people who challenged me. I wasn't chasing a specific title. I was looking for a strong foundation to build something meaningful on. And honestly, from a young age I always felt I could impact the world in a positive way — I just needed the right place to start.

“Careers are rarely straight lines. Mine has been wonderfully squiggly.”

So much of who I am today was shaped during those years. The push to think independently, to ask not just how something worked but why it mattered — that stayed with me. I also believe deeply that we have an opportunity — not an obligation — to live in a world shaped by kindness. That belief was forming in me during those years, and it has guided how I lead and how I show up for people ever since. In leadership especially, everyone has that one person in their career they never want to become — and that awareness, if you let it, makes you a better leader.

My career has been genuinely squiggly — and I say that with pride. I didn't follow a prescribed path, and I think that's one of the best things that happened to me. I moved across strategy, operations and people leadership, and at each stage I had strong leaders who believed in my potential and gave me space to grow. I have a genuine love of driving outcomes and a clear way of bringing in multiple perspectives to do that. That combination has opened a lot of doors. And where doors didn't open, I climbed in the window.

One of the things I treasure most is that people I managed ten years ago still reach out to me — for advice, to connect, to share where life has taken them. I love that they value our connection. That, to me, is the real measure of a career well lived.

It started early. I volunteered to teach adults to read at a young age — that was my first real experience of what it means to unlock someone's potential. I've always believed I could make a positive difference, and that belief has only grown stronger. I had leaders who invested in me and created real opportunities, and I felt deeply the responsibility to pay that forward. Opportunity is limited. Excellence is not. And that gap — between potential and access — is what drives everything I do around mentoring and inclusion.

“Opportunity is limited. Excellence is not.”

Adaptability, without question. But I'd go further — you have to do the work on yourself, and no one is going to do that for you. I trained in emotional intelligence and coaching because I believe self-awareness is foundational to everything else. Understanding how you show up, how you make people feel, how you bring others with you — those qualities travel across every role and every industry. A love of learning matters too. Mine came from my mum, who instilled in me that no was never an option. I've never taken it as one since.

I'll be honest — stepping into senior leadership during significant organisational change came with more than just uncertainty. There was politics, and not everyone wants you to succeed. And that's ok. Once you accept that as a reality rather than a personal affront, something shifts. You start to understand the games at play, what drives people, and how to genuinely see things from other perspectives. That kind of awareness is incredibly powerful — it doesn't make you cynical, it makes you clear.

What I truly believe is that once you understand your own values, everything becomes so much easier. Decisions that might otherwise feel complicated or loaded with noise become straightforward, because you have an anchor. You know what you stand for, and that can't be taken from you.

I had strong leaders behind me, and I trusted my judgement. Clarity comes through action — you lead with what you know, stay grounded in your values, and let the experience shape you. And once you've done the inner work — through coaching, through real self-reflection — you can't unseen certain things. Some people remain unaware of that, and striking that balance is something every leader has to navigate with care.

Figure out what your internal voice is. Do the work on your values — what you believe and why — and don't let anyone else dictate your values or your worth. I coach so many people who have lost sight of who they really are and what they truly want, because outside voices crowded out their own. That work is yours to do, and no one can do it for you.

Find your network — people you can rely on for honest direction and feedback, not people who just tell you what you want to hear, but people who will tell you what you need to hear. That kind of network makes you unshakeable.

And please — remember that in a world of social media, failure is inevitable. What you see in someone's highlights isn't the grit, the determination, and the dedication they've put in behind the scenes. Failure shapes the wins once you get them. Embrace it. The world isn't perfect, and neither are we.

My mum taught me that no is never the final answer, and I've lived by that. If the door doesn't open, climb in the window. But also remember this: perfection is the enemy of progress. Sometimes good enough is all you need to be. Opportunity is limited, so when it comes, be ready — and don't let the pursuit of perfect stop you from showing up.

Oh — and don't worry if your career looks squiggly. Mine started with a plan to be an accountant. Some of the best journeys are the ones that surprise you.

I’m the Strategy Lead for Connecting Women in Tech, and what drives me every day is this: we are done waiting for a seat at someone else’s table. We’re building our own — and I’m always happy to bring a few extra chairs.

Beyond that, I want to create environments where people feel genuinely supported and able to give their best. A big part of that comes from how I lead — I’ve spent a lot of time building my experience across different technologies, skills and ways of working, because it matters to me to lead from a place of real understanding.

You can’t lead well from a distance. You need to understand the work, the pressure, and what it actually feels like for people day to day. That’s what helps me ask better questions, make clearer decisions, and create an environment where people can truly do their best work.

We have an opportunity — not an obligation — to live in a world shaped by kindness, and I choose to exercise that every day. Through mentoring, inclusion, coaching and community — that’s how I intend to do it. Opportunity is limited. But potential never is.