To say that the guest on this episode had a varied career could be considered an understatement. It is a career that spans the private, public, international, Not for Profit, NGO and family- owned business sectors.
Helen Brophy, now the Director General of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Ireland discusses the lessons from her wide-ranging career with Jim and Ellen.
These lessons include the importance of team working, why 75% of change management programmes fail, the challenges when promoted and the opportunities in the public service.
As well as lessons from her career the conversation covers topics such as change management, the benefits and challenges of a role in the public service, dealing with conflict, preparing countries for EU succession and preparing Ireland for its leadership role in the EU later this year.
Just some of the senior positions Helen has held are Manager of the Export Division, and then some years later, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) – Irelands Seafood Development Agency; Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council: a Board Member and Director of the Executive Development Programme at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and today Director General of the IPA .
The role of the IPA is to advance the understanding, standard and practice of public administration and public policy in Ireland. Since joining in late 2022, Helen has led a substantial transformation programme in working towards achieving the vision of the IPA as Ireland’s centre of excellence in building capacity and capability across the Public Service.
In addition to her Master of Business Studies (MBS) from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Helen holds an Executive Masters in Consulting and Coaching for Change from Insead Business School, France, a BA from Dublin City University and a range of further graduate qualifications in coaching, psychometrics and leadership development.
A key takeaway from this episode is that if you do not have a specific career path planned be sure that what you do is driven by a vision, be passionate and love what you do.
As for the time Helen stopped the music in an Irish pub in Shanghai. It was in the late 1990s while she was managing the BIM Export Division. The pub was considered to be the first Irish pub in China.. When she walked in the band, which was Irish, stopped playing and the lead singer said “O my God, an Irish person has just walked in.” The band had been playing in the pub for three months and Helen was the first Irish person they had seen there.
It is much different today where there are considered to be over 40 Irish Pubs in China.
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