Regina, Operations Director, shares her experience on how MKO has supported her need for flexibility. Having joined MKO in 2016, Regina shares how her career has progressed at MKO.
Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to MKO?
I began my career as a chartered accountant, training with a large accountancy firm and progressing to Assistant Manager. I then secured a Finance Manager position at an IT company before becoming a Financial Controller for a publishing and events management company in Dublin. In 2016, I moved back to Galway and joined MKO as the Finance and Operations Manager when the company had 32 employees.
How has your career progressed since joining MKO?
I have actively supported MKO’s growth by expanding the operations team and adding specialised expertise in People & Culture, Marketing, Finance, IT, and general operations. Throughout my tenure, I developed comprehensive skills in both finance and human resources, which led to my promotion to Associate Director and then to Director in July 2023. I have also worked closely with industry experts, contributing to the development of the company’s strategic direction.
As an experienced professional, how does MKO support your need for flexibility, especially with family commitments and other personal responsibilities?
After returning from maternity leave in 2021, I met with the directors to discuss a flexible work arrangement. My schedule was adjusted from five days a week in the office (9:00 am to 5:30 pm) to a four-day week with the option to work from home one or two days, and with adjusted hours to accommodate collecting my child from school.
How do you manage to meet project deadlines while also ensuring you have quality time for your family and personal pursuits?
Working from home one day a week and managing my own schedule allows for dedicated time to focus on specific requests and strategic projects. Mondays in the office are great for collaborating with colleagues, while my dedicated remote day is used for moving projects forward and focusing on broader objectives.
Beyond traditional office hours, what does a flexible workday look like for you at MKO?
A flexible day allows me to tailor my schedule to suit my needs. This might involve arriving early to use the quiet time to prepare for the day, taking lunch at a different time, and finishing work between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm when needed. This flexibility also extends to my weekly schedule, giving me the time to pick up my child from school and drop them off at the childminder.
MKO offers remote working and has people based nationwide. How do you stay connected and collaborate effectively with your colleagues and project teams, whether they’re in the office or elsewhere?
I’m in the office three days a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, which allows me to be an active part of the MKO community. I enjoy participating in company events, contributing to the Monday morning baking, and having lunch with colleagues. I make it a point to learn everyone’s name and a bit about their story, which helps build meaningful connections.
What kind of training and mentorship opportunities are available at MKO that have directly impacted your professional journey?
I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by the directors for a number of years. With my background in finance and administration, I’ve gained invaluable knowledge from everyone around me in key areas such as Marketing, People and Culture, IT, and Health and Safety.
For someone looking to build a long-term career at MKO, what opportunities for progression does MKO offer?
For our technical teams, there are immense opportunities to either start or advance your career. Training and knowledge transfer are core to our daily work. Through our annual career development meetings, we help staff understand their current skills and map a path for future growth.
To achieve our vision of expanding our reach and impact, we are committed to growing and developing our teams. This means keeping our people active and engaged, growing their expertise, and ensuring they have every opportunity to advance.