To mark our 75th Anniversary, we are shining a light on some NCI alumni to showcase the amazing talent the College has produced throughout the years.
Sarah Kenny, HR Director, PCI Pharma Services Ireland
Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Kenny
BA (Hons) in Accounting and Human Resource Management (2008)
HR Director, PCI Pharma Services Ireland
About Sarah
Sarah Kenny attended National College of Ireland from 2005 to 2008, competing the BA (Hons) in Accountancy and Human resource Management.
At the beginning of her dual degree, Sarah was convinced that she wanted to pursue a career in accounting. Through the guidance of people around her during her studies, she realised her strengths and interests were more suited to the HR field.
"Looking back, studying both accounting and HR was a great foundation. Working in HR, you need to understand the business, its finances and the decisions it needs to make, alongside understanding its people. That combination has been useful throughout my career."
What stands out most from Sarah’s time as an NCI student is the encouragement she received from people who helped her see a career path she hadn’t originally considered. They took the time to guide her and gave her the confidence to rethink the direction she wanted to take.
At the time, it was a decision about her studies, but reflecting on it almost 20 years later, Sarah can see how much it influenced her life. It also reminds her how important those conversations can be. She remarks on the importance of showing an interest and how encouraging someone can make a lasting difference.
Finding Your Direction
Sarah credits NCI with giving her the knowledge to start her career while also helping her become more open to opportunities and advice.
"I learned that changing your mind isn’t a setback. Sometimes it means you have a better understanding of yourself and what you want to do."
That experience has influenced how Sarah works with others. She is a practical, hands-on person and she wants HR to make a useful contribution to the business while supporting people fairly. Listening, understanding the situation and following through are a big part of that.
Sarah acknowledges that the encouragement she received at NCI has stayed with her in terms of how she supports people who are finding their feet or considering their next step.
A Thriving HR Career
Now working as a HR Director for PCI Pharma Services in Ireland, Sarah supports a growing organisation of almost 850 employees across multiple sites. Over the past 18 years, Sarah has worked across different industries and organisations, including in the role of HR Director for Europe at GameStop.
Those experiences have given her a broad grounding in HR, from recruitment and employee relations to developing teams and supporting businesses through change.
"I’m proud of the career I’ve built and the responsibility I now have, but the part I find most rewarding is helping others progress. I enjoy seeing people grow in confidence, take on responsibility and recognise what they are capable of."
There is a lovely full-circle element when the support she provides to others in their careers includes an NCI graduate. Sarah’s connection with the college didn’t end when she graduated, and it means a lot to her to be able to offer others some of the support and encouragement that she received.
Sarah’s alumni story highlights the importance of finding support from others on your journey and how rewarding it can be to return that help to others who are paving their own path.
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