In recognition of International Men’s Day, we’re highlighting some of the outstanding men who contribute to shaping National College of Ireland. Learn what this day represents for them.
ictor del Rosal, Assistant Professor at NCI
International Men's Day, November 19th, 2025
Shining a light on the men of NCI.
My name is Victor del Rosal, and I am an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NCI. I lecture across MSc programs including AI for Business, Fintech, Business Analytics for Decision Makers, and more. Outside of NCI, I am the founder and Chief AI Officer of fiveinnolabs, an AI innovation consultancy. I’ve also recently published the book HUMANLIKE: The AI Transformation.
My passion is making technology more accessible and useful to our students, especially supporting people in navigating the AI revolution with confidence and purpose. I’ve been with NCI for ten years; I delivered my first module as an Associate Faculty member with the School of Computing (Cloud Competency Centre) in May 2015.
My path to NCI
My path to NCI began after completing my MSc in Management at UCD Smurfit (2011-2013) and working at a cloud services provider called CloudStrong, and before that, at TCS. Those experiences as an analyst and strategist helped me recognise the importance of emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI, which I later explored in my book Disruption: Emerging Technologies and the Future of Work.
After completing my MSc and gaining industry experience, NCI approached me in 2015 to teach innovation and cloud computing. What began as lecturing on utility computing evolved into designing modules for QQI approval, including Entrepreneurship in FinTech and the Certificate in Emerging Digital Technologies. I was glad to bring together my background as an engineer with business strategy and tech industry experience.
Aspirations and motivations
When I was young, I wanted to be a baseball player and often wondered what it might be like to become an astronaut. Looking back, those ambitions reflected the same theme: seeking fulfilment through work that is both enjoyable and challenging, and staying curious while pushing boundaries.
I graduated as an Industrial and Systems Engineer and today, as an educator, I enjoy helping others navigate the age of humanlike AI with confidence, curiosity, and purpose. I believe the future of learning won’t simply be about preparing for the workplace — it will be about finding meaning and purpose in a world increasingly shaped by automation.
Outside of work, my wife and I are kept busy supporting our kids’ activities - and I continue to play softball and Rounders, with a little baseball now and then.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is seeing students' eyes light up when they grasp a concept and can use it to create something meaningful. In recent years, this has meant watching students build useful apps and landing pages that support real-world needs - such as helping family businesses.
Overall, I find it inspiring when students and clients use technology as a tool to amplify their potential and solve meaningful problems. In recent years - and especially this year - I’ve been amazed at how AI can help build remarkable solutions simply by talking to it. The ability to “talk an app into existence” was unimaginable even three years ago, and it still feels miraculous each time it works.
What does International Men’s Day mean to you?
I see International Men’s Day as an opportunity to reflect on our roles as whole human beings - not just as traditional providers or protectors, but also as family members, mentors, friends, and community contributors. It’s a moment to acknowledge the many roles we hold and celebrate them.
Men’s wellbeing can sometimes be overlooked, with the expectation that men should simply manage on their own. This day highlights the importance of connection - checking in on each other, supporting mental health, and prioritising physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many talented women and have never viewed gender as a meaningful differentiator. For me, values — kindness, curiosity, respect, and competence - are what matter most in professional environments.
At home, I am encouraged when I see my teenage daughter confidently asserting herself and pursuing her goals. I hope she grows up seeing the world not as a place divided by gender, but one defined by equal opportunity. I see both my son and daughter valuing people for who they are - not for their gender - and that gives me great optimism for the future.