Sophie McAuley

I would say it's been my foundation working in government. When I was a student, I had a placement opportunity within an Economic Development unit. Fortunately, I had a really hard working & dedicated team and I've hopefully mirrored their optimistic attitude and passion throughout all of my work.

Every day was different, but that kind of on-the-spot learning really enhanced my decision-making skills and approach to last minute changes and risk management. Work will always be challenging but true character is shown in the most difficult of moments.

When I worked in local government, I was extremely lucky to have brilliant female mentors, and one of them said, "you never know when you're going to meet somebody down the road, you never know what kind of situation you or they are going to be in, professionally or personally". Essentially it is about treating every person with the same respect, kindness, and empathy.

A former colleague would also advise, "surround yourself with those that are better". A mentee of hers is now the CEO of a very successful corporation, so it demonstrates that you don't know what doors will open for folks and you've been lucky enough to play some part in their path to get there.

I would say network, network, network. Research local networking events, anything where there's a chapter in your local vicinity. I think the biggest thing is developing your network and building that relationship. Sometimes it's difficult to attend evening or weekend business events after a long day or working week, but I think it's crucial that you take those opportunities where you can.

Many of my larger engagements have come from conversations I initially considered fleeting, that I assumed wouldn't go anywhere, but did.

Probably the Acubed Innovation Center that I mentioned earlier, and that next generation aircraft fraternity being located here in LA and in El Segundo - there's so much happening in California. There are many companies that have been around 5 years, 10 years, focused on research and development, the likes of Heart Aerospace, SkyRyse or VAST. Technology and innovation is where the opportunity lies. Likewise, in the project management space, it's really key to be educated on the latest tools and platforms, and how these can be best optimized.

There's always going to be various parts of my job, the people management side, that can't be nurtured or developed with software, but the parts that can be automated, it's essential to stay on top of that. I'm a big advocate of getting hands-on with new products, whether that's through demos, conferences or simply asking others what they're using day-to-day and what's making their lives easier.

I think it's working on projects that actually interest you, and I think that makes for good business sense. That probably comes with experience - it's about thoughtfully choosing projects - meticulously vetting and screening the opportunity. For me, that has included seeking out projects at the intersection of sports, entertainment and premium brand experiences, from supporting strategy and storytelling around the World Cup and Super Bowl to working across luxury transport and mobility brands. It's also important to working with people that you want to work with. I have been fortunate enough to work with fantastic leaders throughout my career, and I'm mindful that sometimes that might not be the case. You work a great deal of hours each week, so you've got to enjoy the people that you're with for all of those hours.

I'm proud to be from a small place in Ireland, and I think some of the values you learn in smaller communities translate remarkably well to global business. I take their approach to business. It's a bit of an Irish mantra, too - get the head down and get the work done, but be personable and approachable with it. Don't be the reason someone doesn't want to go to work in the morning. I think it's as simple as that. I've found that approach travels well, whether I'm working with a small team or with major global sports, entertainment, aero and automotive partners.