By Angelina Zhao.
On the 15th of March 2026, I travelled to New York with Ella Forde, Áoibhín Barrett, and Mary Larkin as part of the DCU Women’s Impact Network Leadership and Character Programme, led by Katie Keogh.
Just two hours after we landed, we met with Maria Baroco, a board-certified music therapist who immediately got us on our feet and introduced us to the city.
Over our first Dunkin’ coffee, we learned about New York’s history and culture. It was a lovely way to settle in for the days ahead. She was incredibly kind, and we were so grateful to have someone guide us in such a big city, especially as none of us had travelled there before.
We visited Rutgers University–New Brunswick, where we met student leaders on the Douglas campus on our first full day. It was great to move from Zoom calls with the Women’s Impact Network to meeting in person and hearing about their studies, and how they will soon navigate into their careers.
The campus itself was enormous, with buses transporting students between buildings, and even a small farm where we saw the cutest lambs.
On our second day, we visited BNY Mellon in New York City. There, we met DCU alumni Sinead Colton Grant, who is the Chief Investment Officer at BNY.
She shared a powerful message with us: “There are always opportunities to show leadership.”
We also met with four of her colleagues, including Kevin Sheav, who encouraged us “to always stay curious” and reminded us that “everything happens for a reason.”
After these insightful conversations, we headed to 44th Avenue to take part in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the Dublin Society.
It was a bright and beautiful day, and there was a strong sense of Irish community; it was incredible. We even met DCU alumni who had studied there in the 1980s, which made the experience even more special for all of us.
Later, we had the opportunity to meet Rachel Horan, an executive and strength coach who was inspiring. She emphasised that “having faith is essential” and that “if you do good work, opportunities will arise.”
On our final day, we visited Accenture and attended a seminar on Practical Strategies for Leadership from an Intergenerational Perspective, hosted by DCU alumni Lisa Duke.
We heard from six speakers, including both student leaders and professionals already established in their careers.
Áoibhín Barrett spoke about the importance of staying open-minded and engaged, as well as seeking different perspectives when asking for feedback. She also highlighted how important it is to use accessible language so that everyone can understand.
A speaker from JP Morgan, Michelle F. Antwi shared her journey from a Ghanaian family background to building a career in America.
She encouraged us to learn from our mistakes, take initiative, and become well-rounded individuals. She also emphasised the importance of advocating for yourself and recognising that not every manager is a leader.
Lisa Duke, who studied Economics, Politics and Law in DCU, encouraged us to take ownership of our decisions and to lead with authenticity. She also recommended the books Invisible Women and The New Age of Sexism as insightful and must-reads.
As a student, being part of this experience was an incredible opportunity to connect with people from a completely different country and background, all brought together through a shared focus on women in leadership.
One thing I learned over the NYC trip is that there’s never just one path in a career journey. Make sure that you trust the process, but always keep working hard towards your goals and keep a vision of what you want ahead.