Paying It Forward with Mentorship

Deirdre Jordan, one of UCC’s more than 40 dedicated alumni mentors, graduated from UCC in 2005 with a BSc in Nutritional Sciences and currently works as a director in a global pharmaceutical company. An active traveller, exerciser, and host, she also enjoys personal and professional coaching, which drew her to the UCC Mentoring programme last year.

Deirdre was kind enough to share her reflections on mentoring UCC students, speaking about the fulfilling nature of giving back by guiding the next generation, the impact she hopes to make, and how a not-so-linear life path can be both fruitful and rewarding.

What inspired you to get involved mentoring UCC students?

I stayed connected to UCC early in my career through work with a probiotic company and the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. Any excuse to come back to Cork—where I spent five formative years and made lifelong friends—was always a good one, so mentoring felt like a natural next step.  

What has your experience been like? 

I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been rewarding to share not just my career path, but the reality behind it—over 20 years in life sciences and pharma, combined with a big interest in how we think, behave and make decisions. I particularly enjoy exploring topics like careers, confidence and leadership, and encouraging students to question some of the “default settings” we often accept.  

What impact do you hope to make?  

If I can help someone feel a bit more confident, a bit more purposeful, or a bit less like they need to have everything figured out—that’s a win. As a lifelong learner and strategist, I’m particularly interested in helping students “connect the dots”—both in a practical sense (people, opportunities, experiences) and in how they think. Creating those connections, both physical and neural, can really shape how someone sees their path. Careers don’t have to be straight lines—mine certainly wasn’t—but with curiosity and a willingness to learn, things tend to come together.  

What does mentoring mean to you personally?  

Mentoring is a way of giving back to an institution and community that played a significant role in my life. It also aligns strongly with my belief that understanding yourself is one of the most powerful tools you can have. We are, ultimately, the most important tool in our own toolbox. Supporting students in building that awareness and backing themselves is something I find really meaningful.

Have you learned anything from mentoring?

Definitely—it’s never one-sided. It constantly reinforces for me the importance of self-awareness, connection and adaptability. Working in a fast-moving industry like pharma, I’m also seeing how AI is changing things, at pace. It also reminds me that human skills—how we connect, influence and show up—still matter most.  

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering?  

Go for it. You don’t need a perfect career story to be a good mentor—in fact, the more “real” it is, the better. It’s a great opportunity to give back, reflect on your own journey, and hopefully make things a little easier for someone coming behind you.

What do you do outside of volunteering?

Since graduating from UCC, I’ve completed an MSc in Clinical and Translational Research, an Advanced Practitioner Diploma in Coaching with Neuroscience, and certifications in areas such as Scrum Product Ownership, Training and Development, Mental Health First Aid, and Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you or your journey?

I wasn’t exactly top of the class—in fact, I failed first year (a combination of too much freedom and not enough discipline!). I also wouldn’t call myself a “traditional” scientist, despite my degree.

My path hasn’t been linear—personally or professionally. I left my marriage at 34 and became a mother at 42, which has probably been my most rewarding (and humbling!) role to date. I’ve built an enjoyable and purposeful career, driven by an interest in health and a purpose to help get medicines to patients. It’s been a squiggly path, with plenty of mistakes along the way, but it’s proof that you don’t need to fit a mould—or follow a timeline—to find where you add most value. I understand what it feels like not to be a “clear fit”—and that you can figure it out as you go.

Things don’t always happen in the order you expect—but they often make sense when you look back.  

You can learn more about the UCC Mentoring programme on the UCC Advancement website. If you interested in becoming a mentor, please fill out this short interest form or contact alumni@ucc.ie.