2020 - 2029
Honorary Citation by Professor Thia Hennessy for Anne O'Leary
President O Halloran I am pleased to present Anne O Leary for an honorary Doctorate Degree.
Anne O Leary is one of Ireland’s most influential business and technology leaders. She is currently head of Meta in Ireland as well as Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In Ireland she leads a multicultural team of almost 2,000 staff coming from over 100 countries and operating across 3 sites.
Anne, an only daughter, was born in Blackrock in Cork and grew up in a house of boys, which is possibly what gave her, in later life, the grit and perspective to be a woman leader in the male dominated world of technology and perhaps what has fuelled her lifelong commitment to gender equality. She is accompanied today by her brother Colm and nephew Fionn who may attest to that fact.
Starting her education in the Ursuline convent in Cork, Anne made firm friends for life; Angela and Muireann who accompany her today. Before embarking on a career in the burgeoning world of technology, Anne studied at Skerry’s College Cork. Initially she worked in a number of technology companies before taking up a role with the Golden Pages. The internet of its day, a company that may need explaining to the younger generation among us. (Before the internet existed, people actually looked up phone numbers for services in a book known as the Golden Pages!) Along the way she met the love of her life and partner in life, local boy Nick who has been at her side throughout her whirlwind career.
Her big break, as you might call it, came when she joined ESAT in the early 90s, ESAT was an Irish start up at the birth of mobile communications. Anne gained invaluable experience at the company that went on to make mobile phones accessible for the first time not only to people in Ireland, but also across developing regions of the world. From there, Anne moved onto British Telecom and then Vodafone. Rising through the echelons, she became CEO of Vodafone Ireland in 2013.
Anne’s leadership style lies in shaping not only a high performing business but also in making a positive impact on society. A proponent of the positive influence of connectivity for society, as CEO of Vodafone she rolled out mobile connectivity across remote parts of Ireland. She spearheaded the establishment of Ireland’s first digital hub – the Ludgate Hub in her beloved west Cork, in Skibbereen.
Amongst her many achievements as CEO, she counts one of her proudest her focus on gender and family issues. She was a pioneer amongst business leaders in accommodating fertility treatment, menopause, victims of domestic violence among others. Her relentless focus on developing female talent resulted in the leadership team of Vodafone being 56% female when she left the company in 2022. In recognition of her achievements, she was appointed by the State to advise Better Balance for Better Business, an initiative focussed on advancing the position of women in business.
Despite her busy professional career, Anne has also devoted much of her time to charitable works including to GOAL, an Irish charity which delivers emergency response programmes in disaster struck regions. Anne took up the role of Chair during a difficult period in the charity’s history. Using her business acumen, she guided the charity through a number governance challenges, firmly positioning it for a sustainable and successful future.
Among her numerous awards and honorary roles, Anne has been President of Dublin Chamber and is currently President of IBEC, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation.
A believer of a “healthy body, a healthy mind” Anne is a keen sportswoman, she swam competitively during her youth, has competed in triathlons internationally and continues her passion for sea swimming and cycling today. An avid rugby supporter, Anne is a stalwart on the sidelines of the 6 nations especially as Vodafone sponsors the Irish rugby team.
How do her colleagues and friends describe her?
Hard working, pragmatic, progressive and positive minded – always good humoured and brings fun to every situation. A woman who loves her style, she has never been afraid to retain her femininity through the cut and thrust of the corporate world.
President O Halloran, for her services to business and technology, her public service, her charitable works and for advancing the position of women in the workplace, it is my great pleasure to recommend Anne O Leary for an Honorary Doctorate.