Interviews

Name: Conor O’Meara
Trinity Qualification: B.A. Mod Business & Economics (2016)
Title: Associate at Potentialife, Trinity Business Student of the Year 2016 and Social Entrepreneur
About: Conor graduated from Trinity in 2016 with a degree in BESS and was named the 2016 Business Student of the Year. Since then he undertook the Washington Ireland Programme, founded CriServ a social enterprise and has also successfully entered the world of business with a position at Potentialife in London.

Do you have a favourite Trinity memory?
As cliché as it may seem, graduating last December was honestly one of my favourite memories of all time in Trinity. Being able to share the day with my Dad, who spent four years wondering what I got up to in Trinity, was brilliant – and the long white fur robes didn’t hurt either.

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? Also, could you tell us a bit about the app that you created while at Trinity (Criserv)?
I probably have a membership card from nearly every club and society in Trinity, which is more down to my inability to make a decision than anything else! In second year, I was the President of Trinity Hall JCR in Dartry Road, which focuses on making new students living in Halls feel welcome through events large and small. Being involved with the society really shaped my time in Trinity.

In final year, I became involved with Enactus, the social entrepreneurship society which was a fantastic experience. One of the social entrepreneurship projects which I developed along with 3 other team mates was CriServ. It is a data analytics platform, which analyses and facilitates the food distribution process in refugee camp and crisis zones. Along with the help of Launchbox, the student start-up incubator in Trinity, we developed a platform for the Calais Refugee Camp. It was incredible to think that four final year students, who came up with an idea to try help a huge epidemic, were actually able to bring their idea to the people who need it most. Since working in Launchbox, we have been working to bring CriServ to Greek Refugee camps and Turkish-European borders in conjunction with charities on the ground, due to the closure of Calais Refugee Camp.

Can you tell us a bit about your life since Trinity? 
During the summer, I interned in the US Senate as part of the Washington Ireland Program. It was an extremely exciting time to be at the heart of US politics, not only because of the presidential campaigns, but because of the dynamic political discourse at the heart of American politics. Over the summer months, Congress debated gun control legislation, the Black Lives Matter campaign, LGBT hate crime and growing foreign relations challenges in the Middle East. We witnessed the Democrat House Sit-In and Senate Filibuster, while also being able to take part in equality campaigns and gun control protests.
As part of the Washington Ireland Program, we were exposed to some incredibly interesting and exciting speakers. It was an incredible platform to discuss some of the most pressing social issues affecting Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Since finishing in the Senate and developing CriServ over the summer months, I’ve moved to London and joined an exciting start-up called Potentialife. Potentialife combines behavioural science and technology to offer strategic transformation and leadership development to organisations. I first learned about Potentialife when talking to a former Business Student of the Year at the Trinity Global Business Forum. The company was founded by a former-Harvard Professor and a former-McKinsey Director of Strategy – so I’m definitely learning at a fast pace. Living in London is great. The TBS network has opened me up to the London Irish Graduate Network, and countless other opportunities here in London.

 How did Trinity get you to where you are today?
Coming from a small town in the West of Ireland, I really thought moving to study in Trinity was a real “sink or swim” decision. I quickly realised just how many supports were in place to help me to succeed. Trinity offered me opportunities to lead teams on college societies, teach English in Kolkata, India, use my academic skills for socially responsible projects and more often than not, simply relax on the pitches outside the Pav while an important essay deadline loomed. I was lucky during my time in Trinity to be surrounded by great friends from across the University who were always there to encourage me to think differently, try new experiences and get involved.

 Do you think that you will stay connected to Trinity as alumnus?
I’ve already got my ticket to the London Trinity Graduate Ball!