Decoded – Career Paths Translated

Part four of the Decoded CAO special interviews Eimear Brophy from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board to talk about what apprenticeships look like today and how to start on that path.

In this episode;

Next Chapter

• Eimear argues every school should hold a "next chapter" evening. Using the Animal Farm line, she says it is not "four legs good, two legs bad": the question is which learning style suits the student.
• When she started this work about 10 years ago, roughly 2,000 people in Leaving Cert year did apprenticeships. She says over 10,000 will have signed up by the end of 2026
• Over 65 new apprenticeships have been introduced, and there are over 70 in total. Examples include civil engineering (UCC), paramedic, accountancy technician, baker and real estate agent
• There is no single route. For trades like electrician, you find an employer. For others, such as real estate, you may apply through the college, which may have employers lined up. Start with your school guidance counsellor or your ETB guidance service.

What Employers want

• Cop-on, teamwork and work ethic, which can come from sport, charity work or part-time jobs. Some maths and other competencies are still needed. Everyone entering now has a Leaving Cert, with literacy and English language supports available.

Middle ground options

• PLCs and tertiary programmes let students start a degree, such as nursing or business, in an ETB college before moving on to level seven and eight. This can also help families avoid rental costs.

Earn as you learn

• Apprentices earn as they learn. Eimear also notes that college fees have come down and many students work part-time.
• Young apprentices at Johnson and Johnson also attend the ETB. Employers get a tax incentive for taking on apprentices, with a further one for hiring across traditional gender lines.

• (0:00) Why it should be "the next chapter", not the CAO
• (0:57) Eimear's role at Limerick and Clare ETB
• (1:50) How SOLAS fits with the ETBs
• (3:18) Apprenticeships today: from 2,000 to over 10,000 school leavers
• (5:10) Beyond the trades: paramedic, civil engineering, accountancy and more
• (6:38) First step: guidance counsellors and ETB guidance services
• (8:04) Multiple routes in: employer-led or college-led
• (9:31) What employers look for in an apprentice
• (12:49) Entry requirements and why "academic" is the wrong measure
• (15:41) PLCs and tertiary programmes as a middle ground
• (18:59) Earn as you learn versus part-time work
• (20:25) What a traineeship is
• (22:44) Industry's role in designing apprenticeships
• (25:03) Explore Engineering and the Inspire, Women in Engineering event
• (26:23) Gender and employer incentives
• (28:39) Quick fire round: apprenticeship myths

This episode wraps is part 3, of Decoded's CAO special by looking at study options outside Ireland. Laura and Ailish Egan cover how UCAS works in the UK, how European applications differ, and what students need to weigh up beyond points, including fees, travel, language, and living abroad. It’s especially useful for students considering medicine, veterinary, dentistry, or other high-demand courses.

• Why students consider the UK or Europe instead of the CAO route, especially when competition for courses in Ireland is high.
• UK universities offer a wider choice of courses, but fees have become a bigger consideration for Irish applicants.
• UK tuition may cost about £10,000 per year, while Northern Ireland fees are generally lower, at around £5,000 for many courses.
• UCAS is separate from the CAO. Ailish explains school buzzwords, references, predicted grades, and applying independently.
• Medicine and dentistry applicants in the UK must sit the UCAT, usually during fifth year, with deadlines well before the Leaving Cert.
• UCAS entry requirements may include tariff points, specific subjects, interviews, or portfolios.
• UCAS personal statements go to every university on an application, making it challenging to apply across different subject areas.
• English-taught courses in Europe may not use CAO-style points, but can require entrance exams such as Italy’s IMAT.
• Poland and Italy are popular options for medicine and veterinary studies; tuition and accommodation costs vary.
• Studying abroad also means considering homesickness, travel to Ireland, language needs, and placements in local hospitals.
• Ailish discusses postgraduate opportunities in Europe, where some courses may cost less than their Irish equivalents.

00:00 — Final episode intro: alternatives to the CAO
00:55 — Why the UK has long been a popular option
01:54 — UK tuition fees, accommodation, and Northern Ireland costs
03:15 — More options for high-demand courses in the UK
03:44 — UCAS basics and the UCAT for medicine and dentistry
05:12 — School buzzwords, references, and predicted grades
06:34 — Tariff points and subject-specific entry requirements
07:59 — Why students should visit a university before applying
09:22 — Why Europe is becoming more popular
10:20 — UCAS deadlines for Oxbridge and other courses
11:18 — Conditional and unconditional offers
12:44 — UCAS course limits and the personal statement
15:33 — Considering Europe for medicine and veterinary studies
16:32 — Poland, Italy, and comparing fees with living costs
17:54 — The IMAT exam for English-taught courses in Italy
18:50 — Same-year applications and the possibility of a November start
20:41 — Returning to Ireland after studying medicine abroad
21:38 — Application support and agencies
22:29 — Language, placements, and adapting to life abroad
23:22 — Living abroad and managing the distance from home
24:47 — Why determination matters when studying abroad
26:13 — Postgraduate options in Europe
26:41 — Quick-fire recap: costs, language, Brexit, and backup plans

This episode focuses on the practical side of the CAO process: how to complete the form, avoid common mistakes, and handle the key dates that can trip students up.

Laura is joined once again by Guidance counsellor Ailish Egan and explains the difference between the Level 8 and Level 6/7 lists, how HEAR and DARE work, and why getting started early matters.

Laura & Ailish also walk through the paperwork, deadlines, and checks that can make or break an application, so students and parents know what to do before the pressure ramps up.

Key topics

• In this episode, Ailish Egan explains that the CAO has two separate lists: Level 8 and Level 6/7, and both should be filled out in order of preference.
• She recommends only listing courses you would genuinely take, rather than padding the form with options you would never accept.
• We discuss why it is risky to build a list based only on points, since points change every year and cannot be predicted.
• Ailish breaks the list into a practical strategy: dream courses at the top, realistic backup options in the middle, and genuine fallback choices lower down.
• She explains how some courses have no direct Level 6/7 route, while others can be approached through a longer, “scenic route” via related courses and later progression.
• We cover the CAO opening date, the importance of setting up an account early, and why personal details like email, phone number, and date of birth must be entered carefully.
• Ailish recommends using the demo CAO as a practice run before completing the real form.
• She explains the DARE process, including the disability section, the supplementary information form, school input, and supporting evidence from consultants or existing reports.
• We discuss HEAR, how it differs from DARE, and why it is based on income and related indicators rather than disability.
• Ailish stresses that HEAR and DARE are not cash grants, unlike SUSI, and that they only affect access through reduced points where applicable.
• She also outlines the deadlines for forms and supporting documents, and why posting evidence and using your CAO number on every page is essential.
• Parents and guardians can help by checking details, supporting paperwork, and understanding the dates, especially for HEAR and SUSI.

The biggest CAO mistake is thinking you need to have your whole life figured out at 17 or 18. Laura is joined by Guidance counsellor Ailish Egan to break down exactly how to choose courses when you genuinely have no clue, and why the right move is to stop obsessing over points and start researching the actual course.

If you are a student staring at a blank CAO form, or a parent trying to help without making things worse, this episode gives you a clear starting point. Ailish explains why uncertainty is normal, what undecided students get wrong, and how to build a shortlist using interests, values, subjects, and entry requirements instead of panic or peer pressure.You’ll discover:

• Why course points tell you almost nothing about quality
• The psychology trap so many students fall into
• How to use interest tests, subject choices, and lifestyle questions to narrow your options
• Why broad courses like arts, science, business, and common entry engineering can buy you time
• How level 6, 7, and 8 routes can still lead to the same destination
• Why a PLC can be a smart backup, not a second-best option

Laura and Ailish discuss the role parents can play without taking over, including how to ask better questions, watch the deadlines, and keep realistic expectations around accommodation, commuting, and costs. The conversation ends with a rapid-fire myth-busting round that clears up some of the most common CAO assumptions once and for all.If you want a calmer, smarter way to approach CAO season, this is essential listening. Perfect for anyone who needs to turn confusion into a plan, one practical step at a time.

From fashion to medicine, Dr. Laura Lenihan’s journey shows that it’s never too late to change direction. Every detour taught her something she now uses to build a career—and business—that fits who she is. Sometimes the path only makes sense when you look back. And sometimes, the role you’re meant for doesn’t exist yet!

Decoded - Laura Morgan Walsh on her career path, sport, values, and building a life around what matters to her.

For Season 2's opening episode, Laura Morgan Walsh is joined by her brother Eoin, who is asking the questions as we meet the host of Decoded, the podcast that translates career paths.

Laura shares the story behind Decoded and walks through the career path that led her from school subjects shaped by a timetable to leadership in payments, board roles, and founding Morgan Walsh Consulting. This episode is especially useful for students, parents, and anyone trying to make sense of a non-linear career.She also explains how sport, part-time work, and a values-led approach shaped her decisions around work, family, and ambition.

I sit down with Ailish Egan and go through some questions from parents of Leaving Cert students trying to navigate CAO decisions over the next few days and weeks.

The CAO process is moving fast, and one wrong decision can close doors you did not realize were still open. Guidance counselor Ailish Egan breaks down exactly what parents and students need to know right now about first-round offers, round two, appeals, available places, PLCs, apprenticeships, DARE, and HEAR.

If your child got an offer and is now wondering whether to accept it, wait, or gamble on a later round, this conversation matters. Ailish explains why accepting a lower choice does not always mean the journey is over, how higher-preference offers can still emerge in later rounds, and why turning down an offer can be far riskier than it looks. She also clears up one of the biggest misconceptions in CAO decision-making: the points you saw in round one are not fixed, and they can change.

You'll discover:

• What happens when you get your first-choice offer and what disappears if you do
• Why accepting a lower offer can still leave the door open to a better one later
• How round two, round three, and later CAO rounds actually work
• Why available places and PLCs can be powerful backup options
• How apprenticeships can lead all the way to degree, master's, and even doctorate level

Ailish also tackles the appeals process in plain English, including when it is worth requesting scripts, how grade appeals can go up, down, or stay the same, and why chasing a few points is not as simple as it sounds.

She explains how the weighting of practical components affects your result, why teacher input matters before you appeal, and what parents should watch for before spending money on a recheck.The episode also unpacks DARE and HEAR, two schemes that can reduce points for eligible students, but not in the way many people assume. Ailish explains who qualifies, what documents are required, why there is no fixed number of points attached, and why a successful application does not automatically guarantee a reduced-points offer.

If you are a parent trying to help a teenager make sense of CAO deadlines, or a student staring at an offer, a no-offer result, or a points gap with too many moving parts, this is the clarity you need. Practical, timely, and full of guidance you can act on today.

Navigating Success: The Multidimensional Career Journey of Celine Dufétél

In this episode of Decoded, Celine Dufétél CFO and COO of Bridgewater Associates, shares her remarkable journey from a math-loving student in France to a top executive leading global organisations. Her story offers invaluable insights into strategic career moves, leadership, and balancing personal and professional life.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and sponsor message from Morgan Watch Consulting
00:23 - Celine's early interest in math, business, and her educational choices
01:22 - Explaining the roles of CFO and COO and her experience merging both positions
02:20 - The diverse scope of her COO responsibilities across organizations
03:18 - Stepping into board director roles at Fiserv and insights gained
04:17 - Reflecting on her youth and career planning as a teenager in France
05:14 - Education journey from prep school to École Polytechnique and applying math skills to finance
07:09 - Why she chose McKinsey and her experience in consulting and finance in the US
08:58 - Transitioning from consulting to becoming an operator and exploring roles in finance
11:22 - The significance of building core skills like analytics and problem-solving
12:20 - Comparing consulting and live decision-making as a business owner
13:48 - Regrets, lessons learned, and the importance of foresight in career planning
14:45 - Passion for the intersection of finance and technology, and the journey to Fiserv
15:45 - The importance of vision and looking ahead in career decisions
16:12 - Managing risk aversion rooted in personal history and life experiences
17:29 - The challenges and perks of her demanding roles in finance and leadership
19:24 - Balancing motherhood and a high-profile career, role modeling for her children
21:41 - The role of organization and military discipline in her career and life
22:10 - Handling days of overwhelm and prioritization techniques
23:33 - The evolving nature of parenthood and work-life balance
24:29 - Her experience in the French Navy and leadership lessons from maritime roles
27:25 - Being the only woman on board in her naval career and leadership under pressure
29:14 - Embracing AI and technological change: a call to be proactive and innovative
31:07 - The importance of being a “power user” of AI tools and early career opportunities
32:06 - Final thoughts on sitting alongside AI as a colleague and continuous learning

The conversation explores Pat's career exploration, transition, and adaptability. We discuss the importance of staying true to yourself, the impact of continuous learning on your career, and the importance of work-life balance.

Takeaways

• Career Path Exploration
• Adaptability

Chapters

• 00:00 Discovering Career Interests
• 06:00 Transitioning Between Careers
• 12:14 Career Plateau and Professional Development
• 20:58 Balancing Work and Life
• 40:56 The Role of AI in Careers

Isabel Joyce shares her career journey from Irish cricketer to international commentator, highlighting the challenges, opportunities, and insights gained along the way. Her mantra of 'just say yes' has been a guiding principle in her career, leading to unexpected and rewarding experiences.

Takeaways

• Adaptability
• Opportunity

Chapters

• 00:00 The Power of 'Just Say Yes'
• 08:12 The Grind of Commentary
• 15:12 The Impact of Mentors and Advocates
• 25:11 The Role of AI in Commentary
• 35:09 The Importance of Research in Commentary
• 41:51 The Journey to Becoming a Commentator

In this episode, Laura Morgan Walsh interviews Brian Stokes, a Deputy Principal with a fascinating career journey that spans from European politics to leadership in further education. Discover how taking unconventional paths, embracing lifelong learning, and adapting to technological changes have shaped his impactful career.

This week my conversation is with Michelle Ní Gabhóid; General Counsel and Company Secretary for Monzo Bank Europe. Michelle shares her career journey from the upset of not getting her 1st choice Univeristy option to in-house legal expert. She discusses the strategic nature of her role, the importance of relationship-building, and how skills transfer across industries, all while exploring the impact of AI on legal and business practices. Enjoy!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

01:27 What Does a General Counsel Do?

03:18 The Diversity of a GC's Daily Work

05:39 Misconceptions About Legal Work

06:01 Michelle’s Childhood and Early Interests

07:24 Dealing with Disappointment and Changing Plans

08:24 College Years and Discovering Law

09:46 Transition from School to College Challenges

10:41 Finding Passion in Company Law

11:28 Understanding FE1 Exams and Legal Qualification Pathways

12:52 Practical Skills in Law and Law Firm Experience

14:40 Working in Law Firms and Building Skills

16:03 Transferable Skills Across Legal Contexts

17:24 The Value of Asking for Help and Feedback

18:52 Law as a Logical and Spectrum-Based Discipline

19:22 Specializations and Career Choices in Law

20:45 Working in London and Restructuring Experience

24:03 Transition to Tech and Stripe Experience

26:52 The Impact of AI on Legal Tasks

29:44 The Value of Skills and Human Judgment

33:07 Knowing Yourself and Career Satisfaction

35:59 The Role of Relationships and Teamwork

39:13 Adapting to Change and Continuous Learning

40:14 Reflections on Career Growth and Resilience

41:10 AI's Role in Future Careers

44:24 The Human Element in a Tech-Driven World

47:09 The Power of Personal Stories and Authenticity

48:01 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

This podcast episode features a conversation with Peter Breen, Head of Communications for the IRFU. We discuss his career journey and experiences working with high-performance sports teams.

Peter shares insights into his educational trajectory, transition to journalism, and the influence of sports on personal and professional development. The conversation covers the importance of local media, the value of diversifying career paths, the significance of continuous learning and education, the less glamorous aspects of the job, the perks of the job, navigating career paths, and the role of AI in the job.

Takeaways

• Career development in sports
• High-performance team dynamics
• The impact of local media in sports
• Continuous learning and professional growth
• The role of AI in sports and fan engagement

Chapters

• 00:00 The Wake-Up Call
• 05:10 A Day in the Life
• 10:48 The Normalcy of High-Performing Individuals
• 16:07 Educational Trajectory
• 23:19 Transition to Writing
• 30:16 Diversifying Career Paths
• 35:22 Continuous Learning and Education
• 43:18 Navigating Career Paths
• 48:30 The Role of AI in the Job