Cork woman, balancing college with working in a growing business, is recognised 

Working within a growing business, while also attending college, has given Ciara O’Connell what she calls “hands-on experience that you simply cannot learn from a textbook alone”.

From Blarney, she’s heading into the third year of her Level 8 Bachelor of Business degree at Munster Technological University, specialising in Marketing.

“Marketing has always been something I’ve had a genuine passion for because it combines creativity, communication and strategy,” said Ciara.

“I’ve always loved the idea of helping businesses grow through strong branding and storytelling, and that interest has only grown stronger throughout my studies and professional experience,” she said.

As well as studying, she began working with Cork-based renewable energy company SolarHill Energy in January, 2025. Her role focuses on managing the company’s social media and marketing activities, which includes content creation, digital campaigns, branding, customer engagement and helping to grow the company’s online presence.

“It’s been an incredible experience ever since,” said Ciara. “The renewable energy industry is also an incredibly exciting space to work in at the moment. There has been a huge increase in awareness around sustainability, rising energy costs and the importance of renewable energy solutions.

“More homeowners and businesses are now actively looking at solar energy as a long-term investment, not only to reduce costs but also to make more environmentally conscious choices. Being part of a company operating in such a fast-growing and important industry has been extremely rewarding,” she said.

“One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the flexibility and variety that comes with marketing. No two days are ever the same, and I enjoy having the ability to manage my time, work creatively, and continuously come up with new ideas and strategies.

“I also love seeing the direct impact that marketing can have on a business, whether that’s through customer engagement, brand awareness or business growth.”

Ciara joined Network Ireland Cork towards the end of 2025: “I wanted to connect with like-minded women in business and continue developing my confidence and communication skills within professional environments.

“Networking can sometimes feel intimidating when you’re early in your career, but I wanted to challenge myself to become more involved within the business community in Cork.”

Since joining, she’s found the experience incredibly positive and welcoming.

“It has been inspiring to meet so many ambitious and supportive women from a wide range of industries and career stages. I’ve learned a lot already from attending events and hearing different experiences and perspectives.

“It has also shown me the importance of building strong professional relationships and continuing to put yourself forward for opportunities,” said Ciara.

Winning the Early Career Award at Network Cork’s recent Businesswomen of the Year Awards was both a “surreal and proud moment”.

“As someone still in college and relatively early in my professional journey, it was incredibly encouraging to have my work and efforts recognised in that way. It gave me a huge sense of confidence and motivation moving forward in my career.

“It also felt like recognition not only for my own hard work, but for all the support and opportunities I’ve been fortunate to receive from my family, college and workplace.

“I would also especially like to thank Wendy O’Driscoll, of SolarHill, for the support and opportunities she has given me throughout my career so far. Her encouragement and belief in me have helped open doors and provided experiences that I genuinely could not have asked for, and I’m extremely grateful for everything she has done for me professionally.”

Ciara added: “I feel very grateful to already be involved in such supportive communities through MTU, SolarHill Energy and Network Ireland Cork, and I’m excited to see where the next few years will lead.”