My Career: ‘My role evolved through opportunities and experiences’

Name: Cathy Fitzgibbon, aka The Culinary Celt

Age: 48

Lives: North Cork

Job title: Founder & Owner, The Culinary Celt

Salary bracket: €60,000+ (estimated as a self-employed business owner)

Education background:

I have always believed in lifelong learning. I hold a Master’s in Business Studies (Marketing). Since then, I have continued to upskill with qualifications in Digital & Online Marketing, Public Relations, Creative Radio Advertising, and most recently a Postgraduate Certificate in Climate Entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin. Continuous professional development has been a key part of my career.

Hobbies:

Cooking with seasonal ingredients, supporting Irish food producers, biodiversity, nature, writing, reading, travelling, and promoting sustainable living.

Describe your job in five words:

Educating, inspiring, writing, marketing, advocating.

Describe yourself in five words:

Creative, passionate, resilient, curious, determined.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

You need to be curious, creative, organised and resilient. Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as is the ability to think strategically, generate ideas, and successfully manage projects from start to finish. You also need confidence, adaptability, and a genuine passion for helping people and businesses grow.

How long are you doing this job?

I founded The Culinary Celt in 2018, but I have worked in advertising, sales, communications and marketing for more than 25 years.

How did you get this job?

My career hasn’t followed a straight line, it has evolved through a series of opportunities, experiences, and a commitment to lifelong learning. After completing my Business Studies qualification, I began my career in advertising, sales and marketing within the media industry. Over the past 25 years, I have worked across a range of commercial and leadership roles, developing expertise in strategic communications, relationship management, business development and marketing.

These experiences gave me a deep understanding of how organisations operate, the challenges they face, and the importance of building trust through effective communication.

While completing my Master’s in Marketing, my research sparked a growing interest in the relationship between food, sustainability and consumer behaviour. Inspired by this, I founded The Culinary Celt in 2018, bringing together my professional marketing expertise and my passion for sustainable food systems, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.

Today, I work with organisations across the agriculture, food and biodiversity sectors, helping them communicate in meaningful ways, engage stakeholders, foster innovation, and build trust with consumers through strategic communications and sustainability-focused initiatives at both national and European levels.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

There isn’t one single route into this career. A background in marketing, communications, and business studies is important, but practical experience is just as important. Strong communication skills, creativity, project management, digital marketing, relationship building, and a willingness to keep learning are essential.

Describe a day at work:

No two days are ever the same. One day I might be planning a communications strategy for a sustainability project, writing articles or creating digital content. Another day I could be meeting food producers, coordinating projects, delivering presentations, mentoring businesses or speaking at events.

I spend time researching trends, managing stakeholder relationships, preparing workshops, developing marketing campaigns, attending meetings and answering emails. Much of my work involves helping organisations communicate their stories in a way that inspires positive behavioural change while supporting biodiversity, local food systems, and sustainable development.

How many hours do you work a week?

Typically, 40–50 hours, although it can be more when projects or events require it.

Is your industry male- or female-dominated?

Marketing and communications is fairly balanced, while agriculture and food production have traditionally been more male dominated. Thankfully, more women are now leading businesses and driving innovation across the sector.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

I’ve always focused on building credibility through professionalism, expertise and delivering results. Strong relationships, collaboration, and mutual respect are far more important than gender.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1–10:

Around 7 out of 10. Managing multiple projects, clients, deadlines, and events can be demanding, particularly when running your own business. Good organisation and time management skills are essential.

Do you work with others or on your own?

Both. I spend time working independently on research, writing and planning, but I also collaborate with businesses, universities, researchers, government agencies, community organisations, and industry partners.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I don’t have a fixed retirement plan. As long as I continue enjoying what I do and feel I can make a positive contribution, I’d like to keep working, mentoring, and supporting others.

Best bits:

Helping businesses grow, supporting Irish food producers, promoting sustainability, meeting inspiring people, speaking at events, mentoring entrepreneurs, and seeing projects make a real difference.

Worst bits:

Administration, paperwork, balancing competing deadlines, and the uncertainty that can come with self-employment.

Advice to those who want your job?

Stay curious and never stop learning. Build strong communication and relationship-building skills because people buy from people they trust. Be prepared to work hard, take opportunities when they arise, and don’t be afraid if your career changes direction. Every role teaches valuable skills that you can bring into your next opportunity. Experience, resilience, and continuous learning will always stand to you.

Any other comments?

The world is changing rapidly and careers are becoming much less linear than they once were. Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what you want to do straight away. Every job can teach you something valuable.

Follow your interests, invest in your education, build meaningful relationships, and be open to new opportunities. Success isn’t just about qualifications; it’s about curiosity, integrity, lifelong learning, and making a positive impact on the people and communities around you.