Interview with ..... February 2017

Meabh Quoirin

Co-owner and CEO, Foresight Factory

BA Hons International Business Communication 1996, Magee

How would you describe what you do in one line?

Predictive trends to guide businesses through the relentless pace of consumer, market, technology change.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

Testing the ideas that are going to have the greatest impact for the future. We are forever refining the raw ingredients and the algorithms we use to produce great insights.

Did you plan out your career or has it evolved along the way?

Definitely evolved along the way. I hoped I would work for an international business (since that was my undergraduate degree) and I do – but I had no idea what in. I’m lucky to work in a business that combines a perfect mix of science and creativity, academic thinking and business application. I have spent the last 14 years in this business and I love it.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Buying our business back from a multinational analytics firm in 2009. We have remained independent since.

And your greatest achievement?

I’ll go with one that has just happened. I’m honoured to be in the top 10 influencers list by LinkedIn among such esteemed company. (LinkedIn Top Voices 2016: The must-know Influencers in the UK) I was also pretty blown away by my experience giving a Ted talk last year in Bristol. It was so much more than I bargained for and absolutely worth it.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Read poetry, all things French and a bit of philosophy on the side. Run and cycle. Have as much fun as possible with my three children.

What is your best memory of Ulster University?

That’s a very hard question! So many good ones. Feeling a sense of potential in the Great Hall on day one. Watching former President Bill Clinton speak from the Derry City walls. Heading off to Dublin for St Patrick’s day with a bunch of international students. But the top one has to be my Erasmus year in Strasbourg where I got to study in one of the most fascinating cities in Europe and work in an arthouse cinema for 3 months, translating for people like Peter Greenaway.

Who or what at Ulster University influenced you most?

My husband! Whom I met there as a second year student. He was a year ahead of me and then became my French lecteur in my final year. He definitely influenced my passion for all things French and gave me enough self-belief to try all sorts of things after. He also introduced me to my current job.

What are your top tips for Ulster University students to get the most out of their time at University?

Meet as many people as possible. Learn how to network. Grab skills you’re not there to study – join lots of non curricular outlets. Take any opportunities to travel and/or have placements. A mix of formal and informal learning is what makes you stand out in a very competitive marketplace these days.

What advice would you give recent graduates?

Be tenacious. Follow up every opportunity 150%. And be true to yourself. Only go for jobs you can see yourself being passionate about.

What are your future plans?

My business is expanding globally and we’ve just rebranded to export ourselves particularly in the US and Asia. So I have to keep up with that!

Do you have any dreams or goals that you have yet to fulfil?

Definitely, though those are not well defined. My eldest daughter has special needs and I would like to pursue a business that supports this community. I am always so favourable to companies who create opportunities for people who need additional support and I’d love to do my bit. And at some point, something political perhaps. I think politics needs far more diverse energy and I’d love to pursue it if I still have the belief later in life.

For more on Meabh's company go to: Foresight Factory