Áine Collins Chief Financial Officer

Antaris Consulting

The start of a new year has always felt meaningful to me— not in the “new year, new me” sense, but as a quiet pause before life speeds up again. I genuinely use this moment to reflect, to look at the past year with honesty, and to set a few intentions for the months ahead. Even though I try to grow throughout the year, there’s something about the cold and quiet days of early January that gives me the mental space to step back and ask myself what really matters.

Professionally, this reflection helps me get grounded. I think about the skills I want to strengthen, the projects that energize me, and the type of colleague or leader I want to be. It’s a chance to reset my focus and make sure the work I’m doing aligns with my bigger goals. I actually enjoy this part—the planning, the clarity, the feeling of fresh motivation and focus.

“I THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS BROUGHT ME JOY OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT DRAINED ME—AND I USE THESE REFLECTIONS TO GUIDE HOW I WANT TO SHOW UP IN MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. I SET GENTLE GOALS RATHER THAN STRICT RESOLUTIONS, GIVING MYSELF ROOM TO ADJUST AS THE YEAR UNFOLDS”

Personally, the new year is even more important as l use this time to reflect on the balance between working and home life working more on priority activities that might give me more time to spend with family and loved ones at home in North Cork . T think about what brought me joy in the past year and what drained me, and I use those reflections to guide my planning and actions for the year ahead. I set gentle goals rather than strict resolutions, giving myself room to adjust as the year unfolds.

Even though I believe growth happens year-round, the few days around new year are great to our in the fresh air preferably by the sea and get some long walks which gives me a much-needed moment to breathe, reset, and recommit to becoming a better version of myself—one step at a time.

Gary Gardiner Financial Director

MCORM Architecture and Urban Design

Like many people, I used to buy into the “new year, new me” mindset. Every January, I would dive into the latest fad diet or throw myself into the gym, only for the enthusiasm to fade after a few weeks.

Over time, I realised that while personal resolutions often fizzle out, my professional development required—and benefitted from—a far more structured, year-round approach.

Back in 2021, I set myself the goal of progressing to Financial Director. To achieve this, I took a more intentional look at my strengths, weaknesses and the capabilities I needed to build.

To address knowledge gaps, I completed the Diploma in Corporate Finance and, later, the Diploma in Strategic Financial Leadership with Chartered Accountants Ireland—both excellent programmes.

To broaden my practical skills, I joined the board of a not-for-profit organisation in a voluntary capacity, which helped shift my thinking from an employee mindset to that of a consultant and strategic adviser.

In my current role, I have significantly strengthened the business’s financial operations by implementing a fully integrated project management and accounting system.

This modernisation has automated routine processes, improved data accuracy, and brought much-needed consistency to reporting.

As a result, I’ve been able to shift my time and attention toward higher-value strategic work—supporting decision-making, improving financial insight and contributing more proactively to the overall direction of the organisation.

This blend of operational improvement and strategic involvement is something I’ve found rewarding.

Working with mentors, including through the Chartered Accountants mentor programme, has provided an invaluable perspective from experienced financial directors and chief financial officers.

Their insights have helped shape my career thinking and encouraged me to pursue the Chartered Director Programme with the Institute of Directors, which I am currently undertaking.

While I have always kept a clear plan in mind, my focus has shifted towards doing the work I genuinely enjoy—strategy, leadership and adding value.

Above all, family remains my top priority. Still, I believe enjoying your career is essential, and the new year offers a useful moment to ensure those two parts of life support each other.

Jennifer Bowe Director, Accounting & Financial Transformation EMEA

Formally Navan

It is New Year’s Day, 2017. Christmas has faded, and that familiar New Year’s dread—the “do better” voice—is already nagging at me.

I’m searching for last year’s resolutions list, only to realise I can’t find it nor remember a single achievement or challenge from the year that has passed.

I found a glass jar, bought some heart-shaped Post-it notes and my “jar of hearts” was born.

Throughout the year, I began to jot down my wins—a challenge overcome or a moment that made me smile and added them to the jar.

Now, every 1 January, instead of making resolutions, I sit with that jar and read each note. Blurred memories suddenly feel alive again, and I start the year feeling buoyed by each simple note.

Shifting to this habit has led me to set fewer, but more meaningful, goals throughout the year.

My personal and professional values align closely: a desire to learn and grow. This yearly ritual serves to remind me of what those values are.

Throughout my career, I have tried to carry these principles with me—learn, accept mistakes and grow.

This practice led me to my niche: building finance teams from scratch and helping US companies expand their footprint overseas.

I found work I genuinely loved, and every new role carried the same foundations, each with a bigger challenge than the last.

Whatever your career goals may be, staying aligned with your core values keeps you moving with purpose. And, in my own experience, when you focus on what truly matters to you, progress naturally follows.

Now, with many years of experience under my belt, my next goal is to pour my finance, strategic and operational experience into something new—still guided by the same principle that has yet to fail me: keep growing and be better.

“THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I BEGAN TO JOT DOWN MY WINS—A CHALLENGE OVERCOME OR A MOMENT THAT MADE ME SMILE AND ADDED THEM TO THE JAR”