Aoife O'Brien, Founder, Speaker and Podcast Host, Happier at Work
Aoife O’Brien is a Happiness at Work expert. She set up her business, Happier at Work, in 2019 with the mission to support organisations in becoming more people-focused. She is passionate about ‘fit’ and specifically how creating the right environment can help individuals to reach their full potential and support organisations to thrive.
She partners with HR and business leaders to focus on four pillars: engagement and belonging; leadership equity; performance and productivity; and the future of work.
She is a self-professed data nerd with a 20+ year career in market research in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, working with clients like Coca Cola, Unilever and Heinz to solve marketing problems using data analytics.
Aoife has been featured on several media platforms and public speaking events talking about imposter syndrome, fit, employee engagement, and productivity. Her podcast, Happier at Work, features a combination of interview-based episodes as well as solo podcasting and has nearly 40,000 listens in more than 50 countries.
She has lived and worked in Dublin, London, Perth, and Sydney and has an MSc in Work and Organisational Behaviour, a Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching and a Certificate in Career Coaching.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn - interesting articles and content, lots of interaction, my clients are there.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am the founder of Happier at Work and also the host of the podcast of the same name. I like to think it ‘does what It says on the tin’. I partner with organisations looking to retain their top talent by creating happier working environments so that employees feel a greater sense of belonging. This results in better performance increased productivity and engagement, and lower attrition.
The business operates across the four pillars: engagement and belonging; leadership equity; performance and productivity; the future of work. I offer a range of services: Happiness Audits; speaking, training, and workshops; live programmes, Imposter to Empowered® and Happier at work; online courses, the Imposter to Empowered® programme, Happier at Work programme; I regularly conduct public and company-specific research on topics relating to happiness at work.
With a background in research and analytics, everything I do is backed by research. As a result, I started the Happier at Work podcast in August 2019. Using a combination of interview-based discussions as well as solo podcasts, I challenge the way we are currently thinking about work and offer practical solutions on how to change it. The podcast has been hugely successful, has over 90 episodes, nearly 40k listens in more than 50 countries, and recently came runner up in the Digital Women Awards for Podcast of the Year.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
There are lots of things I love about what I do – dare I say I am living the philosophy of being ‘happier at work’! I love that I get to spend time doing what I am good at and that I enjoy – reading, researching, analysing data and sharing knowledge. I love the impact I have on the people and organisations I work with. Finally, I love being on top of the trends that are unfolding as we navigate the changing world of work.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I’m not sure if this counts as advice, but Richard Branson has been quoted as saying, “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity, and you’re not sure if you can do it, say yes – you can learn how to do it later” This has stood me in good stead over the years!
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I am innately driven. I have always had this inner drive, and I tend to persevere through most things. So, when I hear about the impact I have had after a talk, workshop, programme or podcast, it motivates me to keep going.
Lots of other things inspire me – I regularly listen to podcasts and read business and personal development books. My brain just fires up with new ideas or combines new and old ideas together, or is simply in awe at other people’s ideas and perceptions. Having a network of great connections also make it all worthwhile and keeps me moving forward.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I feel I have a lot to be proud of so far (but probably don’t take enough time to recognise it!). I travelled independently around the world for a total of two and half years. I saw South East Asia, lived and worked in Australia, and travelled around there and New Zealand and Fiji. In addition, I travelled around the USA, including Hawaii, as well as South America, which included a trip to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands.
I never thought I would be an entrepreneur, so running my own business makes me immensely proud. The success I have had with the podcast also – when there are so many podcasts out there that people choose to listen to mine makes me think I must be doing something right! I graduated with a First Class Honours (Summa Cum Laude for my American friends) in my MSc in Organisational Behaviour. It was a course I really enjoyed, but I also put in a lot of effort to achieve that result.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I’m an introvert, according to the multitude of tests I have taken. But I am definitely a social introvert. I love to meet new people, and I especially enjoy forming deep connections. The pandemic obviously meant that we couldn’t meet in person, but it also meant that I could connect with people worldwide.
My preference is to meet people in person, and you can get the energy that doesn’t often translate online. Also, I can usually find something I have in common with the people I meet, so I love to bond over our commonalities.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Perseverance – just keep on going.
Curiosity – approaching most things with a curious mind and a keenness to learn.
Openness – being open to new experiences and feedback.
Connecting with others – seeking out people to connect with and add to my network, who are interesting, who could help me, or whom I could help.
Striving for Excellence – if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well!
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
You don’t have to do everything yourself. I have a tendency to want to do everything myself and a reluctance to ask for help. However, I am learning that it’s ok to get support and to outsource the parts of your business that you don’t like/aren’t your strengths or that you could benefit from someone else’s expertise by not having to do it yourself and spend more time doing the things you really enjoy.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I’m a huge fan of the organisational psychologist Adam Grant – he seems to have his finger on the pulse in relation to what’s going on in the hearts and minds of workers, he has a simple way of communicating, and his high profile means that more and more people are understanding that work doesn’t have to suck!x`.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I already mentioned my love of travel above. I brought my camera with me on all those trips – I am a member of the local photography club and absolutely love taking photos. In addition, I’m a total board game nerd, which taps into my love of strategy and solving problems.
I am an avid reader and read 60 books last year; I mostly read business books, which I then summarise and add to my website. I also love baking and entertaining family and friends (when we can!). I like to run, walk or hike, and do yoga and pilates to wind down after work. I also really enjoy watching movies – whether watching an old classic for the first time or catching the latest blockbuster at the cinema.
This question has made me realise just how much I have missed these things during the pandemic.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
I completed my MSc while in lockdown, which was tough – everything had to be done remotely, with no access to the library. But, in other ways, I feel the pandemic has had a positive impact – it has made me question how I spend my time, both personally and professionally.
It brought me closer to my family – my brother, his wife, and children live nearby, so I spent a lot of time with them in our ‘bubble’. From a business perspective, the growing interest in The Great Resignation and leaders’ desire to retain top talent has positively impacted my business.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have had many mentors in the past and am so grateful for their ongoing support. I read something recently that said a mentor doesn’t even have to know they are your mentor – they could be someone you admire from afar and whose behaviours you want to emulate.
I am currently on the programme for women in business to accelerate the growth of my business, with a mentor supporting eight of us through the process. This type of support is invaluable. I am also on the panel for several mentoring groups and regularly mentor women, start-ups and other entrepreneurs.
I think it’s really important to surround yourself with supporters, be they mentors or people you can call up for a chat when you’re having a tough day.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
I was so unhappy with the working life that I left before I had anything else to go to. I hadn’t intended to start a business, but that’s how it ended up. So, for anyone on the same path, I would say stick it out until you have established that you can make money from the business before making the leap!
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
I don’t tend to use the term ‘fail’ because I believe when we try something and are not successful, it provides us with the opportunity to learn. Unfortunately, people tend to give up rather than persevere when they are not successful on the first try (or even the 100th try). They may lose heart, lose momentum or lose belief in themselves. But instead, reflect on what you have learned from the experience. Is there something in there that you could teach to someone else?
In my Imposter to Empowered® programme, I see a lot of people not even try because they want to remain invisible, or they are afraid of failing or what other people will think. This is something you can work on overcoming to be able to achieve what you want and care less about what others will say.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
Believe, and you will achieve!
I use this all the time when referring to imposter syndrome in my speaking engagements and programmes. I replace the phrase “fake it til you make it”, which implies you are some sort of fraud.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Two companies that spring to mind are Hubspot and Teamwork.
I saw an ad for a position at Teamwork on LinkedIn which stated that they understand what imposter syndrome is, the confidence gap that exists, and that you don’t have to have ticked all the boxes, but to please apply anyway.
It turned out that this was taken from an example shared by Hubspot. Through social media, I see how these organisations are treating their people, investing in them and creating a culture where their people can thrive, which has a direct result on the performance of the business.
Both of these organisations are examples of how you should invest in your people, treat your people, and grow your business.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success means freedom – freedom to do work that you love, work with whom you want to, and work from wherever. I also believe that at no point will anyone ever think, “now I’m successful” – I don’t think it’s in our nature; we are always striving for the next thing.
Success is about the habits that make up your life and ensuring you’re covering all bases, from finances to health, spirituality, relationships, and career satisfaction. It can be tough to ensure everything is integrated and balanced, but that’s part of the journey, the learning and the experience of being human.
We can reinvent what it is we want from life as we learn and grow on our journey.
Some key lessons: not everyone is going to like you, and that’s ok.
Know who your audience is and talk to them.
Stay consistent, which means keep doing what you’re doing, even if it seems like no one is listening.