Managing Director of Clancy Construction, John O'Shaughnessy, attributes much of his career progression to the executive Master of Business Administration he completed at SETU. The complete experience, as described by John, helped him achieve professional development and business growth.
In John’s words
John O'Shaughnessy, Managing Director of Clancy Construction, an Irish national building contractor specialising in housing, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and renovation and restoration projects, reflects on his professional journey. “I attribute a significant portion of my career progression to the Executive MBA programme I completed at SETU in 2010. Becoming a managing director would not have been possible without having completed my MBA at SETU.”
Journey to a Master of Business Administration
John’s journey into the construction industry wasn’t a straight line. “I left school in fifth year, I never did the leaving certificate. I worked in the ESB for about 18months after leaving school, where I was working on the first 400KVA line built in Ireland. When this project concluded, I was let go like many others, and this was my first journey into the construction industry. I worked for local house builders doing all sorts of tasks and learning engineering skills as I went along. I studied part time for many years doing short courses on site surveying and leveling. I then went on to do a Level 6 course in site management part time over two years with the CIOB,” John says.
Motivating factors
As a director of a company promoted up through the ranks John says, “I felt it was important to gain more knowledge of how business works in areas of strategy, finance, leadership, marketing, communications, and operations.”
Valuable learning
The international dimension of the course, particularly the week-long residency in Boston during the second year, was a highlight for John. “This visit offered insights into global business practices and featured presentations from successful business leaders of Irish descent, further broadening our perspectives,” he adds.
I felt it was important to gain more knowledge of how business works in areas of strategy, finance, leadership, marketing, communications, and operations
John O'Shaughnessy
Impact on career
John also studied law at SETU. He reflects, “I was always interested in law. A lot of my day to day tasks involved some elements of the law such as HR, contract law, land law, tort law and even constitutional law. The course was held at SETU’s Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow for four years part time. A huge challenge for me was trying to get the work and life balance right, while studying part time two nights a week from 7-10pm. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“What I learned from the MBA, and the LLB, provided me with knowledge and skills that have been a huge benefit to me on a day to day basis. I am no lawyer, but I know the principles and I know where to find information if needed. That plays a crucial role in it.”
Peer support
Listening to other people’s stories, and about their experiences, also contributed to John’s learning. “In some cases, I applied that knowledge into my own role at work, whether be that strategy, leadership or financial,” he says.
Advice
If you are in a senior position in a company and want to progress your career and indeed your business, an MBA with SETU will give you the confidence and knowledge to achieve both,” John advises, “Two modules that I took to the most, and I found very helpful, were strategy and leadership. The MBA at SETU is the complete experience. The experience and the professionalism and support of the academic staff was outstanding.”
