Integral Ad Science’s Bríd McMahon discusses opportunities for professional growth at the Dublin-based tech company.
Whether it is from the point of view of the employer or the employee, the transformation of the workplace, while bringing significant benefits and opportunities, also comes with a degree of disruption that has the potential to derail the workflow and the people who keep it moving.
Technological innovation and organisational shifts are vital in the modernisation of the workplace. Especially as we move towards a future in which automation and advanced tech are par for the course and those lacking in these skills risk being left behind.
That is why for Integral Ad Science’s (IAS) Bríd McMahon, who is the country manager for IAS Ireland, organisations need to “plan, plan, plan”. Three words she explained brought a smile to her face, as there is no greater truth than the old adage of ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’.
Having been at the centre of a recent transformation of her own, as IAS relocated to a new office in One Central Plaza Dublin, she explained, “Early and thorough planning is key to a smooth transition”, as is clear and consistent communication and the ability to accept feedback from employees who feel their work has been impacted.
And especially don’t be afraid to ask for help, she said, as many organisations depend on an ability to leverage the expertise and skills of cross-functional teams and partners. But to achieve this, employers need to imbue within the workforce a number of skills in advance.
She said, “Collaboration, adaptability, resilience, a growth mindset and of course patience are some skills and behaviours that spring to mind. Strong communication and the ability to think on your feet also help individuals and teams to navigate change and enable transformation.”
She added that “keeping a positive outlook and injecting a touch of humour where appropriate can go a long way”.
Future of IAS
The beauty of taking on the challenge of organisational transformation is that it enables everyone, from the ground up, to reimagine what the company and its teams are capable of. With IAS’ recent evolution in mind, McMahon noted, it has enabled the group to commit to expanding its presence in Ireland and create new job opportunities down the line.
She said, IAS has grown its local team by more than 50pc in the last year and currently is looking to recruit a range of professionals in areas such as product engineering, data science and technical customer support “to meet both local and international needs”.
The move has also empowered IAS to apply particular focus to its crucial research and development capabilities (R&D), with McMahon noting, data science and R&D are vital to the organisation’s operations in Dublin.
She said, “The expansion is strengthening the company’s R&D capabilities by developing and enabling cutting-edge solutions in media measurement and optimisation. The teams will also accelerate time-to-market through strategic investments in innovative technologies.
“Even before our move, IAS partnered with universities like Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University to advance AI research and education. The new office has allowed us to expand these collaborations by hosting students and showcasing the results of their final projects.”
A valuable experience for students, perhaps looking to develop their STEM skills, as it encourages them to engage with Ireland’s rich technology industry while also giving internal teams the opportunity to mentor, coach and learn from the next generation of innovators and tech professionals.
“The larger space has also enabled us to open our doors to the wider community, from hosting meet-ups such as the Dublin Java group and The Product Folks, to holding customer roundtables and discussions. These engagements bring fresh perspectives into our work and strengthen our role within Dublin’s technology ecosystem.”
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.
