At the Agri Careers Expo, crowds heard from Deirdre McMahon, a former nurse turned dairy farmer, Anna Syme, a personal trainer, and Michael Murphy of Bord Bia, who have all taken the step of changing careers.

“People perform best when they’re happiest”

Talent development director at Bord Bia Michael Murphy said to perform in any career a person had to be happy.

He compared careers to a brand or business and said people should always be looking to add value.

He told the story of leaving his role as markets director at Bord Bia to set up his own business producing and selling protein-enriched yogurt.

Having had a desire to set up his own business focused on health and food, he took the opportunity of a leave of absence to follow his passion.

Murphy has since returned to Bord Bia and said while he left the company, he never left the culture of wanting to make a difference and add value.

Give yourself time

All three panellists agreed that none of their big switches came as a result of knee-jerk decisions.

Each told the story of a small idea that had grown throughout their careers that eventually they had to follow.

Michael advised taking a year to plan, research and road-test a potential switch.

Anna Syme, who has set up a successful fitness business, said having started small with a handful of clients, she and her husband had built an entire fitness business on their farm.

She said often the best ideas start out small and grow from there.

Have the support of those closest to you

Anna emphasised the importance of having the support of her husband in leaving her role in Dublin to pursue a career as a personal trainer.

“It is hard to constantly tell yourself that you did the right thing, but it really helps when you have someone with you saying to you that we’re doing the right thing.”

Deirdre McMahon spoke about getting the opportunity to start a farm with her husband.

She said both were committed to the idea and had been willing to move wherever necessary to pursue it.

As it happened, an opportunity presented itself just 30 minutes away, but she said without support it would not have happened.

It is important to have options

Deirdre said leaving the nursing profession was daunting.

While she did not rule out returning to the profession, she said it was not in her immediate future.

However, she emphasised the importance that the option remained open.

This was seconded by Michael, whose career is testament that the door can remain open to a return.

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