In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their success.
From early career choices to pivotal moments, challenges overcome, and advice for the next generation, every interview offers a personal insight into the many different paths a career can take.
This week, as Leaving Cert results are released, many students are thinking about their next steps. For some, the path ahead feels clear; for others, it may be uncertain.
Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of Laois and Offaly ETB, knows that feeling well. Like many students, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he left school.
He studied Commerce at UCC with plans to become an accountant, but a growing interest in Information Systems led him to a Master’s degree, a lecturing post at UCC, and eventually into adult and further education, a journey that brought him to his current role leading LOETB.
Since 2013, Joe has overseen schools, further education colleges, apprenticeships, youth services, and music programmes across Laois and Offaly, supporting more than 17,000 learners each year.
His advice to students is both reassuring and inspiring: follow your interests, keep an open mind, and remember there are many pathways to success.
In this interview, he shares the turning points that shaped his career, the challenges he has faced, and his vision for the future of education and training.
1 – What was your very first job, and what did it teach you?
My very first job was working on the family farm in north Galway and, needless to say, it wasn’t a paying job!
I really enjoyed it and, looking back now, it instilled a good work ethic in me because there’s always something to be done on a farm and it’s where I spent most of my evenings, weekends, and summers as I was growing up.
2 – Did you always know you wanted to work in this field, or did your career path evolve over time?
My career path definitely evolved over time. Like so many completing their Leaving Cert every year, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.
I studied Commerce in UCC with the initial intention of becoming an Accountant but I developed a real interest in Information Systems, an emerging area at that time, and focused on that area as well as Management for my final year.
That led on to a Masters in Information Systems and a position as a Lecturer in Business Information Systems at UCC. That eventually led on to opportunities to work in adult education and, ultimately, to my current role.
3 – Was there a turning point or moment that shaped your career most significantly?
Part of my role at UCC involved new programme development and consulting work with companies looking to develop information systems to support their businesses.
While I really enjoyed teaching students on undergraduate programmes, the interest and impact of the engagement with adults in an academic and business environment gave me great satisfaction.
While I really enjoyed my time in Cork and UCC (where I met my wife Gillian), I moved to the role of Adult Education Officer with Laois VEC, which offered me a management role in an area I really enjoyed and also allowed us to move as a family to Ratheniska.
4 – What’s one challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
Education and Training Boards were established in July 2013 and that government decision resulted in the amalgamation of Laois and Offaly VECs.
I started as Chief Executive that September and a lot of time and effort went into establishing one new entity to manage all our services across the two counties.
While the former VECs managed a similar number of second level schools and further education programmes, the legacy and culture of both organisations was understandably different so the change process was as much about people as it was about new governance structures.
I was fortunate to have an excellent management team in place and, along with the goodwill of staff and the support of the Board, we set about developing LOETB as the statutory provider of education and training for Laois and Offaly.
We’ve come a long way in a relatively short timeframe and now have a budget of over €110m annually, over 1,400 staff working across the two counties, and more than 17,000 students across all our provision.
with Professor Frank O’ Mara, Director of Teagasc.
5 – How important were education and qualifications in getting to where you are today?
Education and qualifications were definitely important in my career pathway but developing good life skills, such as communication and time management, have also been very important to both my personal and professional development.
For me, education and qualifications should be a lifelong commitment to improving yourself rather than just a means to an end or something you do after your Leaving Cert and I’ve completed a number of formal and non-formal courses over the years in leadership, language, music, and sport.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
6 – What does a typical day look like in your role—or is there no such thing?
One of the best things about my role is that no two days are the same. Given the breadth of our services as well as all the support areas of Finance, HR, Buildings, IT, and Corporate Services, there’s never a dull moment!
Part of the role also involves representing the sector nationally with relevant government departments and stakeholders.
I enjoy visiting our schools and centres because that’s where you get to see first-hand the great work of our staff and the impact education and training can have on the life potential of students.
7 – Who inspired or mentored you along the way, and what did you learn from them?
I’ve been fortunate to have had some great mentors in a professional sense over the years, but I would have to say that the person I have learnt most from is my father. He’s a musician and has his own band for over 50 years at this stage!
I started playing in the band when I was 18 and still play with him occasionally now.
It has been an education in itself being on stage with him and watching him relate with the dancers and audiences at céilís and concerts, seeing how he developed his business over the years through overseas tours and recordings, and how he deals with people both on and off the stage.
I’d like to think that some of those traits and business skills have rubbed off on me.
8 – What advice would you give to Leaving Cert students who aren’t sure what they want to do yet? Or to adults seeking a career change?
Follow your interests because you’re more likely to excel in that area and, as the saying goes, ‘if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!’.
The great thing now is that there are so many pathways to get to where you want to go. As someone who works in the area, I know the opportunities that further education and training can offer young people leaving school or anyone at any age looking to return to education or change career.
I really enjoy attending graduation and award ceremonies in our centres because, time and again, you hear from students about how their course has given them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to progress to further studies or move directly into employment.
It’s a privilege to work in education and the positive impact of education and training certainly makes all the governance responsibilities worthwhile.
9 – If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Try lots of different things and experience as much of what life has to offer as possible, especially things that challenge you, because you’ll be the better person for it.
Regardless of what path or career you follow, it will be your personality that will define you and set you apart from the crowd.
10 – What’s next for you—any goals, projects, or new challenges on the horizon?
From a Further Education and Training perspective, we’re developing a suite of new programmes in construction, green skills, and agriculture which are key areas of focus both regionally and nationally.
We have a number of large-scale building project underway in Laois including the development of a new 1,000 place school building for Dunamase College, as well as significant extensions at Portlaoise College, Portlaoise Institute, St. Fergal’s Rathdowney, and Clonaslee College.
We are also working hard to increase funding for youth services in Laois and Offaly as well as expand our Music Generation programmes.
Ultimately, recruitment of staff is the most important work we do and it has become a year-round activity given the growth in programmes and services.
Front-line staff in our schools, centres, and services are the face of LOETB and we’re fortunate to have great people working for the organisation.
Your Laois Connection
I’m a native of Caherlistrane, near Headford in north Galway, but now live in Ratheniska with my wife, Gillian and our four children. I love where I live and I’m delighted to be part of the Ratheniska community.
Anything else you would like to add?
I know that education and training can certainly unlock the door of opportunity so if you’re thinking about returning to education or considering your options after the Leaving Cert, then call in to our Information Hub in Lyster Square for free, impartial information and guidance on courses that will set you on your journey.
Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers offers one-to-one or small group career advice, in-person or online, to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Follow on Instagram for updates and reminders about all things careers, or head over to the website to book a personalised guidance session.
