Tara O'Sullivan was awarded a PWN Dublin Let's Lead Scholarship in partnership with Dublin City University in the Spring of 2026. A fractional Chief Marketing Officer based in Dublin, Tara has spent much of her career working with B2B technology organisations.
At a point in her career where she was reflecting on what came next, Tara embraced the opportunity to invest in her own development through the Let's Lead Programme. Having recently graduated, she shared her experience and insights with the PWN Dublin community.
Annette had not only done the Let’s Lead programme but was a scholarship recipient from PWN – so I was talking to her as she was doing the course and it sounded fascinating. Annette had also attended lots of the PWN events, which I am starting to – so excited to meet more of the amazing women members.
€5,000 is a serious investment for any individual, and while I knew this programme was exactly the kind of thing I needed, I also knew I'd be a fool not to apply for the scholarship when the opportunity was right there. But beyond the practical side of it, I genuinely wanted dedicated time and space to think about leadership, my direction, and where I'm going. That's rare when you're running your own business, which I do. This felt like permission to stop, look up, and actually think.”
Tara found the Let’s Lead programme scholarship gave her the opportunity to re-think her goals and challenge her own assumptions.
The lecturers on the programme were brilliant, genuinely thoughtful people who clearly cared about the room. And the women in the cohort? Incredible. I didn't expect that to be one of the biggest highlights, but being in an entirely female space, a room where no one's talking over you, where everyone gets it, that was something I didn't know I needed as much as I did.”
Did I agree with everything that was taught? No. Some of it I pushed back on - both in my head and occasionally out loud! But here's the thing, disagreement makes you think harder. It clarified what I actually believe, which is arguably more useful than nodding along to everything. And being in a space where you can agreeably disagree was wonderful and safe. The Let’s Lead programme has definitely helped Tara to shape her approach.
The biggest shift has been internal. I think differently now about why I do what I do and who I want to do it for. In practical terms, it's sharpened how I show up with clients, how I make decisions, and how much energy I'm willing to spend on things that aren't aligned with what I actually care about.
Tara has some advice for anyone considering applying for the programme starting in 2026:
I would say this to anyone considering applying for the scholarship. Do it. Go in [to the course] with an open mind, including being open to disagreeing with some of it, because your own reaction to the material tells you a lot about yourself. And prepare to love your cohort. You'll meet women who will challenge you, inspire you, and become genuinely important to you.
Let's Lead gave me language for some of that and challenged me to be more intentional about it. But it also confirmed something I already suspected: the best leadership is emotional intelligence with great follow-through.
If you're a female founder in Ireland who needs help with marketing, product launch, esp in tech B2B, I'd genuinely love to talk. Get in touch.
Finally, I want to say thank you – to Annette for bringing the idea to me, to Melrona and Andrea for their patience when I argued and holding space for that, and all the women who were part of my cohort, especially my amazing buddy Paula!
Last but not least – the women at PWN Dublin for the opportunity you have given me, I promise to give back. And the fabulous Karena from DCU’s Let’s Lead who kept us all on time and on task.
Huge congratulations to Tara on this well-deserved scholarship and on completing the Let's Lead programme. If you're a woman looking to invest in your own leadership, find out more at business.dcu.ie/course/letsleaddcu-2. To register your interest in the Scholarship, apply here.
From left to right: Dr. Melrona Kirrane (Associate Professor of Organisational Psychology and Programme Chair of Let’s Lead! Leadership Development for Women) ,Tara O’Sullivan - PWN Dublin DCU Let’s Lead Scholarship Winner Spring 2026, Andrea Dermody (Senior Consultant industry Expert on Let’s Lead! Leadership Development for Women)