Inspirational Story: Colette O’Shea – The Creative Engineer Who Conquered Her Fears

Who is Colette O’Shea?

Colette O’Shea is a civil engineer with a passion for law.  She is a Director with AECOM (the global infrastructure leader) where she leads teams in project management and contract services across Ireland. Her day-to-day work involves delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects, managing tenders, and handling intricate contract writing. She is one of the youngest people to attain Fellowship with Engineers Ireland, but when asked to describe herself, Colette humbly says, “But, that’s not me! I’m a creative.”

Colette’s diverse interests—creative writing, singing, and even improv comedy—are what make her stand out. They’ve shaped her career in engineering and helped her embrace challenges she once thought insurmountable.

Facing Fears and Breaking Barriers

Throughout her career, Colette has always found herself as the go-to person for difficult problems. But there was one challenge that stopped her in her tracks as a young professional —public speaking. Whether in a meeting of three or presenting to a large audience, fear would often hold her back and stop her from living up to her potential.

Rather than shy away from the discomfort, Colette embraced it. She didn’t just take the usual route of joining Toastmasters or attending public speaking courses. Instead, she took an unexpected leap—signing up for improv comedy classes. The culmination? A gig with a paying audience, where Colette took the stage and thrived. Today, Colette regularly speaks at industry events and hosts conferences for up to 200 people.  Hand her a microphone, and she’s off!

Colette doesn’t let fear hold her back—she acknowledges its presence, allows herself to feel it, and still finds a way to push forward, proving that bravery isn’t about being fearless but about acting in spite of it.  She resolutely says “If something scares me, I have to do it!  I’m happy to say I don’t enjoy something and not progress with it, but I refuse to not do something because I’m scared.  Like with using improv to overcome my fear of public speaking, I’m definitely a ‘rip the band aid off’ person.”  

I take my inspiration from a Richard Branson quote: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes then learn how to do it later”. Having this ‘be scared but just say yes’ approach has opened so many opportunities for me.

Why Engineering?

With such a strong creative streak, you might wonder how Colette ended up in engineering. Her journey was shaped by a deep desire to help people and solve problems. Initially aspiring to be a doctor, Colette faced heartbreak at 18 when she missed out on the medical school points. But instead of giving up, she found a new direction. She enrolled in a mechanical engineering programme, aiming to specialise in biomedical engineering and eventually work in the medical field.

By the end of her first year, she pivoted once again, opting for civil engineering, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father, brother, and uncle into the construction industry. She found a new passion in construction, and her creative problem-solving mindset became invaluable. “Engineering/construction is all about the application of knowledge.  No two projects or problems are ever the same.  There will be similarities, but the skill lies in seeing the similarities and the differences and developing appropriate solutions for the specific issues.  There is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution, you have to be able to think on your feet.  That’s why I love it; my brain is always working.”

Today, Colette is known for taking on the toughest projects, the ones that others shy away from.

Diversion to Law? 

So how did Colette end up working in contracts/law?  “Because I love the written word,” she says.  As a commercial and contractual expert, Colette credits her passion for all things legal including contract drafting, procurement, tendering, commercial claims and dispute resolution to her love of creative writing. 

 “Law is all about interpretation and structuring of language.  Words on a page can mean different things to different people depending on the lens that you look at them through.  Understanding language, how a sentence is crafted and how it can be interpreted is the fundamental skill to my contract work.  I can work to close loopholes or create them – it’s all about risk management!  

I can get lost in the wording of a contract as easily as I can get lost in writing a creative, fictional story.  It gives me so much fulfilment to apply my creative passion to my work.

Mentorship with PWN Dublin

Colette’s journey with PWN Dublin Mentoring began during the pandemic.  At a time when the world was rapidly changing, Colette found herself at a crossroads.  Having spent many years building a portfolio career – engineering, project management, commercial management, law, people leadership – she wanted to figure out how to move forward on a path aligned with her values and goals.   She joined the PWN Dublin Group Mentoring Programme to gain clarity and broaden her career perspective beyond her industry.

For Colette, the mentoring programme was a game-changer. “It allowed me to step back and see the bigger picture,” she says. “Through the PWN network, I gained the external direction I needed, and it opened up new possibilities.” 

Following the programme, Colette continued to focus on her engineering and legal work but also pursued career coaching qualifications, building on the multiple mentoring roles she completed throughout her career and her Best Mentor Award from the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. She now runs her own coaching business alongside her role at AECOM.  

I adore my coaching work.  Supporting people to discover and achieve their goals is such a gift.

Why PWN Dublin?

Colette is a strong advocate for the PWN Dublin network and its impact on her career. "PWN Dublin has been an incredible support system," she shares. "It’s a place where you can gain perspective, not just from your industry, but from the broader business world. I’ve learned to think outside the box and challenge my own assumptions."

In addition to her work with PWN Dublin, Colette founded the ‘Women in Engineering’ group within Engineers Ireland, where she fosters a community for female engineers to network, share experiences, and collaborate on solutions. She encourages all female engineers to tap into PWN Dublin, as it provides a platform to expand career horizons and connect with an incredible network of supportive, like-minded individuals.

A Message of Empowerment

Colette’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, resilience, and creativity in overcoming obstacles. Her story proves that with the right support and mindset, it’s possible to align your passions with your career, even in the most unlikely places.

For Colette, PWN Dublin has been the key to unlocking her true potential—both professionally and personally. If you’re looking for the courage to step outside your comfort zone, gain new perspectives, and achieve things you never thought possible, PWN Dublin could be the catalyst you’ve been waiting for.

Call to Action

Inspired by Colette’s story? Join PWN Dublin today and unlock a world of mentorship, support, and opportunities to help you grow in your career. We’d love to hear your story—reach out and share your journey with us!

Author: Rebecca Fountain, Admin & Ops Consultant, PWN Dublin
Copy editor: Colette O'Shea, Bothar Nua Consulting

Published: May 2025