Cathal O'Reilly, Manager, PwC and Founder of Narcissips

Why did you come back to us, and why PwC Dubai?

Dubai had been on my radar since my aunt and uncle moved there in the 1990s. Things were drastically different then, yet they still had huge opportunities for growth, travel and sun all year round. Dubai is still a great place to meet and learn from new people and cultures.

My year-out experiences gave me clarity on my aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. This ultimately led me back to PwC to work towards a more sustainable world on a bigger scale.

How is the PwC today different from the PwC you left?

Thankfully, the core of PwC remained the same. The focus on values and people was the same even in a new firm, in a new region.

I was surprised to see how far the firm had come in the space of 14 months in terms of AI, big data and other new technologies that enable faster insights and more collaborative work.

How did your time at PwC inspire you or help shape your business?

My time at PwC was fundamental to the success of Narcissips because of the network and support gained from my graduate intake and the skills I gained in project management, accounting and finance, and, most importantly, stakeholder management.

The most important marketing is word of mouth and referrals from trusted friends, colleagues and neighbours, and there has been a huge amount of support from people in the firm.

How are you using the experience, skills and knowledge gained while on a break from the business in your role today?

Every experience you gain while travelling shapes your perspective and viewpoint on people and business.

Understanding every stakeholder and how they’ll be affected matters for all projects, roles and decisions. In PwC in Dubai, this is vital as my current project has over 70 stakeholders across multiple interdependent work streams.

Regarding Narcissips, it’s important to be open, honest and transparent about sustainability, especially regarding how some solutions are only appropriate for certain people. For example, single-use plastics are the only reliable source of clean water for families in some countries.

How do you manage running a business with your role at PwC?

Looking back, I don’t know how I balanced it all. I’ve gone through several lean management projects and reviews to streamline the entire operation, from customer service to marketing, sales and fulfilment.

I’m happy with the processes, albeit the global shipping industry can have its hiccups. The company needs little input daily. A few hours a week ensures I can continue to work with some great clients across Ireland—including consulting firms, hotels and resorts, and sports clubs—to help them cut back on single-use products with high-quality branded reusables and continue our mission to build freshwater wells across Malawi.

What does work-life balance look like for you?

I had quite a lot of downtime over the last year, which was great after a busy few years with client demands, my business and exams. That said, I tend to feel more invigorated and energetic the busier I am.

My idea of balance is more long-term and focused on maximising my time across work, travel, fitness, health, friends and getting a good night’s sleep to reap the rewards down the line.