My name is Aaron Coughlan and I have been a Business Analyst with Irish Continental Group since October 2022. From 2019 to 2021, I worked for Kerry Group on the Global Analytics team as part of the Kerry Data and Analytics graduate program. Previously, I returned to UL in 2021/2022 to pursue a Higher Diploma in Environmental Science, where I finished top of my class and was given a Student of the Year Award.
From 2015 – 2019, I studied Applied Physics at the University of Limerick. During my undergraduate at UL, I had the great fortune and opportunity to grow as a person. This was informed by my time in Clubs and Societies (Up Drama Soc) which helped me to grow socially and become more confident in myself. My time in UL helped me cultivate knowledge – from my physics lecturers – not just on the universe and the laws of nature that govern it, but on public speaking and presenting complex ideas with clarity and (quite often) an element of humour: “The Devil, albeit a footage shorter” to name one of the many quotes that stood out to me. It is this concept of translating difficult, complicated subject matter into tangible and engaging ideas, that I actually use the most in my day to day work now.
Aaron Coughlan, BSc. Applied Physics graduate 2019.
Data Analytics requires me to have a deep understanding of not only the facts and numbers that underpin the insights I am trying to communicate, but also to present those figures to the business in a way that tells a story and simplifies them. In my experience, there is a Venn Diagram of those who are educators and those who have the ability to teach, and they don’t always intersect. Thankfully, the Physics Department of UL has that overlap.
Some parting advice to current undergraduate students; get out there, get stuck into clubs and socs, don’t skip your tutorials and study the past exam papers as early as you can, and don’t be afraid to mess up a little, as long as you learn from your mistakes.