60 Seconds With … Cathy O’Brien

60 Seconds With … Cathy O’Brien

Cathy O’Brien is Vice President of International Sales at UPS Healthcare, where she is responsible for driving growth across EMEAI, APAC and LATAM. O’Brien joined UPS in July 2016 as a Managing Director for UPS Healthcare’s European business. Previously, she held several commercial management roles, including driving global strategies in cold chain and specialty pharma logistics. 

How did you get into airfreight/logistics?

It was not an intentional move for me, having spent most of my career in the technology space in various sales and marketing roles.  I had the opportunity to relocate to Australia, and after spending over a year working there and across APAC, I returned home to Ireland after meeting my now husband.    

It was then I decided to change direction, and while I was figuring out my next steps I took a ‘temporary’ move to manage a technology company for a global transport business. 20 years later, I am still in the industry! 

Logistics is a fast-moving industry, and no day is ever the same. The opportunity to work on new projects and with new technologies, all in great team environments, was too attractive to me to leave.  I was fortunate to discover a passion for Healthcare supply chain development during this time, and that is where I have spent most of my logistics career to date.

What quote has most resonated with you?

Well done is better than well said – Benjamin Franklin.   A lot of people talk the talk, but progress comes from action! 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Never sacrifice who you are for anyone or anything.  Always be your authentic self.

If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would it be and why?

My Grandmother –  She died aged almost 103, having lived a long life through World Wars, much change in Ireland and in a time where women were second class citizens in this country. Herself and my grandfather worked extremely hard. She always had a lot of stories to share, and I would love more time with her to get more of her insights! 

Steve Jobs – Apple revolutionised our world with the launch of the iPhone.   I would love to listen to the story of the journey of that technology, how and when he decided that this was what the company should bet on for their exponential growth journey …. Taking that risk to cannibalise the iPod was a big decision!  

Shirley Chisholm– I just watched a movie “Shirley” about her struggle to be taken seriously in her bid for Congress and her bid for Presidential Election in 1972! I love her self-belief, her grit, determination and can-do attitude. She achieved great success after becoming the first black woman elected to US Congress.  

What’s something we wouldn’t know about you from your CV?

I come from a farm on the west coast of Ireland and have been known to drive a tractor and do some farming with my father at weekends! 

What hobby have you always wanted to try but never got around to?

Painting.  I like to draw (I do it badly) and always thought I could grow into it as a hobby over the years to challenge myself to become better and better at….. now that my children are older it is something I am going to sign up to. 

If you have not pursued a career in airfreight, what other field would you have liked to go into?

Funnily, one of the areas I originally looked at was Biotechnology.  Now, I work with some of the biggest Pharma and Biotech companies in the world, including being involved heavily in the supply chain development for the rollout of the Covid-19 Vaccines.   

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Super Speed – There is so much to do, and time seems to be going faster as I get older!   

What’s your proudest moment and your biggest regret?

My proudest moment so far, apart from when my children were born, has been working on the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Chain.     The Pandemic was one of those events that are life-changing in so many ways and it was a time in history when the world united and when everyone needed real collaboration from everyone to fight the same enemy.  

To be able to use my experience and skills as part of a team to support the delivery of over one billion vaccines throughout the world is something I will treasure forever and I thank UPS for that opportunity to be part of something so important and special.    

My biggest regret is that I didn’t see my grandmother before she passed away. 

If there was a movie made about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role?

Cate Blanchett. 

Looking back over your career, what would your message be to someone considering a career in logistics?

Find a company that can offer you varied roles and opportunities within the area of logistics.  It is such a broad career, ranging from commercial roles to operations to quality and everything in between.  

At UPS, people are supported in developing so many skills across the business, and that creates great diversity of thought and experience, as well as creating a career development path for talents in so many functional areas.  I would recommend working for a company with that broad career progression, being curious to try new roles and learning as much as possible across the business. 

Logistics is on a new journey of growth and innovation as supply chain becomes a topic for every business, the opportunities are vast for young people in this industry!

How do you motivate your team?

Recognition is important even for the small achievements.   

In healthcare logistics, a lot of work goes into building the right quality solutions and services for the needs of our customers and their patients.   My team is passionate about what they do and so embracing that and recognising that they put their heart and soul into delivering for customers’ needs to be celebrated often.    

As a leader of a team, I make time to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in with the team to get things done. It’s critical they know that we are all working together and that they can rely on me to solve problems and fix issues.  For me, authenticity is key, so by remaining my authentic self I hope is create a culture of sharing, transparency and confidence.

What is the one item you can’t travel without?

Airpods – I travel a lot, I have a lot of conference calls on the go and I like to walk a lot.  These are my constant travel companions.

Who is your role model?

My 16-year-old daughter. I admire her independence, her joy and sense of humour, her positive attitude and how much dignity and self-worth she has developed at such a young age.   I look at her and want to focus on embracing all the positive things in life.  She makes me a better person and her tenacity surprises me constantly.

 

Picture of Anastasiya Simsek

Anastasiya Simsek

Anastasiya Simsek started her journalism career in 2016 at Ukrainian TV-Channels: 24 Channel and 1+1 Media. Having worked across a number of different sectors, including news, medicine and lifestyle, she joined the Air Cargo Week editorial team in 2024. To share your news and exclusive insights, contact Anastasiya.Simsek@AirCargoWeek.com

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