My Business Life: Ferga Kane, EY Ireland

Ferga Kane, EY Ireland’s Infrastructure and Real Estate Sector lead, shares her life and business lessons.

Ferga Kane is EY Ireland’s Infrastructure and Real Estate Sector lead, focusing on clients in infrastructure including government, public sector agencies and semi-states.

She is also part of EY’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering committee which works to create an inclusive culture internally.

Ferga also advises on complex financial modelling development and review assignments for public, private and banking sector clients. With substantial experience in professional services setting in Ireland, she joined EY as a director and became a partner in 2019.

Tell us about your background, what journey did you take to arrive at where you are?

I followed a fairly traditional path once I settled on my college choice. Initially, I considered studying medicine, but ultimately decided to pivot and pursue Commerce, followed by a Master’s degree in Financial Services. From there, I began a chartered accountancy training contract with Deloitte Corporate Finance.

Early in that contract, I worked on my first infrastructure project, and I was hooked. Over the following years, I was fortunate to collaborate with incredible people across both the public and private sectors, gaining hands-on experience on infrastructure projects spanning a wide range of areas, from education and justice to renewable energy.

Why are you doing what you are doing? What need are you meeting? What’s your USP?

I’m passionate about infrastructure and the difference it makes in people’s lives every day, often without them even realising it. When infrastructure works well, it quietly supports everything we do – turning on a light, flushing a toilet, boiling a kettle, taking the bus to school, catching a train to a meeting, or driving on motorways to visit friends and family.

Years of underinvestment have affected the scale, quality, and resilience of our infrastructure, meaning not everyone experiences the benefits of “good infrastructure” equally. The Government has committed €275 billion infrastructure investment over the next decade and recently published an action plan to accelerate delivery nationwide.

I’m privileged to work with public and private clients every day on developing and delivering infrastructure in areas such as energy, water, housing, and transport.

What (or whom) has helped you most along the way? Who was your greatest mentor/inspiration?

For me, it’s definitely “whom.” I’ve been lucky to work with some incredible people over the years, many of whom have influenced my career and supported me along the way, but the greatest support has always come from my family.

I’m the youngest of five in a very close-knit, supportive family, so I’ve never been short on advice. My three sisters and one brother each have very different careers and journeys, which has given me the benefit of diverse perspectives at key stages of my own career. My sisters, in particular, have been role models as I’ve grown and developed professionally.

Our parents were our biggest champions. They worked hard to provide us with every opportunity and instilled in us a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability, values that have served us well throughout our lives.

What was the greatest piece of business advice you ever received?

Value everyone – every individual contributes to an organisation’s success, from the most junior to the most senior leader and from those supporting behind the scenes to those in client facing roles.  Show respect and say thank you, everyone is part of the team.

Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.  That applies to countless situations. Your gut is often your most reliable source of insight and honesty, listen to it.

What circumstances/qualities/events can mark the difference between success or failure in life or business?

People every time. How you treat others, and how they treat you, matters most. The business world is small, and paths cross again. People remember how you made them feel. Poor behaviours / bad karma has a way of catching up with people, in business and in life.

If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t do anything differently (see my later answer for my general outlook on no regrets) but I would say, feel more confident in what you do and don’t let imposter syndrome be the loudest voice in your head at certain times.

What advice/guidance do you give new hires and how do you nurture talent in your organisation?

Nothing beats a good attitude – ask questions, offer to help out and learn at every opportunity.

What technologies/tools do you use personally to keep you on track?

I love a list as it helps me keep track and prioritise what needs to get done.  There is also something quite satisfying about crossing things off.

What social media platforms do you prefer and why?

LinkedIn is my go-to platform.  It is a great way to connect with clients and my broader network, celebrating their business initiatives and achievements and keeping engaged with interesting topics.

Finally, if you had advice for your 21-year-old self – knowing what you know now – what would it be?

I’m a firm believer in no regrets, life is too short. I wouldn’t say to do anything differently but if I was to give any advice, it would be to enjoy every moment even more.

Embrace every opportunity to learn something new or work with different people. Some experiences will challenge you, others may lead nowhere, but each one shapes who you become.  Enjoy that journey.

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