IBM Was My Turning Point: From Mandatory Learning to Lifelong Growth

When I joined IBM, I quickly realised that growth was not just encouraged, it was expected.

From day one, learning was mandatory. Even when training did not seem directly relevant to your role, there was a clear expectation to continuously develop. This was very different from my earlier experience at Accenture, where the focus was primarily on execution using tools such as Excel and SAP, with limited structured development.

At IBM, the mindset was fundamentally different:

• Continuous learning was embedded in the culture

• Growth was expected, not optional

• Development extended beyond your immediate role

At first, I did not fully understand it. The volume of training felt intense, and at times overwhelming. But looking back, it was one of the most valuable experiences in my career.

It was at IBM that I truly understood the concept of lifelong learning.

The Realisation: Education Matters

During my time at IBM, I also became aware of something else.

If I wanted to grow further, I needed a bachelor’s degree.

Even before Accenture, during my time at Covidien, I had already noticed that I was often the only one without a degree. While there are always exceptions in IT, many organisations still expect a certain level of formal education, especially for leadership roles.

Choosing the Right Path

I explored my options at an open day at Dublin Business School.

The logical choice would have been marketing. It aligned with my work in sales and business development. But committing four years to something I was already doing did not feel like the right investment.

Psychology, on the other hand, raised a different question: why would I study this?

That changed during a conversation with one of the lecturers, who simply said:

"I think you already know."

And he was right.

Why Psychology Over Marketing

Psychology proved to be a far more powerful foundation than I initially expected.

• It gave me deeper insight into:

• Human behaviour and decision-making

• Communication and influence

• Motivation and performance

Personal and professional development

There were moments where I wished I had more formal marketing knowledge. However, psychology has consistently added more value across my career in sales, leadership, and coaching.

Balancing Work and Study

IBM supported my bachelor financially, a significant investment of approximately €16,000. I still remember the moment I submitted the request. It felt like a big ask, but it was approved.

In return, I stayed with IBM for more than six years, continuing to grow both professionally and academically.

Duringthose four years, I:

• Studied cognitive, business, and health psychology

• Built a full academic portfolio

• Developed strong analytical skills, including working with SPSS

• Strengthened my writing, research, and critical thinking

From Psychology to Digital Media

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I knew one thing clearly: my master’s needed to be more creative.

In the Netherlands, entering a programme in Digital Media and Design typically requires a design portfolio or a pre-master. I had neither, and I was not interested in taking that traditional route.

TheUK offered a different perspective.

I applied for a remote MSc at the University of Edinburgh. The process was selective, and candidates were chosen based on potential, thinking, and approach rather than a perfect portfolio.

Comingfrom a psychology background became my strength.

Digital media is fundamentally about understanding people, behaviour, and interaction. We were required to explain our thinking process, justify design decisions, and demonstrate how we learn and improve.

Itwas not about perfection. It was about progression.

That suited me perfectly.

BeforeAI Changed Everything

An interesting reflection is how much has changed since then.

At the time, AI tools were not part of the process. ChatGPT only became available around the time I submitted my thesis.

I completed everything independently, from research to writing to building the final product.

Looking back now, with the tools available today, I could likely complete similar work in a fraction of the time. What took a full academic year could potentially be done in weeks, including building applications using tools such as Google Stitch.

Final Reflection: The Speed of Growth

Technology is accelerating everything.

But the real lesson I took from IBM and my studies is this:

Grow this a mindset, not a moment.

• Learningis no longer optional

• Skills become outdated faster than ever

• The ability to adapt is more valuable than any single qualification

What started as mandatory training at IBM became a personal philosophy.

Lifelong learning is not a requirement. It is an advantage.

Coaching Reflection

• Are you still learning because you have to, or because you choose to?

• Are you investing in skills that will still be relevant in five years?

• How are you using AI today to accelerate what used to take months?