Elaine Daly, Partner & Head of Business Consulting

Growing up as the youngest of seven children in Co. Laois meant Elaine Daly learned early how to make herself heard. In a busy household with plenty of opinions around the table, listening, debating and seeing things from different perspectives were simply part of everyday life.

One of her strongest early influences was her grandmother, who ran a pub and provided an early example of a woman running her own business.

“She was very independent, had great commercial instincts and was brilliant with people. Looking back, I think she gave me an early appreciation of what it takes to run a business and the importance of relationships.”

That combination of people and business has been a recurring theme throughout Elaine’s career.

From an early age, Elaine was interested in finance and business and was drawn to subjects that combined analysis, practical problem-solving and understanding how organisations make decisions.

That interest continued into university. After studying European Politics, Law and German at the University of Limerick, Elaine went on to complete an MBS in Strategic Management and later an MBA at UCD Smurfit School of Business.

After university, she spent two years travelling in Australia before returning to Ireland and joining KPMG Consulting as a graduate. She subsequently moved to Farrell Grant Sparks and Grant Thornton, qualifying as an accountant along the way. Over more than 20 years in consulting, she has worked with organisations across healthcare, life sciences, the public sector and the wider business community.

Along the way, she also benefited from working with partners, clients and colleagues who took the time to share their experience, offer advice and give her opportunities to stretch herself.

“I’ve been very fortunate in the people I’ve worked with throughout my career. I learned a huge amount from partners, colleagues and a range of C-suite executives in client organisations who were generous with their time and gave me the confidence to take on new challenges. I think that stays with you.”

Her career has also given her the opportunity to take on a variety of leadership roles, both in Ireland and internationally. But it is the work itself – and particularly seeing the positive change it can bring – that has kept consulting interesting.

“I’ve always enjoyed getting to grips with a problem and working out how you can actually make things better. When you can see a tangible improvement – whether that’s in healthcare, life sciences or a public sector body – that’s the part I find really rewarding.”

It is one of the things that attracted her to her new role as Partner and Head of Business Consulting at Forvis Mazars. Elaine leads a multidisciplinary team working across business transformation, economic advisory and data analytics, with a particular focus on growing the practice and bringing together expertise from across the firm and wider international network.

She is also interested in the opportunities, and challenges, presented by AI and analytics and how organisations can use both in practical and responsible ways. For Elaine, however, consulting remains very much a people business – and the support she received earlier in her own career continues to shape how she works with others today.

“One of the things I enjoy most is seeing people develop. You see someone grow in confidence, take on more responsibility and start to find their own way of doing things. That’s hugely satisfying.”

The variety helps too.

“No two days are really the same. I could be working with a healthcare client on a transformation programme one day and then collaborating with colleagues in the UK or US, working on a new opportunity or spending time with the team the next. I like that variety.”

Having spent periods working and travelling overseas, Elaine also has a renewed appreciation for one particular feature of doing business in Ireland: how connected it is.

“Someone always seems to know someone you want to meet. There’s something very personable about doing business in Ireland and I think that’s quite special.”

Away from work, family takes priority. Elaine is married to Paul and has two children, Alice and Henry, and weekends are likely to involve cycling, walking, picnics or simply spending time together.

She is also a keen reader and sea swimmer (nearly year-round), although her list of things she would like to get better at continues to grow.

“Tennis is definitely happening this year,” she says. “I also need to brush up on my French now that I work for a firm with French roots. And then there’s the piano – but I’ve been saying that one for years!”

For someone who has built a career around change, her advice to those starting out is refreshingly straightforward.

“Stay curious and keep learning. Some of the best opportunities in my career have come from saying yes to something that felt a little outside my comfort zone. You don’t have to have everything mapped out from day one.”

It is an approach that has served her pretty well so far.