What a pleasure and privilege it is to reflect on my time as a football player on the Queen’s University Gaelic Football team. In particular, I want to express my gratitude to the coach of the Queen’s team, Dessie Ryan. Dessie, a former Fireman in the FDNY, returned to Ireland to coach at Queen’s, leaving an indelible mark on everyone he mentored.
Dessie is one of the most authentic and inspirational leaders I have ever met. At 85 years young, I still meet with him regularly for coaching, mentoring, and life advice. His wisdom and dedication continue to inspire me and so many others.
I’ve had the privilege of working with world-class leaders across sports, business, performance arts, adventure, government, and non-profit sectors, and Dessie stands out among them as a beacon of character and leadership.
Listen to the Podcast
Tune in to my conversation with podcaster Michael Mulhern from the Gaelic Life Podcast as we discuss my time at Queen’s and the lessons learned on and off the field.
