Lynsey O’Neill, Director of Operations and Executive Co-Sponsor of Women in Tech Employee Resource Group (ERG), Liberty IT, speaks to Sync NI about the importance of investing in STEM, the ever-changing world of tech, and why Liberty IT is committed to the talent of the future.
Sync NI sat down with Lynsey recently as part of our Celebrating Women in Tech (summer 2025) edition, read on to hear Lynsey's answers in full:
Having graduated from Ulster University in Computing and Linguistics, what initially attracted you to Liberty IT, a company you have remained with for over 22 years?
When I was a student, Liberty IT was really visible at the university careers fair and it was clear the company was very committed to giving interns a great employment experience.
For me, it was important that I gained that hands-on experience with a company where I could fully try on the software engineering role and Liberty IT did exactly that.
I spent an intern year with the company in 2001, getting real world experience within software engineering, which gave me a great foundation going into my final year.
Even then, and very much still to this day, Liberty IT had a strong focus on technology and innovation. During my intern year, I spoke to a range of employees and everyone shared the learning and career opportunities they had been provided with. I was excited to see an organisation that was so invested in its people - and this is still the case today!
As Director of Operations focusing on strategic workforce management, how does Liberty IT support women to progress and successfully develop their careers within the organisation?
As Executive Co-Sponsor of our Women in Tech Employee Resource Group (ERG), I have the privilege of seeing some of the incredible initiatives in place, from mentoring circles and networking events to public speaking training and opportunities to test out presenting through lightning talks.
Personally, throughout my own career, I was very appreciative of the support I had when I returned to work after both of my maternity breaks. My manager and colleagues really helped me to settle back in, which as a new mum is so important, as it can be really difficult when you are having to adapt to a new life. Liberty IT provides great support and in recent years we have really leaned into this time for returners and offers fantastic initiatives as part of our Family Leave Toolkit – with a whole section of resources which help you prepare for coming back to work, such as coaching sessions and advice from others who have been on that same journey.
Through our Women in Tech group, employees returning from maternity leave can also avail of a buddy who will help them catch up on what’s changed at Liberty IT, answer any questions they might have or just chat over a coffee.
How important are mentors and role models in helping women optimise their careers?
Mentors are very important to me and have definitely played a big part in my career as I have moved through various roles in Liberty IT.
I’ve been really lucky to always have strong mentors willing to support me and sometimes that support has been solid reassurance and a gentle shove that I was ready to make the next jump in my career.
For me a good mentor is not just someone who shares knowledge and experience but someone who is also a supportive ally, someone who advocates for you internally and someone who offers positive reinforcement and encouragement that you can do whatever you want to do!
There are many different skillsets required to work in tech beyond coding, what areas will you look to develop to satisfy the skills requirements of tomorrow?
Gen AI is obviously the big one and we are all on a continual learning journey as the technology is changing so fast. Whether it’s using AI to enhance coding or adding efficiency to everyday tasks like meeting notes, summarising documents or creating presentations, adapting our skills has to stay front of mind.
Consulting skills are also growing as we move away from the basic coding and put more focus into the business problem space, as one example – and we’re also investing more in areas including product and data science.
It’s a really exciting time and my answer today won’t be the same in six months’ time as who knows what is around the corner!
Continual learning and development are essential requirements for many modern industries; what advice can you offer those from non-technical backgrounds or those who would like to consider a career change and work in tech?
Go for it! There are many routes into tech careers and lots of the skills gained in other industries will be equally as valuable if changing your career into this industry. You might want to consider an apprenticeship or a conversion course, or look at the alternative routes into a tech company such as consulting and management.
Attracting younger girls into STEM subjects or igniting an interest in coding is essential for the future of the tech sector in NI, what initiatives have you in place to foster this?
At Liberty IT, we invest heavily in STEM and are committed to playing a key role in the talent of the future.
The STEM Employee Resource Group actively promotes STEM careers to young people. As part of this, we offer a Hybrid Work Experience Programme which provides a unique insight into the world of Software Engineering, Product Thinking and Cyber Security.
For students leaving secondary education, completing third level education, or retraining from a different industry or role, our TechStart Academy offers programmes designed specifically for entry-level employees. It blends technical, career and business education through training exposure and experiences throughout the 18-month programme in support of skill building and development.
Last year, we made our biggest investment in STEM to date, with the launch of STEAM Studio in partnership with National Museums NI, an immersive tech experience to inspire and engage students aged 13-15 across Northern Ireland to develop skills.
This exciting collaborative workspace at the Ulster Museum, is designed to connect coding and technology with the museum experience. As part of the free programme, which includes complimentary return transport for schools availing of the workshop, students in Years 8 - 10 are upskilled in coding that will enable them to design and create their own arcade game inspired by the museum’s applied art collection.
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
