Fueled by a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Michael's journey paints a vivid picture of the possibilities that exist for anyone seeking a rewarding career in IT.
Here, Michael Loughan shares how he strikes the perfect balance between ground-breaking innovation and impactful community outreach, all while fostering an inclusive workspace for everyone.
How did you start your journey with Liberty IT?
“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in IT, but I wasn’t sure what area I wanted to specialise in, so I decided to study Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast to keep my options open.
“My degree pathway included a placement year, and Liberty IT came highly recommended. I decided to apply for a role and was lucky enough to start June 2010. I absolutely loved it, so much so that I came back as an Associate Software Engineer in June 2012.
“Since then, I’ve worked across a number of teams and engineering groups within Liberty IT which has allowed me to work and meet a variety of people across the organisation.”
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What does the start of a typical day look like for you?
“Once I’m all caught up with my e-mails and Teams messages, I could be meeting with engineering teams to provide direction, share updates and assist with any blockers folks are facing.
“I also meet with leaders to discuss our engineering group's direction and ensure we’re working collectively towards our company goals.”
How do your afternoons go?
“Depending on where we’re at in a given sprint, I'll facilitate planning to define objectives and goals for upcoming work, or participate in a retro to review what went well during the sprint and how we can make improvements.
“After lunch, our US teams are online, so afternoons are typically spent with our business stakeholders, discussing prioritisation and proposing solutions to current pain points in their workflow.”
Can you share more about your DEI work?
“Outside my day to day role, I have a passion for DEI and actively contribute to our Pride @ LIT employee resource group, helping make Liberty IT a safe, inclusive space for all.
“One thing I really love about the Pride @LIT group is that it formed organically, so it wasn't company mandated.
“Over the years we have participated in Pride Parades in Belfast, Dublin and Galway, but really it was just a group of us that got together and said, "hey, should we do more?"
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What skills are most important in your working day?
“In a hybrid working environment, communication skills are key. It’s important to adapt my communication style to suit the audience and ensure everyone gets the most from the discussions we have.
“Teamwork is also hugely important and I make a conscious effort to ensure I articulate ideas and provide meaningful direction. I also try to create space for others, to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.”
What do you enjoy most about your working day?
“This is an easy one: for me it has to be the people. I work with incredibly talented individuals and I thoroughly enjoy the discussions we have, the challenges we overcome and the insights we gain together.
"The people here are really inspiring and motivating, so this is by far the most rewarding part of my job - though our monthly Social Club events are always fun too!”
How do you ensure you have a good work-life balance?
“Liberty IT offers a fantastic flexible working policy and it’s one I avail of by working nine slightly longer days in a row, which means I have every tenth day off as a ‘compressed’ day. This is a great perk and one I make full use of. “
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