In our Mentor and Mentee Features series, we highlight a mentor and mentee partnership from our LaunchMe program and learn why thy took part and what they gained from the process. This time we speak to Saoirse Culkeen (Mentee) and Janet Cunningham (Mentor) from our LaunchMe 2026 cohort.
Saoirse Culkeen (Mentee)
I am currently completing an MSc in Finance at Trinity College Dublin, having graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Finance from DCU. I’ve gained professional experience across financial roles in both Dublin and New York, and I’m now at an exciting point where I’m ready to launch my career in corporate banking.
What excites me most is the opportunity to work closely with businesses and clients, being part of the conversations and decisions that help them grow and reach their goals. I’ve always been drawn to the relationship side of banking as much as the analytical side, and I find the idea of building those long-term client partnerships really compelling.
A big part of what solidified this direction for me was speaking with senior women in the industry through 100 Women in Finance. Hearing their journeys firsthand the paths they took, the challenges they navigated made a career in banking feel achievable. Janet in particular, has been a huge influence, and her experience has shaped how I think about where I want to go.
Why did you join LaunchMe?
I joined LaunchMe because I wanted access to a mentor with lived experience in the finance industry, someone who could offer more than textbook advice. As I come to the end of my Masters and look ahead to starting my career, I know that having guidance from someone who has actually walked the path I want to take would be invaluable. That was what drew me to the programme, and it’s exactly what I’ve found.
What has been your favourite part of the mentorship program?
Genuinely, it’s been two things. The first is Janet herself, the way she shares her own journey, and the practical advice she gives in our monthly meetings and always on hand to call upon when I have needed guidance or advice, she has shaped how I think about my career. She’s made me feel far more confident and focused about the road ahead.
The second has been the events, particularly the AI talk in March in Dublin. Being in the room with so many successful, inspiring women in finance was something I won’t forget. Hearing them speak so openly about their careers and the industry reminded me exactly why I chose this path and made everything feel so much more within reach.
What’s one goal where you’ve seen the most impact and what have you learned from your mentor?
Networking was always something I wanted to be more intentional about, particularly as I prepare to enter the banking industry. Janet has really helped me elevate how to make connections, how I approach conversations, and how I present myself. Through her guidance and the events with 100 Women in Finance, I’ve been able to build connections with people in the industry I genuinely wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Two things that have genuinely stayed with me. The first is to back yourself, as a woman entering a competitive industry, it’s easy to second-guess whether you’re ready or whether you belong in the room. . The second is that your path won’t be linear, and that’s okay.
Janet Cunningham (Mentor)
Founder and Managing Director at Atlas-Advisory Ltd.
I’m a strategic finance leader with almost two decades of experience spanning banking, investment funds, governance and large-scale transformation. I’ve built a career around delivering results in complex environments, leading cross-functional teams, driving operational improvement and helping organisations achieve sustainable growth.
As Founder of Atlas-Advisory, and through my Board and Director experience, I work closely with businesses on governance, strategy and execution.
What drives me is impact: solving meaningful problems, developing high-performing teams, and helping people and organisations realise their potential. Mentoring through 100 Women in Finance is a natural extension of that commitment. Supporting the next generation of talent and advancing greater inclusion across our industry benefits everyone.
What drew you to mentor in LaunchMe and what’s been rewarding about the experience?
I was drawn to mentor in LaunchMe because programmes like this can make a real difference at an important stage in someone’s career. Starting out in finance can be exciting, but it can also feel complex to navigate, especially when it comes to building confidence, understanding opportunities, developing a personal brand, and learning how to advocate for yourself effectively.
I know from my own career that access to practical guidance, honest insight and encouragement can accelerate growth in ways that formal training alone often cannot. LaunchMe creates that bridge by connecting emerging talent with experienced professionals who can share perspective and help others navigate the industry with greater clarity.
What has been especially rewarding is seeing mentees grow in confidence, ask bigger questions, and begin to recognise the value they bring. Last year, I was also delighted to contribute a session on Negotiation and Self-Advocacy: Industry Reflections, focused on helping early-career professionals shape their own narrative, build their brand and progress with intention.
This is now my second year mentoring, and that reflects how strongly I believe in the programme. Supporting the next generation of talent, particularly through practical, honest and empowering conversations, is both professionally meaningful and personally rewarding.
How has the relationship inspired or influenced you and what is one thing you’ve learned from your mentee.
Mentoring is genuinely inspiring because it is a reminder of how much potential exists in the next generation of talent when that potential is supported with encouragement, guidance and opportunity. Seeing mentees such as Saoirse grow in confidence, become clearer in their ambitions and back themselves more strongly over the course of the programme has been incredibly rewarding.
It has also reinforced for me the importance of continuing to invest time in initiatives like this from 100 Women in Finance. The finance industry evolves quickly, through regulation, technology, changing client expectations and new ways of working, which means a mindset of continuous learning is essential at every career stage. Programmes like LaunchMe are particularly valuable because mentors can share real-world industry insight that is not always visible at the start of someone’s career. That perspective can help mentees make more informed decisions, build relevant skills earlier and navigate opportunities with greater confidence.
One of the key things I’ve learned from my Saoirse is the importance of staying adaptable and continuously building your skill set in a highly competitive market. Technical capability matters, but increasingly it is the combination of technical expertise and strong soft skills, communication, confidence, relationship-building and resilience, that helps people stand out and succeed. That mindset of continuous growth is something professionals at every stage of their career can learn from.
Any tips or encouragement for those entering the industry?
My advice for anyone entering the industry is to stay open to opportunity, remain curious, and keep investing in your growth. Careers are rarely linear, and some of the most valuable opportunities can come from paths you did not originally plan for.
Early in my own career, I was inspired by a senior woman in finance who shared advice that has stayed with me: take every opportunity that comes your way, and if it changes your path, let it. If it opens doors, let it. You never know where you might end up, and that is the beauty of a career journey. My own path is proof of that. I started out as a jockey and today I run my own advisory business, Atlas-Advisory. It’s a reminder that careers can evolve in ways you may never expect.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good quote, and I often come back to Sheryl Sandberg, who said, “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.” There is a lot of truth in that. Career paths are not always straight lines, and success does not always come from following one fixed route. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones that challenge you, stretch you, or take you in a new direction.
Finance is a dynamic and evolving industry, so technical knowledge matters, but so does how you communicate, build relationships, solve problems and adapt to change. Be willing to learn continuously, ask questions, and develop both your technical and interpersonal skills.
Most importantly, follow the areas that genuinely interest and excite you. Energy, curiosity and resilience are powerful advantages and when combined with consistent effort, they can take you further than you might imagine.