Fastcom Managing Director Lorraine Gribbons, FCA, reflects on her journey from auditing to leading a regional business, championing gender equity in leadership and the challenge of achieving work-life balance in the fast-moving telecoms industry
I became Managing Director of Fastcom over eight years ago, bringing with me my background in Chartered Accountancy and a deep-rooted passion for driving business growth.
My foundation as a Chartered Accountant, with its emphasis on strategic thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving, proved instrumental as I transitioned into the telecoms sector.
Although I hadn’t initially envisioned a future in this industry, I found myself increasingly drawn to the challenge of scaling a regional business on a national level.
This challenge became my mission: how to expand Fastcom’s footprint across Ireland while remaining true to our Sligo roots.
I am very proud of the company’s achievements. Under my leadership, Fastcom has grown into one of Ireland’s most flexible telecoms providers, built on a foundation of innovation, regional pride and dedicated commitment to customer care.
My focus is on positioning the company as one of Ireland’s top technology leaders—not just in terms of the services we offer, but also in how we lead, innovate and support our people.
This includes continuing to break barriers—for women in leadership, regional businesses and anyone who dares to grow beyond what’s expected.
Robust career pathway
As far back as I can remember, accountancy was what I wanted to do. I’m not sure where that came from, but it was always on my radar as the route I wanted to take and the qualification I would ultimately achieve.
I attended school in Sligo and then went on to study Business, Economics and Social Studies at Trinity College Dublin.
I had worked in an accountancy practice in Sligo in the summer following my first year at college and then went on to complete a summer work placement organised by Trinity after my third year, in the audit department of KPMG in Dublin.
This experience gave me great insight into what the trainee programme would be like and I started my training contract with KPMG after completing my degree the following year.
Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant gave me excellent education and training, providing valuable insight into business operations and a robust pathway for career progression and opportunities.
Once my training contract was completed, I decided to move back west to Sligo, where I worked as an Audit Manager with Gilroy Gannon for over 10 years before transitioning into industry with Fastcom. I became the company’s Managing Director soon after the move.
Women in leadership: moving beyond the exception
Moving from the world of finance and accounting into telecoms, I’ve worked in two industries where women in leadership were once the exception, not the norm.
I’ve seen some progress in gender equity over the years, but it is slow, and there is definitely room for improvement.
I recall my accountancy training days, when many of the more junior staff members were female, but the senior roles were nearly always male-dominated. There are certainly more women at the top table now, and the conversations are evolving, but there’s still work to be done.
I would love to see more women in senior roles across all industries, as well as increased support at key transition points in a woman’s career, such as returning from maternity leave or aspiring to leadership.
Family responsibilities also play a part in the progress of gender equity, as balancing these with an evolving career can be a challenge.
Helping others reach their potential
Mentoring and networking have played a huge role in my career, even if not always in formal ways.
I have been fortunate to have had people whom I could look to for mentorship; they have given me honest feedback and encouragement when I’ve needed it most at all stages of my career.
Just as importantly, I’ve always believed in helping others reach their full potential in their own careers, wherever and whenever I can.
Networking, too, has opened unexpected doors, whether through industry events, local business groups, education sessions or informal chats over coffee.
The moving target of work-life balance
Work-life balance is a bit of a moving target, isn’t it?
For me, it’s not about getting it right every day as I don’t think that’s possible. Some weeks are more work-intensive, while others allow for space to recharge.
My biggest challenge is switching off, as I find this very difficult to navigate.
When running your own business, you’re fully invested, and this sometimes spills over into downtime. For me, it does depend on what’s happening at work and how pressing any issues might be.
It’s something I know I always have to keep working on and be very conscious of.
As great as technology is, especially when working in a technical industry, the ability to disconnect from your phone and emails is vital during personal time.
I have learned over the years that rest is just as important as work for long-term success. You need to be able to refuel yourself to keep going and bring your best to the business.
With three children, my own “rest time” is still busy, but it’s great for distracting me from the office and what’s going on at work.
Learning from your own team
Over the years, I have found real value in professional development programmes, leadership courses and peer learning. Sometimes, though, the most impactful learning comes from within your own team.
Listening, collaborating and remaining open to diverse perspectives has enabled me to grow and develop personally.
I am always reading a wide variety of business materials and books to gather ideas for Fastcom and for myself personally, so that I can continue to thrive.
Interview by Liz Riley
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