Liam McQuaid

I'm a Service Delivery Manager at First Derivative, working with clients and internal teams to ensure services are delivered smoothly and effectively. My background spans a number of support and leadership roles across LSEG, AIMCo and Rabobank, giving me a broad understanding of service operations and the importance of balancing client needs with team success.

Outside of work, I am enjoying a 'temporary' retirement from playing GAA. When time permits, which isn't often these days, I enjoy getting out on the bike or going for a run. I also have three young children who ensure there is never a quiet moment at home!

Being honest, when I joined in 2012, I didn't know a huge amount about FD. Having studied Accounting at university, I knew I didn't want to pursue a career in that field. After being given a Milkround graduate brochure, I came across First Derivatives as it was. After speaking to someone I knew who already worked there, I was sold on the company through tales of Thursday nights in Cobbles and trips to Carlingford. The opportunity to travel was another big attraction, although I quickly discovered that the idea of travelling and the reality of driving up the M1 every Sunday night to the airport were two very different things.

When I first joined FD, the phrase "deer in the headlights" probably summed me up quite well. Like many graduates, I was doing things without always fully understanding the bigger picture or the impact they had. Over time, I learned the importance of understanding the context behind the work and how it contributes to wider business goals.

I progressed from a Junior Analyst into a number of support and leadership roles, eventually leading a London-based support team. Looking back, 60+ hour work weeks weren't uncommon. As both FD and I have evolved, my focus has shifted from day-today firefighting towards building stronger client relationships, improving services, and supporting the teams around me. With the move towards more flexible and remote ways of working, there is now a greater emphasis on wellbeing, which has given me more time to mentor others and contribute more strategically.

I I have primarily worked within the Calypso practice since joining FD. During that time, I have spent time in Newry, Paris, London and even got to experience a month in Moscow. It really is as cold as you think! In terms of my favourite setup, I didn't realise it at the time, but my years in London between 2014 and 2017 were special. Working with extremely knowledgeable people every day, living in a vibrant city and having a great work-life balance. As Andy Bernard said, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.”

There is no such thing as a silly question. This is one of the first things I say to new graduates joining FD. Before AI, asking questions was how we learned, and AI still won't always have the answer. I think it's important to understand the culture of a new team. Who's the go-to person? Who's happiest after their first coffee of the day? Asking questions not only helps build knowledge, but also strengthens relationships and creates a positive team culture. With remote working now the norm, asking questions is more important than ever, helping to bridge the gaps that can naturally develop when teams aren't working side by side.

It is difficult to pick a single project or memory over a 14-year period. A few highlights that stand out are the great people I've met along the way and the friendships that have lasted long beyond individual projects. I also have fond memories of the 'Go-Live' celebrations after major releases while working in London, which were a great way to recognise the hard work that went into those projects. Finally, I feel privileged to have worked at FD under the direction of the late Brian Conlon, whose vision and ambition helped shape both the company and many of the careers within it.