Brendan Donnelly
What inspired you to join IT Services/Oxford University?
I joined IT Services as a contract business analyst in May 2018 to help with the Mosaic migration project. I was already living in Oxford so working in the centre was perfect for me. Being a business analyst and working for the University allows me to do lots of different things and meet lots of interesting people.
What was your journey to the position you now hold?
My journey to this position has covered many different industries and countries. I started my career in London working in IT for Marks & Spencer but soon left to join a customer relationship management (CRM) company who were setting up the European offices in Amsterdam. I worked all around Europe whilst living in Amsterdam, it was a great time. Then 9/11 struck and, with the job market in freefall, I decided to take a year out so went to teach English in Mexico. I learnt a lot about myself in that year, particularly how to find shade in sunny places! There are also numerous Mexicans speaking English with a Northern Irish accent, which still makes me smile.
Returning to live in Brighton, I started to gather a life together, picked up my old CRM skills and worked for Unilever for a while (best staff shop ever!). After another bout of restlessness, I ended up in Oxford where I worked for Elsevier and was able to work on many aspects of the project lifecycle, including a period as Operations Manager for their eCommerce websites.
After many years there, I left the large for the small and joined a start-up, working in a tiny office in Newbury. Here I developed my business analysis skills further, helping Gucci design and develop their online presence for a few years. I spent some time in Florence too with a great team of people. Then the company sold out to a much larger consultancy so I returned to a business analyst role in a publishing company in Oxford before joining the University where I continue to enjoy my role and I am constantly learning new things.
What do you enjoy about working here?
I love a lot of things about the University. I have worked in lots of different projects and met lots of interesting people. During the pandemic, working on the Early Alert Service was a career high for me. Knowing that our project work, even in small ways, supports the brains behind some of the world’s greatest research and education is what gets me out of bed in the morning (that and my cats).
What advice would you give someone thinking about applying to work at the University/IT Services?
The University is a world-leader for a reason, and we all have a part to play in that. Embrace change as it is never possible to stand still here for too long. Expect to meet great people and learn a lot of interesting things.
