For over 25 years, Gráinne worked in corporate recruitment largely in the technology sector. In 2012 she opted out of the corporate world. She took a leap of faith by relocating her family to West Cork, where she founded an organisation to improve the education of STEAM subjects (i.e. science, technology, engineering, art and maths). She also worked to raise the importance of equal opportunity. She founded Sense about Maths (SAM), a primary education programme based on creative methods of teaching and the learning of maths. This became a programme of the STEAM education programme at University College Cork (UCC). In 2017, this won Ireland’s Social Entrepreneur Award.
Gráinne now runs ’All things STEAM’, a sustainable education and nature wellness business This provides practical and innovative workshops for students, employees and employers. It also promotes innovative thinking.
Gráinne works with national and post primary schools and third level and universities and companies delivering STEAM workshops to build a strong pipeline of future graduates for the growing number of vacancies now being created in the fast-moving STEAM sector.
The training, preparation and planning for her outdoor adventures, ocean swimming and her successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (5.800 m) have given Gráinne an insight into the importance of nature as a source of stress relief. She has learned about the use of mindfulness to counteract the challenging times in one’s career. She uses these skills to assist individuals and teams to achieve a healthier work-life balance.
In 2019, Gráinne was certified as a forest bathing guide by the Forest Therapy Institute. She combines her workshop practices with forest bathing experiences in the majestic woodlands in Manch Estate, Ballineen, Co Cork. These are located 43 km southwest of Cork city.