Sharon O'Brien

Dr. Sharon O'Brien is a Lecturer in the School of Business at South East Technological University (SETU), where she teaches modules in Enterprise, Marketing, and Management across multiple schools. Her research focuses on the social economy, social entrepreneurship, and customer orientation, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and innovation. She leads the DIFUCH Erasmus+ project on digital futures and challenge-based learning, collaborating with institutions in Portugal and the Netherlands.

Education: PhD from SETU (2006–2018), MSc in Business from Carlow Campus (2012–2014), and a Bachelors in Technological University Dublin (1991–1995). She has held roles including Sponsorship Manager at Eircom and is a member of SERNI, Ireland's Social Economy Research Network.

Research Interests: Social enterprise, customer service dynamics, and entrepreneurship education. Awards include the 2023 Enactus Ireland Faculty Advisor of the Year and the 2024 Growth Hub Bursary Award. She actively participates in international conferences and collaborative projects, emphasizing pedagogical innovation and regional development.

Her recent articles explore teaching methodologies, digital transformation in education, and the role of hackathons in fostering entrepreneurship. She also supervises doctoral and undergraduate research, contributing to academic and applied knowledge in her fields.