Sep 9, 2026 · 29 min · 11 segments
What does it take to navigate the journey from university student to researcher and professional? In this episode, newly elected Galway Mayor Helen Ogbu shares her story with PhD Candidate Sophia…
Helen OgbuGuestSophia SaidisHostUm, so was there anything or anyone that really helped you along the way with seeing the issues, with understanding the issues, with seeing what, the work that needed to be done and being able to put yourself in a position to do that?
I would say the people, the migrants, the refugees, the people who couldn't speak out, who didn't have a voice.
I think that, that, that would be the thi- the people that actually encouraged me.
Because, like, when you're in a community and when you belong to a certain group, people are scared to talk.
I might be able to speak out, but then it's just how do you make sure that people have a voice, or how are those people represented? So they were...
I, I actually take it back to the people Without the issues, without those concerns, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing.
So, and then along the way, my, my, um, I wanna call Professor Pat Dolan, uh, I call him my mentor.
Um, he actually, he was a great support, you know, and, um, and likewise other lecturers there, but it just, someone who sees some- people who see something in you and say, "You must do this.
And, um, so I, I would say the people, the issues that were affected, the community issue, communal issues, they were the things that pushed me, and tho- those were, th- that's a drive because the more you see those things, and the more you see the answers coming up, you know, the more you wanna do it.
You don't, you don't expect it to make huge impact immediately, but then those little steps, those acknowledgments, and then building the forces together-
... because I think that is such an important cause that more people need to champion.
Um, and I know we talked briefly before this about your PhD, and it sounds like you're doing that through your PhD as well.
Um, so was there anything or anyone that really helped you along the way with seeing the issues, with understanding the issues, with seeing what, the work that needed to be done and being able to put yourself in a position to do that?
I would say the people, the migrants, the refugees, the people who couldn't speak out, who didn't have a voice.
I think that, that, that would be the thi- the people that actually encouraged me.
Because, like, when you're in a community and when you belong to a certain group, people are scared to talk.
I might be able to speak out, but then it's just how do you make sure that people have a voice, or how are those people represented? So they were...
I, I actually take it back to the people Without the issues, without those concerns, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing.
So, and then along the way, my, my, um, I wanna call Professor Pat Dolan, uh, I call him my mentor.
Um, he actually, he was a great support, you know, and, um, and likewise other lecturers there, but it just, someone who sees some- people who see something in you and say, "You must do this.
And, um, so I, I would say the people, the issues that were affected, the community issue, communal issues, they were the things that pushed me, and tho- those were, th- that's a drive because the more you see those things, and the more you see the answers coming up, you know, the more you wanna do it.
You don't, you don't expect it to make huge impact immediately, but then those little steps, those acknowledgments, and then building the forces together-
... because I think that is such an important cause that more people need to champion.
Um, and I know we talked briefly before this about your PhD, and it sounds like you're doing that through your PhD as well.
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