Megan Yeates has an unusual claim to fame in the world of higher education. Before becoming CAO Recruitment Lead at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), she was ranked number one in the world at freight forwarding, winning gold for Ireland at the WorldSkills International Competition in Kazan in 2019.
Now, as she navigates her career in HE, she's discovered another transformative experience: Aurora, Advance HE's leadership development programme for women in higher education.
"Having seen first-hand how skills change lives, I transitioned into the education sector," Megan explains, reflecting on her journey from the fast-paced world of logistics to academia.
A career built on problem-solving
Megan's professional journey reads like a masterclass in strategic career pivoting. Armed with a BSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and an MSc in Strategic Management, both from TU Dublin (previously DIT), she initially thrived in the logistics sector's high-energy environment. Her roles as Road Freight Operations Specialist at DHL Global Forwarding and Logistics Project Manager at Lidl gave her a taste for the problem-solving and fast pace that would later serve her well in the HE sector.
But it was witnessing the transformative power of skills development that sparked her transition to education. After working as a logistics lecturer abroad and coordinating apprenticeships in logistics and commercial driving, Megan found herself in her current role developing recruitment strategies for undergraduate programmes at TU Dublin.
Finding her feet through Aurora
Megan completed Aurora in the 2024/2025 cohort while still relatively new to the HE sector. But the timing couldn't have been better.
"Aurora gave me the opportunity to meet other women in HE at a time where the sector was very new to me, and I was still finding my feet," she explains. "It also gave me the time and space to reflect on myself and my skills and how I could bring them into my new role while also learning best practice from others."
The programme's impact went beyond professional development. For someone transitioning between sectors, Aurora provided something invaluable: a supportive community of peers who understood the unique challenges of working in higher education.
"It was a very supportive network of women who were a fountain of knowledge and advice, while also being so enthusiastic!" Megan says.
The confidence to be authentic
Perhaps the most significant change Megan experienced through Aurora was internal. The programme didn't just develop her leadership skills; it fundamentally shifted how she saw herself in her professional role.
"I feel much more confident in my own abilities and skillset that I can contribute to my team," she reflects. "It empowered me to learn to be my authentic self."
Practical wisdom for future participants
“You get out of it what you put in,” Megan says, “It may be clichéd but it's true. You need to participate in the breakout rooms and action learning sessions. The pre-work is really helpful for getting an understanding of the topic of each session before going into it and I felt behind the times I didn't complete the pre-work.
"I am so glad I completed Aurora, and I am so grateful for all the wonderful women I met along the way and added to my network. Anyone who has the opportunity to sign up, I would highly recommend it."