#Follow Deirdre McCarthy, founder of AllSkills Education CLG and FLIT.ie
Meet Deirdre McCarthy, founder of AllSkills Education CLG (FLIT.ie), a social impact organisation focused on improving financial literacy for women and families. Deirdre combines deep technical knowledge with lived experience to build software and education programmes that create real social good.
After a long career in IT leadership, consultancy, and systems development across Ireland, the UK, Europe and Africa, Deirdre reached a turning point in life. With her sons grown and fewer responsibilities on her shoulders, she decided to use her skills to tackle a challenge she understands personally. The result is FLIT Financial Literacy, a growing initiative that helps women understand entitlements, plan for life stages and make confident financial decisions. Her mission is simple: better information, better outcomes, better futures.
To get us started, how would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Female, leader, highly qualified, pioneer, resilient, organised.
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it:
My current business is AllSkills Tech and AllSkills Education CLG. For the last 18 months I have been focused on building the FLIT Financial Literacy brand. AllSkills exists as a post corporate start-up for me, with the intention of building software and solutions for social good.
I have life experience as a single parent, managing a busy professional career while navigating the squeezed middle. I am also a cancer survivor. I have reached a point where I have fewer responsibilities and financial commitments, and I wanted to use my skills to make a positive difference.
I feel strongly that the financial services industry is not serving women well. Advice often fails to recognise our real circumstances, our likely earnings profile and the impact of care responsibilities. Many government supports exist, but women in the squeezed middle often do not realise what they are entitled to until the opportunity has passed. Time pressure does not help, and schemes can be gatekept in ways that push working women towards self exclusion.
FLIT is designed to help women and families understand the supports available to them and to plan for financial demands at different life stages.
Under AllSkills I have taken part in several hackathons for social good. This involves forming an intense team with strangers for several weeks, usually with me taking a scrum master role. The teams I work with generally do well and this year we are again finalists in the National AI Challenge.
Tell us a little bit more about you:
I am originally from Arklow in south Wicklow. After studying computer science, I moved to the UK for 12 years where I progressed into ERP consultancy across Europe and Africa. I returned to Ireland in my early thirties with two very young sons following a divorce. Since then I have held IT leadership roles in consultancy, local government, pharma, academia and systems integration before returning to coding and founding AllSkills.
Learning has always been important to me. I recently became a Qualified Financial Advisor with a 2.1 while completing the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme and the Rethink Ireland social entrepreneur accelerator.
My sons are now adults and thriving. I have a supportive partner in Carlow and I am a part time step mum to his daughter who has just started college. I enjoy physical exercise and have completed two marathons, although start-up life means I am now reintroducing morning walks. I love reading, thinking and talking about patterns and problems.
Fill us in on your female founder journey:
It is interesting returning to founder life in my fifties. I am much more no nonsense than I would have been earlier. Women are often gatekept in life and I am no longer inclined to accept a first no or to worry about looking foolish for persisting.
I have received strong support from female communities in Ireland and the UK. In 2024 I toured widely with the FLIT concept, entered the TechStars competition and won second place with a brilliant team. I secured feasibility funding from my Local Enterprise Office in Carlow, completed New Frontiers in Grangegorman and Waterford, gained support from Rethink Ireland and engaged deeply with industry stakeholders.
From the outside it may look like success. The reality is more challenging. Many funding streams involve delayed payments. Administrative systems can be outdated and difficult. I have had costs rejected for obscure reasons and have faced dismissal and resistance from people who should support new businesses. I have seen how challenging the investment process can be and how much time it pulls away from the core mission.
I have largely bootstrapped while keeping close control of cashflow. My aim is to build a scalable business, sell effectively and remain focused on solutions rather than performative exercises. The mission remains central.
How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
AwakenHub is the one circle I have joined that I know I need to engage with more. I believe strongly in the mission and value the people. Over the last year I have been extremely busy, and I suspect that is why I have not leveraged the platform fully.
In fairness, the sessions I have attended were excellent. I loved the Wicklow summer session with Sophie Nichol. The investor readiness and data room session with Mary was outstanding. Clare’s class on angel investment was energising, and the networking session on women and finance last December was incredibly useful.
Do you have an ask for the community?
Yes. I would appreciate help testing education programmes and software to give real world validation. I would also welcome support in reaching and establishing a broader customer base. I am grateful when people send events or awards that may be relevant.
As a founder, what are your non negotiables and what inspires you?
Integrity is non negotiable. I believe in open conversations even when they are difficult. Kindness is essential. I value hard work, genuine effort and people who try, fail and try again. I avoid unnecessary drama.
Expressing vulnerability often allows others to open up, and I love hearing people’s stories. Connection matters to me.
Where do you see yourself in 12 months and 5 years?
In 12 months, I want to have a formal sales structure for FLIT with sustainable, repeatable activities and clear customer segments. I also want to be viewed as an AI innovator providing solutions that genuinely move the dial on social good.
In 5 years, I hope to see FLIT franchises established in at least five countries. I want AllSkills to operate as a foundation for skills and collaboration, sustained through revenue with some philanthropic support. I imagine myself at 62 reflecting that taking charge of my own path was the best decision I ever made.
What are your top three tips for other women founders?
Self belief. Do not listen to the naysayers.
Own your cashflow. If you do not control the money, someone else is controlling you.
Dig deep.
Six words to live by:
Ambition. Self reliance. Connection. Importance of your gut feelings.
