Lynda Cahalan was a worthy finalist in the upcoming Women in Construction Awards. Having gained experience at every level in the industry, she now leads dynamic teams in her position as Operations Manager with Mercury Engineering.
Shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Senior Leadership – Contractor / Subcontractor’ category, Lynda has blazed a trail in a male-dominated industry to become a key player in Mercury’s emergence as the European leader in construction solutions. The Women in Construction Awards celebrate the most innovative individuals and companies driving excellence in Ireland’s construction sector, and Lynda’s nomination reflects her exceptional leadership, ambition and determination.
A native of Nenagh in Co. Tipperary, Lynda joined Mercury four years ago and works between Paris and Frankfurt. The 42-year-old is currently based on a large-scale data centre project in Paris. She has a 25-year-old son, Pearse, who lives in Manchester and recently graduated from university.
Lynda’s career in construction was in her blood, and she began work at 18 as an apprentice electrician. As one of very few women in the industry at the time, this came with its own set of challenges. Adjusting to a male-dominated environment meant having to work harder to prove herself, all while juggling the challenges of being a new mother. In many ways, it pushed Lynda further to succeed and excel.
As much as she enjoyed the hands-on onsite work, Lynda realised she had more to offer and made the decision to transition into a technical sales role. “I think starting at the bottom was important for my personal and professional development,” she says.
Lynda worked with some well-established electrical suppliers on project-based business utilising her technical and onsite knowledge. As her career progressed, she actively sought out more responsibility, in more and more challenging roles, which only whetted her appetite to learn more and develop her skills and knowledge.
A role with a market leader in back-up power solutions brought her into the data centre industry where she found her niche.
“The projects are so fast-paced and incredibly complex, it really is a ‘sink or swim’ industry, but thankfully I fully embraced the challenge of managing projects right from specification of the product through the entire process of install, commissioning and maintainability in a live environment,” the affable Tipperary woman explains.
“I then progressed to data centre fit-outs, bolstering my all-round knowledge of the mechanical & electrical systems. These opportunities gave me so much insight into the data centre industry and so many invaluable tools.”
When the opportunity to work with Mercury presented itself, Lynda grabbed it with both hands.
“I knew this was the opportunity I was waiting for. Mercury is the market leader in the sector – trailblazers for innovation working with the largest international corporations on leading data centre projects across Ireland and Europe,” she says.
“My role as Operations Manager is a multi-faceted one. I work across several projects in Europe in parallel, leading our teams to successfully deliver large-scale, complex data centre projects. The role encompasses so many elements and I act as a driving force between all departments.
“I maintain and build on long-standing client relationships and continue to foster those relationships, and further solidify client confidence in Mercury. Certainty and delivering for our client are critical for us. I lead and support the project managers, commercial team, planners and commissioning teams to ensure we deliver an outstanding product on time.
“Over my time in Mercury, I have successfully completed several flagship new build projects and a number of live environment projects. As general contractors, we work alongside the top design and architectural firms globally to bring these projects from conceptual design to fruition. This includes design elements, constructability, coordination and final construction, and handover of a top-quality product. While doing so, our “WorkSafe, HomeSafe motto is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, delivering these results safely is a number one priority.”
She continues: “Both new build and live projects come with unique sets of challenges, but my adaptability and ability to think on my feet has helped me overcome these to complete and handover projects that both myself and my teams can be truly proud of.”
Lynda is full of praise for her colleagues at Mercury.
“None of this would be possible without the incredible teams I lead. I’m working with some of the best and brightest in the industry. Being able to empower, motivate and guide my teams and see them flourish in their careers is a huge motivation for me personally. This is the supportive culture in place at Mercury.
“The company has outstanding leaders who cascade knowledge, are open to input and support their teams to make Mercury what it is. We can only go from strength to strength by achieving great things with our people. It’s refreshing to work for a company that has such a commitment to embracing new ideas while delivering for both the client and their people.
“Mercury has not only given me the opportunity to grow my career, but also to travel and work with a really diverse team of people who bring many different perspectives to their work. The opportunities at Mercury are endless. The company employs 7,000 people, including subcontractors, across Europe, the growth is extremely impressive and it’s great to be part of that legacy.”
Lynda was proud to play a role in Mercury’s recent Movember campaign which raised €64,000, €22,000 of which was raised by her team in Paris alone! In recognition of this fundraising effort, Mercury upped the total to a whopping €100,000, making it the winner of the Movember Construction Challenge in Europe. This money will go a long way towards supporting men’s mental health and wellbeing.
Headquartered in Dublin, Mercury is the European leader in construction solutions, building and managing complex engineering and construction projects for the world’s leading corporations in 14 pan-European countries. Its’ solutions help deliver technologies and life changing advancements that connect people, communities and businesses, giving them the power to achieve incredible things. The company’s WorkSafe, HomeSafe QEHS culture is recognised as industry leading. Mercury’s scalability, trusted supply chain partnerships and localised expertise ensures that they deliver highly specialist projects with certainty. Mercury supports its people, like Lynda, to fulfil their potential, in collaborative and supportive environments.
Mercury is an Irish company that has gone on to achieve monumental success on a European scale!
Mercury
Irish Head Office
Mercury House,
Ravens Rock Road,
Sandyford Business District,
Dublin,
D18 XH79.
Telephone: +353 1 216 3000 / +353 1 216 3005
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mercuryeng.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August, Vol 11 No 9
