Marie O'Riordan

I'm a Forbes Councils member and I publish content on Forbes.com.

https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Marie-O'Riordan-Senior-Partner-The-Cro%C3%AD-Initiative-including-Cro%C3%AD-Impact-and-Cro%C3%AD-Capital/80e7cd64-0b22-4520-a3a5-8ca5f3895996

Mother Teresa Interview

Saint Mother Teresa Marie O'Riordan 1997

In 1997, Marie O'Riordan was honoured to conduct the final interview with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa, Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The interview took place at Mother Teresa's residence in Calcutta, India, during Marie's production of a documentary exploring the impact of Irish individuals on the lives of those in the city's densely populated slums. This experience in the developing world profoundly influenced Marie, inspiring her to volunteer in similar communities across various least-developed countries. Her interaction with Mother Teresa deepened Marie's commitment to social justice and human rights. During her time in Calcutta, Marie stayed in the family home of the Executive Director of the Society for Indian Children's Welfare and her husband, maintaining contact with them for many years.

Early Life

From early childhood, Marie O'Riordan's talents were evident. Her family noticed her problem-solving when she was ten months old. By preschool years, Marie demonstrated a photographic memory. Marie experiences synaesthesia with mathematics and music. A top School of Medicine professor, captivated by Marie's abilities, described her as possessing "massive Savant skills. I have never met anyone as talented as her before. The IQ is extremely high." He remarked that Marie would have been better suited to a university programme for gifted youths at five rather than a regular primary school.

Marie continues collaborating with medical researchers from universities worldwide. She has agreed with the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland that, after her death, her body will be used for medical education and research. The paperwork was signed by the Professor of Anatomy.

Media Career

Marie O'Riordan is a media professional with over 15 years of experience in Broadcast News Journalist, Presenter, and Senior Producer roles. She began appearing on national and local radio at the age of 13 and continued to develop her skills over the next six years. At 14, she gained experience in national television. At 15, she received an award on national TV for a short film sponsored by Sony.

Marie studied Journalism and Radio at a private college and business school led by a veteran presenter from Ireland's national broadcaster. In 2019, she completed a Journalism course at the University of Cambridge entitled Writing for the Modern Media: How to Write Feature Articles.

Further Background

Marie is committed to supporting marginalised communities. Her dedication to volunteerism and philanthropy began after the loss of two family members, aged two and four. This personal tragedy motivated her to engage in humanitarian missions worldwide.

Her work has been recognised with several honours, including an international humanitarian award in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for her philanthropic efforts in Africa.

Marie has faced prejudice for being different. She has worked with a team of experts, including expert witnesses, to address discrimination, prejudice and hate.

In recent years, Marie helped resolve a significant matter with a Silicon Valley giant, resulting in a substantial settlement.

International Speaker

Marie has extensive experience delivering presentations on Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Branding, Media, Journalism, Investigative Journalism for talk shows and Success Psychology. She has delivered keynote speeches on international platforms across five continents and has served as a guest lecturer at universities and organisations worldwide.

Career Milestones

From 2009 to 2017, Marie worked with dozens of Fortune 500 and Fortune Global companies, collaborating with C-suite executives, including Chairpersons, Presidents, and CEOs. In 2014, she consulted for NASA. In 2016, she spent 20 days in London supporting FTSE 250 companies in addressing complex business challenges. Her work also extended to sports. An eight-year study she conducted on how Olympic athletes communicate was featured in Entrepreneur magazine during the 2016 Rio Games and was discussed by an Olympian on NBC's The Olympics.