Laura Brady

Class of 2025, Naughton Fellowship recipient

Trinity College Dublin
Mechanical Engineering with Management

How did you first learn about Notre Dame’s ESTEEM program?

I received emails from the School of Engineering at Trinity [College] about the ESTEEM program while I was in my fourth year. At the time I was certain I would be completing a fifth year and so only skimmed the emails and missed the information sessions. However, I received one final email in January of 2024 (the month applications closed), after I had made a decision not to pursue a fifth year at Trinity, and decided to apply then and there.

What aspects of the ESTEEM program most appealed to you when you were considering a graduate program, and why?

I really enjoyed the hands-on nature of the program. I didn’t want to sit at a desk to learn how to be an entrepreneur, I wanted to actually do it. The capstone project in industry and the instructors with real-life entrepreneurial experience reassured me that I would have that hands-on experience.

How did you learn about the Naughton Fellowship, and what motivated you to apply?

I learned about the Naughton Fellowship while I was learning about the program and application process as I knew – as an Irish student applying – there was a slightly different process involved. The Naughton Fellowship is a major reason why I applied to the program. I don’t think I would have ever dreamed of studying in such a prestigious university in the U.S. so when I learned about the fellowship opportunity, it made me that much more excited about the prospect of getting a spot.

How will receiving the Naughton Fellowship help you achieve your goals as a graduate student and young professional?

Firstly, getting the fellowship gave me a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities as a professional. It is such a scary thing to put yourself up for these sorts of opportunities. I was certain after my interview that I had missed the mark but I got a call soon after confirming my spot. Knowing that such prestigious institutions like the Naughton Foundation and the Universty of Notre Dame had faith in me gave me permission to have greater faith in myself.

Secondly, the network of past Fellows and Naughton Scholars in Ireland is an amazing group of people I can now say I am a part of. Sharing that with so many incredible people is life-changing. Having the connection to such impressive people and being able to talk to them about their lives and careers has already been so formative to me in building my own path after ESTEEM.

What does being a Naughton Fellow mean to you?

It means the world! The Naughton Fellowship has allowed me to pursue a graduate degree at a top U.S. university, something I genuinely didn’t think was in my realm of possibilities. Pursuing this degree has opened doors for me I never knew existed and has allowed me to get to know myself in a totally new light. 

In what ways has ESTEEM encouraged you to think about the impact of innovation on our world today?

Innovation touches every part of modern day life and business; I am typing this on my laptop and you’re probably reading it on yours, or on your phone – that’s all thanks to innovators and entrepreneurs. Of course, innovation always comes with both benefits and drawbacks, and we [as students] have had the opportunity through the capstone project and classes to explore all aspects of innovation. One of the most incredible things about ESTEEM is the encouragement to seek out social ventures and ethical business opportunities. I think it is very easy in entrepreneurship to get too focused on the dollar profit and not consider the other profits you could make, and this is something that we have been consistently shown at ESTEEM.

What specific problem or challenge do you hope to address either during or after the program?

My capstone project is with a startup called Enlighten Mobility, which started at Notre Dame. Enlighten Mobility believes that every human being deserves the right to move, and this capstone project is a testament to their commitment to making that belief a reality. People with mobility impairments – from new amputees to stroke patients to those with spinal cord injuries and elderly people – suffer worse patient outcomes due to poor or inaccessible rehabilitation technology. My current focus is to help these patients regain their ability to move with the help of the technology we are developing.

What knowledge, skills or qualities have you developed so far in the ESTEEM program that you feel will be the most helpful in your career and future pursuits?

One major skill I have developed and used at the ESTEEM program is communication and the ability to use my voice. Through capstone interviews, interactions with guest speakers and networking events, I have had so many opportunities to talk to new people, talk about myself, talk about my work, and ask interesting questions. This has benefited me in such a large way and that will help me to advocate for myself and others in my career.

What goals are you most excited to pursue after you complete the ESTEEM program?

I am hoping to stay in the U.S. after graduation, working in tech. I think someday I will return to academia to pursue a Ph.D. but I am very interested in gaining more experience in the professional environment whether that be within a startup or a large company.