Women in STEM at Boston Scientific: Aoife Carter and Claire O’Brien

Watch the Boston Scientific Podcast Episode

Aoife and Claire followed different routes through STEM.

Aoife explains how her curiosity about how products and systems work eventually led her towards engineering. Claire describes her progression from science into quality assurance and regulatory affairs, along with an approach to career development she calls micro-ambition. Their conversation also explores self-doubt, resilience, mentoring, disability inclusion and the importance of pursuing opportunities before every part of the next step feels certain.

Listen through the Spotify and Apple Podcasts players below.

Meet Aoife Carter and Claire O’Brien

Aoife Carter: Manufacturing Engineering Leadership

Aoife’s interest in engineering developed through a natural curiosity about how everyday products and systems worked. Her career later progressed from individual technical contribution into manufacturing engineering management. In the episode, she discusses the change in mindset required when moving from solving engineering problems personally to leading and developing other people. 

Aoife also reflects on the self-doubt that accompanied this transition. Mentoring and experience helped her become more balanced in how she assessed her performance, focusing not only on what she still needed to learn but also on what she was already doing effectively. Her fuller career story, including her route into engineering and progression into management, is explored in HERO’s article on women in STEM at Boston Scientific.

Claire O’Brien: Regulatory Affairs Leadership

Claire studied science before moving into quality assurance and later regulatory affairs. In the episode, she discusses how each stage of her career created experience that became useful in the next. Rather than trying to plan every future promotion, she concentrated on learning and performing well in the position directly in front of her.

Claire describes this approach as micro-ambition. It involves building a career through achievable steps while remaining open to opportunities that may not have been visible at the beginning. She also discusses resilience after unsuccessful applications and the importance of seeking advice from people whose experience can provide a more informed perspective.

Professionals interested in this area can explore HERO’s Regulatory Affairs Contracting Rate Guide Ireland 2026.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

Aoife and Claire discuss:

• Finding a career direction through curiosity and experience
• Progressing from technical positions into leadership
• Moving from science and quality assurance into regulatory affairs
• Managing self-doubt during career transitions
• Learning from unsuccessful applications and setbacks
• Building professional confidence through experience
• Why mentors and allies matter
• Applying for opportunities before feeling completely ready
• Disability inclusion and accessibility in the workplace
• Encouraging more women to consider STEM careers

These themes are explored through the guests’ personal experiences rather than as a single prescribed route for everyone working in STEM.

About Boston Scientific in Ireland

Boston Scientific is a medical-technology company with principal manufacturing facilities in Galway, Cork and Clonmel. The company’s official location information also identifies Clonmel as one of its R&D Centres of Excellence. Its Irish operations support career paths across manufacturing, engineering, research and development, quality, regulatory affairs and related functions. The company information provides context for the episode, but Aoife’s and Claire’s individual stories remain the page’s central focus. Their experiences illustrate how careers can develop through curiosity, practical learning, supportive relationships and the decision to pursue greater responsibility.

Explore More Women-in-STEM Episodes

Continue the series with:

Women in STEM at Hollister: Honora Egan and Vivienne McNulty

Women in STEM at TE Connectivity: Marilyn Bane, Deirdre Hardiman and Colleen Markland

Women in STEM at West: Aine Brennan and Samantha Murphy

Every season is available through HERO’s Greatness Has No Gender podcast hub

Episode Sponsor

This episode was sponsored by Fenero, which provides financial and administrative services for contractors, freelancers and independent professionals.

For more information, connect with HERO on LinkedIn, reach out to us at hello@hero.ie for any inquiries, or visit our website for the latest permanent and contracting jobs in STEM.