Hi, my name is Kiera O’Sullivan, and I’m currently in my fourth year of Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship. I chose this degree because of my strong interest in marketing and business from an early age. During school, I thoroughly enjoyed subjects like home economics and business, which sparked my curiosity about how the food industry operates and how businesses bring products to market.
One of the things I love most about this course is the unique combination of business and science. It’s rare to find programs that cover everything from food sustainability and new product innovation to the nutritional aspects and food science behind what we eat.
I recently joined the UCC Food and Nutrition Society for the 2024/2025 academic year. I wanted to get more involved in university life and represent Food Marketing students within the society. When the society was re-established in 2023, I saw the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to a committee that’s traditionally been led by Food Science and Nutritional Science students.
As the Entertainments Officer on the committee, I aim to thoughtfully balance themes around food, nutrition, health, and wellness as I plan events. We’ve already seen strong success with recent events, starting with a post-Refreshers mindful yoga session, sponsored by Revive Active. This event gave students from different courses a chance to connect and ease back into college life in a relaxed, Zen-like atmosphere.
Our most recent event, “Pilates & Pastries,” was a complete success and raised funds for UCC's Raise & Give charities. My fellow Food Marketing student, Maeve Culligan, led an energizing Pilates class, and afterward, students enjoyed a delicious spread of pastries from the campus favourite, Joes & Bros. This event sold out completely and received excellent feedback. I’ve been incorporating elements of my Food Marketing degree, like digital marketing, to promote events, and we even gained notable traction online, with 14k views on TikTok!
Looking ahead, we have several exciting events in the pipeline, including a collaboration with Runday Run Club on October 30th, a food-themed quiz night, and our flagship event, the Foodies Ball. This year, we aim to welcome over 400 students from food-related courses, and we’re thrilled to invite even more students to join us at these upcoming events!
If you’re an outgoing person who wants to meet new people and explore different aspects of college life, joining a society is perfect for you! It’s an excellent way to enhance your university experience and get more involved on campus. Societies offer you the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, explore new interests, and develop valuable skills outside of the classroom. You’ll find a strong sense of community, making it easy to meet friends from a variety of courses. Plus, being active in a society can help expand your network, boost your confidence, and enhance your resume with leadership and teamwork experience.
If you’re thinking about studying Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship, this degree is an excellent choice. It offers remarkable flexibility, allowing you to dive into various aspects of the food industry once you graduate. The course is very hands-on, with projects and practical assignments that deepen understanding and build experience. Working on real-world projects over the four years has been invaluable. The broad skill set this course has to offer, opens diverse career paths and gives you a unique edge. If you’re passionate about food and business and want to make a real impact, this program is the perfect starting point for your journey.
If you would like to learn more about the BSc Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship programme at Cork University Business School at University College Cork, you can see the full programme page here.