Big20 Winners Announced for MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology

Date published: 19th June 2026

Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet has announced the four winners of the Big20 Giveaway, a special initiative launched to celebrate 20 years of the MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology.

Delivered in partnership with TU Dublin, the MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology has supported experienced professionals across Ireland’s technology sector and wider digital economy since 2006.

To mark the programme’s 20-year milestone, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet offered four fully funded places for the 2026-2028 intake, valued at €20,000 per annum for the 2-year programme.

The four Big20 winners are Olivia Wood, Senior Business Transformation Manager at BearingPoint; Ronan Kenny, Product Design Lead at ESB; Viviane Rezende, Contracts Manager at Nostra; and Ahmed Mahmoud, Program Manager at Ericsson.

Hear from the Next Generation of Technology Leaders

The Big20 Giveaway was created to recognise high-potential professionals who are ready to strengthen their leadership capability and make a meaningful impact within their organisations.

Applicants were asked to share their motivation for joining the programme and outline how they would use the opportunity to develop as leaders in technology, innovation and business change. The winning statements reflected the practical, applied nature of the MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology, with each winner connecting their ambitions to real organisational challenges and opportunities.

Olivia Wood, Senior Business Transformation Manager at BearingPoint, said she wants to use the opportunity to enhance how she delivers transformation within her organisation: “I would use this opportunity to enhance how I deliver transformation within my organisation, embedding innovative approaches to operational excellence, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and supporting the adoption of emerging technologies.”.

Ronan Kenny, Product Design Lead at ESB, highlighted the importance of inclusive digital services, design leadership and responsible innovation: “I want to strengthen design leadership, accessible advocacy and AI-enabled innovation to embed frameworks that help ESB deliver inclusive, sustainable digital services aligned to Net Zero 2040.”.

For Viviane Rezende, Contracts Manager at Nostra, the programme represents an opportunity to help embed innovation into organisational culture: “I want to foster a culture that embraces innovation, encouraging teams to experiment, learn and continuously improve. Ultimately, I would use this opportunity not only to enhance organisational efficiency and resilience, but also to position my organisation as a forward-thinking leader in how it integrates technology, innovation and strategic decision-making.”.

Ahmed Mahmoud, Program Manager at Ericsson, said the programme will support him in taking on broader leadership responsibilities while strengthening project delivery across engineering teams. He stated, “I want to leverage this MSc to take on broader leadership responsibilities, supporting our 2030 ambition of higher efficiency while building a culture of simple, data-driven, and trusted project delivery across our engineering teams.“

A 20-Year Partnership Focused on Applied Leadership

The MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology was launched in 2006 to support technical and innovation-focused professionals to develop the strategic, commercial and leadership skills required to move into senior roles.

Over the past two decades, the programme has remained focused on practical impact. It is designed for experienced professionals who want to lead teams, manage change, drive innovation and connect technology decisions with wider business strategy.

The programme is delivered over two years on a part-time basis through a blended model of online and in-person learning. Its assessment model is built around work-based assignments and an applied research project, helping participants address real challenges within their own organisation.

Jamie Meegan, Programme Lead at Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet for the MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology, said the Big20 winners reflect exactly why the programme continues to play an important role in Ireland’s tech talent ecosystem.

“This programme has always been about helping experienced professionals make the move from expertise to leadership. What stood out in the Big20 applications was the strength of purpose behind each candidate. These winners are not simply looking to gain a qualification. They want to use the programme to solve real problems, support their teams and help their organisations become more innovative, resilient and future-ready,” said Jamie.

As organisations continue to navigate AI adoption, digital transformation, sustainability demands and new models of work, the need for leaders who can connect technology, people and strategy has never been greater.

Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet congratulates Olivia, Ronan, Viviane and Ahmed on being selected as the Big20 winners.