CORK

Federica started at Apple Cork in a graduate role, which allowed her to finish her master’s degree before relocating from Italy. “It was the first time I moved outside my country for work, so it was quite a change.”

But Federica quickly adjusted to her new home. “Cork is great. There are a lot of pubs and restaurants — on the weekend, I like to go to brunch or go hiking. Ireland in general is full of beautiful places to visit.”

One thing that helped Federica feel welcomed right away was her team. “We all get along really well — I think it’s just part of the culture at Apple Cork. It’s a very friendly, relaxed environment.” Federica finds it to be the perfect setting for innovation. “I think it encourages you to be yourself and to feel comfortable sharing your ideas.”

Federica also feels empowered, specifically as a woman in the engineering field. “When I first got here, I was introduced to a lot of groups on campus, like Women@Apple and Women in Engineering. And within the past few years, I’ve seen more and more female engineers continue to join our team. We have a very strong community of women.”

Rob currently manages large teams in both Cork and Barcelona — but when he first joined Apple Cork nearly 12 years ago, his role was something entirely different.

“It’s been a journey to get here. I started as a business analyst, worked towards a Reseller Operations manager role, and then continued to explore departments, where I gained a lot of experience and exposure to leadership.”

It was leadership that motivated Rob to take on the role he’s in today. “Managers really get behind folks and encourage them to reach outside their comfort zone.” For Rob, this meant exploring the range of options available at the Cork campus. “Here, you have so many opportunities — to expand upwards or across other departments. And because of the number of teams, the number of opportunities is limitless.”

What really stands out to Rob is that, no matter where your career path takes you at Apple Cork, you’ll find the support you need to thrive. “For those who want to progress and develop further, there’s an unbelievable network here to inspire and guide you.”

Karen still remembers the first day she walked onto the Apple Cork campus. “You look around and you see that it’s a different world you’re stepping into. It was so diverse and I felt so free to be myself — I think everyone comes here to be themselves.”

Karen describes herself as being “quite shy” when she first started, but always felt supported by her colleagues. “Any time I asked a question or needed help, nobody ever said no. People will always give you their time here, and that’s a precious commodity.”

Her managers have also provided continued support for Karen, as well as valuable guidance throughout her career. “Their focus is always on ‘Where do you work well?’ and ‘Where are you shining?’ And I don’t always know the answer, so they’ve really helped open doors for me.”

In fact, senior management encouraged Karen to apply for her current position. “I wasn’t sure if training manager was the right role for me, but they saw certain skills I had and thought I’d be a great fit.” For Karen, this acknowledgment goes beyond professional recognition. “When someone sees something in you that you didn’t see before, it’s very impactful, very powerful.”

When Roberto came to Cork with his family 10 years ago to join Apple, he saw it as a pivotal move in his career journey. “This is a place where you can prove yourself. Coming here allowed me to take a different kind of step in my career — a step that helped me move forward.”

Now a manager on the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) team, Roberto credits much of his professional development to connecting with those around him. “You can always reach out to people and build a rapport because they’re all willing to help. It’s something that is quite unique and important here, and to me it’s something that has been critical to my growth.”

Roberto also connects with others through Diversity Network Associations (DNAs), employee-led groups celebrating culturally under-represented communities. “I’m an ally for the Women@Apple DNA. I feel very close to this group because I have four daughters and feel strongly about women’s issues.”

Getting to know his colleagues at Apple Cork has had a big impact on Roberto, and he’s happy that it’s something everyone can experience. “You have the opportunity to feel connected in so many different ways here. And at the end of the day, it’s all about the people.”