Biography
Fionnuala O'Driscoll's career began in organisational psychology. After graduating from University College Dublin with a BA in Applied Psychology, she joined Accenture's Talent & Organisation practice, working across the Dublin and Manchester offices for nine years. Her portfolio there focused primarily on learning architecture and leadership development for large-scale change programmes in the financial services sector.
She left Accenture in 2016 to pursue accreditation with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London — one of the few EU-recognised mediation training providers — completing her qualification in 2017. She subsequently set up O'Driscoll Workplace Solutions, based in Manchester, offering conflict resolution, workplace investigation support, and bespoke management training.
Her practice has since facilitated more than 200 formal and informal mediation processes across financial services, NHS trusts, and local government bodies. She is a regular speaker at the CIPD Northern England conference and contributed a case study chapter to the 2022 CEDR publication « Mediation in Complex Organisations ».
Outside formal mediation, she delivers half-day workshops on psychological safety for senior leadership teams, drawing on Amy Edmondson's research framework adapted to UK SME realities.
Perspective
“Organisations that treat conflict as an HR emergency keep missing the point: nine times out of ten it's a structural problem, not a personality one.”
Areas of expertise
- Workplace mediation (CEDR accredited, 2017)
- Conflict resolution in regulated sectors
- Psychological safety for leadership teams
- L&D architecture (9 years, Accenture)
- CEDR contributor, « Mediation in Complex Organisations », 2022
Detailed background
CEDR-accredited mediator (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, London) in 2017, following nine years in Accenture's Talent & Organisation practice across Dublin and Manchester, and a BA in Applied Psychology from University College Dublin. Facilitated 200+ formal mediations in financial services, NHS trusts, and local government. Regular speaker at the CIPD Northern England conference.
Training & certifications
CEDR Accredited Mediator, 2017BA Applied Psychology — University College DublinContributor, « Mediation in Complex Organisations », CEDR, 2022
Published articles
- Top 10 soft skills in 2026
- 5 leadership styles: when to use them
- 5 mediation techniques for managers
- Nonviolent communication at work: guide
- Team conflicts: 7 manager mistakes
- Intergenerational conflicts at work
- Real cost of unresolved conflicts
- Active listening: key manager skill
- Soft skills training through simulation
- Remote conflict management guide
- Workplace conflict management guide
- New manager: succeed in 90 days
- Measuring managerial skills objectively
- Soft skills training ROI: key figures
- Interactive simulation vs role play
- Types of workplace conflicts explained