Amber O’Grady of Horse Racing Ireland speaks to IMAGE about her daily routines, work-life balance, and the magical feeling of bringing people together through racing.
My name is Amber O’Grady, working in the Ownership department of Horse Racing Ireland. I learnt my trade working in both London and Dublin in sports marketing and sponsorship. I’ve worked across lots of different sports, from boxing to motorbikes, triathlon to horse racing, and lots in between.
What I loved about working in sponsorship was that I got to learn about so many different areas, from event management to PR, branding, sales and business development. Jack of all trades, master of none!
I’ve been both agency and client-facing, and I also worked for myself for 10 years, mainly coordinating specific events, which allowed me to use all my skills. I’m a control freak, so overseeing everything from selling event sponsorship to deciding where the portaloos should be situated suited my personality!
In 2017, Horse Racing Ireland approached me to help set up their Ownership Department. It was a big decision to go from working for myself back into full-time employment. My remit is the retention and acquisition of racehorse owners. Again, it is a job that rolls all my skillsets into one and allows me to work in a sport that I truly love.
There is a strong customer relations element to the role, looking after existing owners in the sport, but we also market the concept of racehorse ownership domestically and internationally, host events to introduce new people to the sport, and bring people together to enjoy racing. I’m selling the dream!
Tell us about your weekday morning routine.
My alarm goes off at 6am, but I’ve a terrible habit of pressing the snooze button! I exercise first thing every morning; 30–40 minutes depending on when I manage to crawl out of bed. I can’t leave the kids to go to a gym, so I do anything from lifting weights with Joe Wicks in the sitting room to taking the dogs for a walk. It is hard to get motivated at times, but I never regret it.
From 7am, it’s about everyone else — showers, breakfast, packed lunches and out the door. It sounds very organised, but no matter how hard I try, I’m always a tiny bit late in the morning!
I don’t have breakfast first thing — I have a cup of hot water and lemon, and I take the supplement Sisterly. It’s perfect for me as it has everything I need in one sachet. I couldn’t be faffing around with lots of tablets. I tend to hold off eating breakfast until mid-morning — my go-to is yogurt, berries and seeds.
I try not to have a coffee until after 10am, but then the floodgates open — I love coffee and drink way too much. If I haven’t exercised in the morning, it really affects the flow of my day. It balances me and energises me.
Is there anything you strive to do in the morning but have yet to crack? (Eg meditation)
Meditation — that made me laugh! That would be idyllic, and I have dabbled here and there, but if I’m honest, not pressing the snooze button would be a great start. I think I’m a rock star if I’m out the door vaguely on time, get everyone where they need to be, and remember my office fob! That is a win in my world!
What time do you start work and what do you tackle first?
Officially 9am, but if I can, I usually log in earlier to go through emails when it’s quiet and have a flick through the racing papers to see what’s happening in the industry. It’s easier to do when I’m working from home.
On the days I’m at my computer, I try to set my priorities first thing just to give the day some structure. There are always curveballs that take you off in different directions, but if the intention is there, you’ve some chance.
Are you working from home/a workplace/workshop/hybrid? Tell us more about that…
A bit of both. Officially, we are two days in the office, but I usually go in three days. After working for myself for years, I’m very disciplined when it comes to working from home. That space can be great when you need quiet time to work on strategy or have lots of online meetings, but I find being with colleagues helps creativity.
We’ve a small team, so it is good to be around other departments and understand what is happening in the wider business. It is also good for the younger team members. It is hard for them to learn when they are working from home.
Tell us about your working day.
Typically, we’re office-based; however, no week is the same. The team or I could be anywhere during the week, from a trainer’s yard filming content early in the morning to a networking event, a race meeting, an event location site visit or meeting an owner. It is so varied.
Racing is seven days a week — it’s an entertainment industry. Our work time is our clients’ leisure time, so set hours don’t really exist. I also travel with work, mainly to the UK and US for events or race meetings. You could say I’m all in, but I was brought up in racing, and I’ve always worked in sport and events, so I’m used to working outside traditional hours.
My social life and work life are very blurred. Outside of work, I run a racing syndicate with a friend of mine called Glamour and Glory. We brought 35 women together and have two horses in training. I do it for fun, but it’s obviously in the industry I work in, so there are many overlaps.
What work tasks energise you the most?
It’s 100% bringing people together and seeing how they connect. People get into racehorse ownership through friends and family and like to partner up with like-minded people. My job is very much about introducing people to the concept of ownership and to the people already involved, be it trainers or existing owners.
It’s all about finding that connection. The events we host bring existing and potential owners together, and I just love when people connect and find common ground. You can feel the vibe and energy in the room.
I also love when I’m racing and see the reaction of owners when they have a winner. It’s a magic feeling.
Which do you find most draining and how do you handle that?
Oh, the admin! I work for a semi-state body, which is very different to the commercial world. I try to put aside an afternoon once or twice a month to tackle that side of things.
How do you manage your energy levels during a busy work week?
I thrive on being busy. The key to survival during a busy period is being organised — I like a plan. I’ve got better in recent years at delegating. The buck stops with me, but we share the workload and I trust my team.
What is a highlight of your working week?
It really depends on the week, to be honest, but when I see a new owner having their first winner, or a trainer happy with a new video we’ve made for them, or some really great content getting good traction on our channels, then it’s a pretty good week.
How would you describe your eating habits during a working week?
I try to be as healthy as possible. When you’re on the road, that isn’t always possible, but at this stage of life, I know what foods I like and what suits me. I try not to drink alcohol during the week, but some weeks I’m better than others with that rule!
I eat breakfast late, so I don’t always have lunch, and I like to try and have supper with the kids if our schedules allow. It’s a lovely time to catch up and have a chat.
What happens after work?
You name it, it happens — rugby, football, GAA, hitching up a horse box, the endless laundry! My time is not my own!
What is your nighttime routine?
It’s my time! I have a bath, read and switch off. I find it hard to sleep if I haven’t given myself time to wind down. I need a little morning and evening time to myself to stay sane!
Tell us about your beauty routine.
I’m pretty low-maintenance when it comes to beauty routines. I could count the number of facials I’ve had on two hands. I am conscious about using a really good SPF. At night, I use a really hydrating moisturiser or balm. I like to lock in all the goodness overnight.
I do have lots of moles, so I get them mapped once a year. After that, it’s the basics — cleanse, serum, moisturise.
What is your most important self-care ritual?
It has to be the bath and/or fresh air – both settle me. I listen to podcasts when I walk — the themes are usually mental health, positivity, reducing anxiety and stress.
I think stress is one of the biggest disease triggers, so anything we can do to reduce our stress levels is important.
What are the biggest challenges you face in the day-to-day juggle of business and life?
I think the same as everyone — carving out time for what is important and managing the guilt when it doesn’t work as you’d hoped. Juggling work and life can be hard. It’s a challenge not to feel like you’ve failed when the balls drop, but that is inevitable and we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves.
I had some mentoring a while ago. The aim was to look at my career and where I wanted to go in the future. What came out of it was really surprising — I came out of it feeling good about where I am career-wise right now. I set some personal goals for sure, but the mentoring allowed me to step back, look at what I’d achieved in my career to date, and be proud of that.
We’re always looking at what’s next, but sometimes we need to sit in our space and work out whether we are happy and fulfilled where we are and, if not, what changes we can make to alter that. It might not mean a big move — it could just be a small adjustment.
I don’t think the Irish are wired to clap themselves on the back, but sometimes we need to be a bit more American and high-five each other for achieving and surviving the juggle!
What does your ideal weekend look like?
Oh, so many lovely things in my perfect weekend — is it okay if I pack it all in?
I’d be on a sideline with the kids on Saturday morning, and then I’d like to go to an evening race meeting and have a winner with my syndicate, Glamour and Glory.
On Sunday, I’d like the sun to come out for a lovely lunch party with family and friends — young and old — in the garden at a big, long, pretty table. Lots of lovely flowers, food, wine and chats. Wonderfully organised chaos.
I might need Monday off, mind you.
If you think about replenishing your energy and creativity, what does this for you?
When I travel with work, I find it really helps me get a different perspective. I usually come back brimming with new ideas and reinvigorated.
Have you any tips from your daily rhythm that you’d love to share with other women in business?
I would say don’t be scared to step away from the daily rhythm sometimes.
We can get bogged down in the day-to-day and it can be overwhelming and draining.
Sometimes we can be more productive when we stop answering emails, block out the diary and use the time to clear the decks — or just go for a walk and clear your mind for half an hour.
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