Humans of YSI: Jack Dooley

Young Social Innovators Turns 25!

As Young Social Innovators celebrates 25 years of youth-led change, #HumansOfYSI continues to spotlight the people behind 190,000 young changemakers.

This week, we hear from a former participant from Tullamore College whose early idea for sustainability grew into an award-winning innovation and a lifelong journey in leadership and enterprise. Today, he works with EY in New York, supporting international investment into Ireland.

Fifth Feature: Jack Dooley

YSI Year: 2014
School: Tullamore College
Project: Greener Globe

Briefly describe your YSI project. What issue were you trying to address?
We designed a water efficient shower head to combat water and electricity wastage in domestic and commercial settings. We integrated LED lights into the face of the shower head to work in a traffic light system, with the intention of cutting down shower times for users and helping preserve water.

What are you doing now?
We continued the Greener Globe venture long after YSI ended and won numerous other competitions along the way. We continued the business throughout our college years but eventually, both my business partner Cian Fogarty and I decided to focus on our final year university studies. I studied commerce in UCD and found a particular interest in Corporate Tax Advisory for financial services companies. I joined EY and studied to become a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor. I now work for EY in New York, focusing on attracting US investment managers and funds to Ireland.

Do you see any connection between your YSI experience and where you are today?
Absolutely! YSI was my first real experience of managing a project, building business plans and pitch decks, presenting in front of crowds and so much more. The experience from YSI set me up with a brilliant foundation to use throughout university and my career after that. Working as a team, dealing with pressure situations, public speaking, project management, the list goes on and on.

Impact participating in YSI had personally:
A huge impact - it was the highlight of my school years and allowed me to develop skills that I will use for life. 

Skills or values from YSI that stay with you today:
Have confidence and belief in your own abilities, teamwork makes the dream work and anything is possible with some creativity and work ethic.tworking skills & leadership!

Advice to young people starting their YSI journey now:
Really commit to your project and team, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

YSI changed my outlook on myself and my abilities and is the foundation of anything I have achieved in my professional career since. It provided plenty of challenges that turned into great opportunities. Really commit to your project and team, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Jack’s story shows how early experiences of youth-led change can stay with a person long after the project ends.

What began in Tullamore College as a sustainability idea grew into a defining experience of leadership, teamwork and resilience. Those lessons didn’t end with YSI, they continued to shape how he works and leads today with EY in New York.

It’s a reminder that when young people are given the space to lead, the impact doesn’t stay in the classroom. It travels with them.

And it’s why this work continues to matter.