“Innovators and disruptors welcome.” This was the quote outside of the Trinity College of Business Administration that I noticed as we were embarking on our bus tour of Dublin for the day. I thought the quote was not only impactful as a marketing slogan for a business school, but also especially fitting for Dublin, a city that has historically been characterized by rebellion. 

On our walking tour of Dublin, I took note of several historical figures that made an impact on Ireland and the world as a whole. Most notably, I was especially inspired by the story of Constance Markiewicz, an Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, socialist, and suffragist. Markievicz was the first female elected to the Westminister Parliament and the first cabinet member in Western Europe. Before that, Markievivicz fought for Ireland’s independence from British rule. As a result, was sentenced to death and also spent several years in prison. To get more women to the join the effort, she even convinced women to sell their jewelry for guns. 

We also visited the Quaker Meeting House where the American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, came to hold meetings about the horrors of slavery. This history has apparently only been talked about recently ever since Obama visited Dublin in 2011. 

I had never heard of Markiewicz before, and I never knew of Dublin’s importance to Frederick Douglass before the tour today. Both of these figures fought for freedom against oppressive states, and their stories continue to be important today as we see that history is constantly repeating itself. Being a future business leader, I always think that is important to be thinking about pushing the status quo in order to bring about greater social good. Learning about all the “rebels” who fought for what they believed in gives me inspiration to do the same in the business world.