Caroline Sherry

How has being a member of the Institute of Directors Ireland (IoD) supported your career?

I joined IoD Ireland three years ago, and it has been an invaluable resource. At this stage in my career, having an external network to discuss industry challenges is vital. The issues facing businesses are often similar, and IoD Ireland provides a fantastic gateway to the Irish business community, offering insightful reports, formal learning, webinars, and in-person events. It has also helped me stay ahead of evolving regulations, which is crucial in my role as both CFO and a board member.

You took an unconventional path to becoming CFO. Can you tell us about your journey?

I came into finance through a non-traditional route. I initially studied science and aspired to work in the medical field, but my interest in how businesses operate led me to accountancy. I started my finance career at PwC, which provided critical leadership and people management experience. From there, I worked at Ulster Bank during the financial crisis—a huge learning curve—before moving to Glanbia Health and Nutrition, where I gained hands-on experience working with functional leaders. In 2019, I joined Hostelworld as group financial controller and was promoted to CFO more than a year later.

Hostelworld, like many travel businesses, faced challenges during the pandemic. How did you navigate that?

The disruption was massive. Coming out of it, we launched a new strategy in 2022 focused on social travel, which has been transformative. It has accelerated our growth by attracting more customers through our app, and we are increasingly pivoting to becoming a travel social media business. My role extends well beyond finance - overseeing compliance, operations, strategic planning, and investor relations. A CFO today must be a storyteller, translating complex financial data into clear insights for stakeholders.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are high on your agenda. Why is this so important to you?

I’ve always been deeply passionate about diversity and inclusion. As a female chief financial officer of a stock exchange-listed company, I am unfortunately in the minority. Advocating for DEI is a fundamental part of how I lead. It must go beyond policies – it has to be embedded in the organisation’s culture, lived and visible every day. The next generation of talent will demand that.

You are involved in gender balance initiatives like the 30% Club and Balance for Better Business. What impact are these having?

Balance for Better Business is an important initiative in Ireland that promotes gender balance at senior leadership and board levels. It works closely with government and industry leaders to help businesses embed diversity strategies into their governance frameworks. Building a diverse talent pool is key to driving change at leadership levels. Progress may be slow, but we are moving forward. Hybrid working has been one of the most significant shifts in the past century, and we must ensure we capitalise on that momentum.

Sustainability is another area of focus for you. How does this impact your role at Hostelworld?

Without a doubt, sustainability is one of the biggest shifts in recent years. We’ve seen a significant increase in reporting and governance, including frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and now the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Sustainability is particularly critical in the travel sector. Hostels already have among the lowest carbon footprints, with 80% lower emissions than hotel rooms in the same area. We want to help hostels evaluate and communicate their sustainability efforts to customers and stakeholders through initiatives like our Staircase to Sustainability framework with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

What’s your focus for the future as CFO?

The role of a CFO has evolved significantly - it’s no longer just about the numbers. It’s about shaping strategy and ensuring the business is resilient, responsible, and continuously innovating. My key focus is balancing financial performance with long-term sustainability and inclusivity. Success isn’t just about financial results; it’s about building a future-proof, inclusive, and sustainable business - one that delivers value to our people, shareholders, and the wider industry.