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Behind the Numbers: Meet Léan Hannigan, LearnUpon’s VP of Finance
When Léan Hannigan first encountered LearnUpon, two things immediately stood out: its Irish roots and the vision of its leadership.
“There aren’t many Irish-founded SaaS companies based in Dublin,” she says. “That really attracted me. And when I met Derek and Brendan, and then the rest of the leadership team, especially Des, I was really inspired by the direction they were taking the business.”
Now as VP of Finance, Léan plays a key role in shaping that vision, balancing strategy with structure, and growth with operational excellence.
The Pull of Purpose and Variety
What keeps Léan energized in her role? No two days are ever the same.
“I like that my role is very different day to day. I manage a diverse team across locations—from Ireland to Greece—and many of us work remotely for part of the week,” she explains. “We cover everything from pricing and product launches to budget processes and annual pay reviews.”
Léan also sits on LearnUpon’s senior leadership team, where she works alongside other VPs and executives to align strategy with financial goals. “Helping figure out what decisions mean for the top or bottom line is something I really enjoy.”
Living the Culture Code
A big part of what drew Léan to LearnUpon—and what’s kept her here—is the company culture.
“The Culture Code isn’t just words on a page. We really try to live it every day,” she says. “That inspires me. People here are humble, driven, and deeply collaborative. Everyone genuinely wants what’s best for LearnUpon.”
Léan points to the company’s approach to diversity as another strength—one that goes beyond surface-level demographics. “It’s not just about race, gender, or color. It’s about different perspectives—whether you’re a customer, a prospect, or an employee. That kind of diversity helps us think differently and make better decisions.”
A Milestone Moment: Scaling Up
One of Léan’s proudest achievements since joining LearnUpon was leading the finance team through a major system upgrade.
“When I joined, we were on a very small ERP system. Within 12 months, we’d migrated to NetSuite—part of our scaling efforts to prepare for the next phase of growth,” she says. “It was a huge undertaking for the finance team, and I’m really proud we delivered it in such a short timeframe.”
Beyond that, Léan values the cross-functional projects that take her team outside of the finance function. “It’s a great way to connect with business partners across the company and expand our impact.”
Flexibility, Trust, and Career Growth
One topic Lean speaks about passionately is flexibility—both as a personal value and a workplace principle.
“I wanted to be able to do the school run every day—and I do, except when I’m in Dublin. That flexibility means I can also make time for things like sports day. I make the time up elsewhere, and there’s a real trust there with my manager.”
Her advice for others? Be open and honest about what you need from a job.
“Talk to your manager about what you want in your career. Setting those expectations—on both sides—means you can work together to build a path forward.”
She also encourages women in particular to advocate for themselves more confidently. “Sometimes we’re not firm enough in asking for what we want. But at LearnUpon, there’s opportunity. It’s just about asking, communicating, and being clear.”
Interested in working with leaders like Léan?
Check out our open roles and discover what life at LearnUpon is all about.