Introduction to Pearsana
Icon pearsana About us

Everything you need to know

about Pearsana

Pearsana connects students, institutions, and employers through a trusted digital ecosystem that empowers people to own, verify, and share achievements with confidence and ease.

A message from our Founder

Pearsana’s Core Mission

Gareth Maguire, Founder & CEO of Pearsana and Inspirus Group, shares the vision driving Pearsana’s mission.

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Trusted by forward-thinking partners across education, technology, and employment — redefining trust, access, and opportunity.


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Our Values

How We Work

Our values shape what we do — and how we do it.

Empowerment

Empowerment

Enabling individuals to own their verified achievements and the confidence to share them securely.

Innovation

Innovation

Evolving our technology and ideas to redefine how education and employment connect across the world.

Integrity

Integrity

Acting with transparency, honesty, and respect in every interaction — building trust that lasts.

Excellence

Excellence

Delivering products and experiences that set the standard for quality, security, and innovation.

Service

Service

Leading with purpose by supporting our partners and users through care, clarity, and genuine collaboration.

Meet our team

Our team brings together expertise in education, technology, and design — united by a shared goal to empower individuals and institutions through innovation.

Gareth Maguire Chief Executive Officer & Founder Based in Northern Ireland, Gareth has an extensive background spanning international education, recruitment, and nonprofit leadership. Before founding Pearsana, he helped universities across the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S. attract and support global talent—driving student mobility and institutional partnerships. He also led major transatlantic youth initiatives, raising millions to create educational and employment opportunities, and produced the first-ever NCAA basketball tournament in Europe. Through Pearsana, Gareth continues that mission—bridging education and employment through trusted digital innovation. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his wife, three daughters, and their dog, Pippen.
Donal Keane Chief Operating & Commercial Officer With over 25 years in fintech consulting, Donal brings deep experience in scaling innovation, strategic partnerships, and governance. Before joining Pearsana, he served as Commercial Director at First Derivatives, where he drove global growth and client strategy. At Pearsana, he helps steer the company’s mission to redefine digital identity through its self-sovereign blockchain wallet—initially transforming how institutions manage and verify education credentials. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, sports, and time with his family.
Neil Darragh Chief Growth Officer Neil leads client engagement, partnerships, and product strategy at Pearsana, working with education and technology partners to build trust and enhance mobility. Previously with PwC and First Derivatives, he specialized in financial crime and data-driven transformation. His cross-functional leadership helps align commercial strategy with product development and customer success. Outside of work, he enjoys running, golf and spending time with his wife and two children.
Anna Maguire Director of Marketing & Product Experience Anna leads product management and marketing strategy at Pearsana, bringing a global perspective and a hands-on approach to growth and delivery. A former international student-athlete in the U.S., she began her career in international business management, specializing in supply chain operations. At Pearsana, she guides product innovation and drives expansion across the UAE and U.S. markets. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, fashion, and spending time with family and friends—especially her sisters.
Matthew Oates Director of Platform Engineering & Security Matthew leads engineering at Pearsana, building secure, scalable systems that connect users and institutions through trusted digital identity. With a background in product development, infrastructure strategy, and technical leadership across fintech and startup environments, he combines deep technical expertise with a practical approach to innovation. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and producing electronic music across a range of styles.
Michael Keagan Lead Solutions Architect Michael designs and delivers Pearsana’s digital wallet experiences, combining full-stack development with scalable system architecture. He plays a key role in shaping product direction and ensuring secure, high-performance deployments. Outside of work, he enjoys restoring classic cars and hands-on engineering projects.

Join us!

Open positions

Want to work with some of the best global talent? Check out our open position and join the team!

Business Development

Growth & Operations Associate (Graduate)

We’re looking for an ambitious graduate to join us as our first Growth & Operations Associate — a unique, hands-on role at the heart of our startup.
Hybrid
Full-Time
The Big Picture

Inspirus Group

Discover our other entities.

Inspirus Group

Inspirus Group

Inspirus Group is the parent company of IGE, ISM, and Pearsana, uniting global education and sports initiatives under one vision of opportunity.

Inspirus Sports

Inspirus Sports

ISM manages international NCAA tournaments and sports tours for teams and student-athletes worldwide.

Inspirus Global Education

Inspirus Global Education

IGE offers personalized guidance for students and families pursuing international study opportunities.