10forty

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Kevin and Jota from Dublin Ink at D2 Studios to hear all about their journey into the world of tattooing.

Both artists took very different paths into the industry — Kevin studied art in college, while Jota jumped straight into hands-on experience. We explore their unique routes, what they look for in a tattoo apprentice, the importance of building a strong portfolio, and how they developed their own signature styles.

We also chat about the various types of tattoos they specialise in and their thoughts on the evolving tattoo scene in Ireland.

If you're interested in checking out their work, you can find them on Instagram:

👉 Kevin’s: https://www.instagram.com/pucatatu?igsh=MW01dHowaXd4Z3pkaw==

👉 Jota’s: https://www.instagram.com/casas.tattoo?igsh=MXRsemR5OWhpNzZlYg==

This episode is brought to you by Top Drawer Talent — the Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists.

HERE WE GO!

Interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships:

Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we head to D2 Studios to sit down with Gary Fox, host of The Entrepreneur Experiment podcast, to dive into the fascinating story behind one of Ireland’s most prolific interviewers of founders.

Gary shares his journey from studying in college to working his first job in a phone shop, transitioning into the corporate world, and even spending time as a freelance photojournalist. We discuss the challenges of carving out a career in journalism, landing in software sales, and launching Host Butlers a venture that came to a sudden halt during Covid.

We talk candidly about the highs and lows of startup life: business failures, securing funding, and how Gary now approaches business through bootstrapping.

Gary also shares his big vision for The Entrepreneur Experiment and how he plans to take the podcast global. With over 400 founder interviews under his belt, Gary’s insights into entrepreneurship are second to none.

If you haven’t heard of Gary Fox yet and you’re interested in startups, business, or just great storytelling, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

👉 For more on Gary, check out his website: www.mrgaryfox.com/podcast

This episode was brought to you by Top Drawer Talent — the supply chain & procurement recruitment specialists.

HERE WE GO!

Interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships:

Want to partner with the show? Reach out to us at [email protected]

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we sit down with Susie Kilcoyne to explore her journey through business, beauty, and bold career moves.

We chat through her early academic life, how she thrived in Transition Year with a business project that sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, and how she figured out her next steps after leaving school. From her first job in the shoe department at Brown Thomas to becoming an EA at Accenture, Susie’s career path has been anything but linear.

We dive into the story behind her first company — launching her own makeup brand, pitching on Dragons' Den, and becoming one of the first Irish entrepreneurs to spot and act on a growing beauty trend. Susie shares candidly why she didn’t leave her full-time job sooner, what held her back, and what eventually pushed her forward.

Now, she’s onto her next chapter with Myntly, an exciting new venture she’s building — and she gives us a sneak peek into what’s ahead.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, taking risks, and building brands from scratch, this one’s for you.

🔗 Connect with Susie: Susie Kilcoyne on LinkedIn

HERE WE GO!

Interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we'll get the coffees in! ☕

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we sit down with Keith Grant from Keith Grant Master Butchers for a no-nonsense, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a modern-day butcher.

Keith shares his journey from growing up around sheep and knowing college wasn’t for him, to choosing between becoming a butcher, a baker, or an undertaker. He talks us through his first job in his brother’s shop, learning the ropes of customer service, and how enjoying the work—not watching the clock—led him to his calling.

We dive into how he landed his first role as a butcher, the power of following up, and the steps he took to turn an opportunity into a fully fledged business—complete with a business plan and bank funding.

Keith also sheds light on the current Butcher Apprenticeship: how long it takes, what it involves, and what a typical day looks like inside his shop. Whether you're considering a trade career or just curious, this is a rare insight into a hands-on, fast-paced industry.

We also explore the impact of social media on his business and why he started sharing behind-the-scenes videos online.

Note: This episode contains discussion around animal slaughter and the realities of meat production.

If butchery sounds like a career you’d like to explore, you’re in luck — Keith is currently on the lookout for his next apprentice.

Let’s get into it.

👉 Follow Keith on TikTok to see more of what goes on behind the scenes: @keithgrantmasterbutchers

🛒 You can also place an order online at: www.grantsmasterbutchers.com

🎙️ This episode was brought to you by Top Drawer Talent – the Supply Chain & Procurement recruitment specialists.

👣 Interested in sharing your career journey on the 10Forty Podcast?

Whether you want to talk about your own path, promote a particular career route, or shine a light on a job that deserves attention — we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Drop us a line at [email protected] – we’ll get the coffees in!

🎙️ 10Forty Podcast – Episode with Denise McQuaid

In this week’s episode of the 10Forty Podcast, we sit down with Denise McQuaid, co-founder of Awaken Angels, to talk about her incredible and varied career journey.

From pulling pints in a pub to watching The Devil Wears Prada one too many times, Denise shares how her early experiences shaped her ambitions. She walks us through her move into publishing, heading to Boston on a J1 visa, and landing her first professional role that kept her in the U.S. for six years.

We discuss her rapid career progression—taking on a Managing Director role at just 30, and later stepping into a CEO role at a tech company in China, where she led a team of 100. Denise opens up about the challenges of leading across cultures, overcoming language barriers, and adapting to new technologies and methodologies.

After returning to London, Denise shifted gears into the investment world and co-founded Awaken Angels, a mission-driven platform focused on empowering female founders and investors. We talk about:

• What Awaken Angels does and why it exists

• Who can become an angel investor

• What kind of businesses should seek investment

• The difference between angel investing vs. venture capital

• How they're equipping women to invest through a 9-module educational program

We also touch on what Denise looks for when hiring, her thoughts on remote work, and the unique challenges it presents in today’s world.

An episode packed with insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of inclusive investment.

HERE WE GO!

Interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast?

Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line at [email protected] — we'll get the coffees in! ☕

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Claire and Siobhan from The Grafton Barber for a two-part episode exploring the world of barbering and education

In Part 1, Claire walks us through her journey—from working Saturdays in a local salon to becoming a successful barber turned entrepreneur with over 17 years of industry experience. She shares what she looks for when hiring barbers today, the challenges and rewards of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and her deep passion for the craft and the business.

In Part 2, we head to The Grafton Academy to chat with Siobhan about their intensive barbering course. She breaks down everything from how to enroll and what the course involves, to the hands-on and theory-based training provided. We discuss cutting models’ hair, understanding skin and hair types, mastering the tools, and the importance of continuous assessment and final exams. Siobhan also talks us through the guaranteed 6-week work placement after the course, and how her teaching qualifications help her support all learning styles.

Whether you're thinking about becoming a barber or just curious about the training and mindset behind the chair, this episode offers a fascinating look into the skill, dedication, and community that define The Grafton Barber.

💈 Thinking of becoming a barber? Start your journey with The Grafton Barber’s School of Excellence:

👉 https://graftonbarbers.com/school-of-excellence/

In this episode of the 10Forty Podcast, we sit down with Joe Doyle – entrepreneur, property investor, business mentor, and a man on a mission to make €100 million.

We dive into Joe’s career journey, the pivots he’s made along the way, and his experience stepping into the spotlight on Dragon’s Den. Joe opens up about what that process was really like and what he looks for when hiring, both for his businesses and his mentorship programme.

We explore the ideal time someone should reach out to Joe about joining his mentorship, and how he got started on social media with his popular "Two-Minute Business Tips."

Joe also shares his daily routine, interview process, what he’s currently looking for in new hires, and breaks down his personal motto: "Mind, Body, Wallet", all driven by his core philosophy: "Do More. Get Better."

Big thanks to Joe for hosting us at his office, and to his cameraman Peirce McDonagh from The Personal Brand Agency for the slick setup and production on the day.

🔗 Website: joedoyle.ie

📲 Instagram: @joedoyleentrepreneur

🎧 EPISODE DROP!

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by the one and only Cal McIlwaine — events guy turned FIFO influencer who’s helped hundreds land jobs in the Australian mines. 🌏⛏️

You’ve probably seen Cal on TikTok, where his behind-the-scenes FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) content exploded after he started posting videos to show his family what life was like working remotely in the mines. Spoiler alert: things took off fast. 🚀

In this episode, we chat about:

• His college days and background in events

• Being the go-to guy for tickets and gigs

• Working in Lidl and doing Amazon deliveries on weekends

• The decision to move to Australia — visas, saving money, and planning the trip

• What to expect when you arrive, from certifications to job hunting

• How he landed a FIFO job as a serviceman — fuelling machinery and maintaining hydraulic arms

• Writing and launching his ultimate FIFO job guide for people on working holiday visas

• And loads more…

🛠️ Want to get into FIFO? Cal’s guide breaks it all down:

👉 The Ultimate Guide to Getting a FIFO Job on a WHV

🎥 Follow Cal for more FIFO tips, behind-the-scenes content, and inspiration:

Instagram: @calmcilwaine_fifo

TikTok: @calmcilwaine___fifo

YouTube: Cal McIlwaine

Hit play and let’s get into it! 🎙️

Here we go

#Visa #Flights #FIFO #career #movingtoAustralia

In this week’s episode, we catch up with David O’Donoghue over a Teams call to explore his unique career journey.

From studying Business Information Systems and gaining work experience in the US, to working in corporate Ireland, David made the bold decision to leave the office life behind and pursue a completely different path—joining An Garda Síochána.

We dive into:

• His early aspirations and university experience
• Working in the US and Ireland’s corporate world
• Why he left it all to become a Garda
• The recruitment and training process
• His decision to move to Australia and the steps involved in joining the Western Australia Police Force

David also shares the ups and downs of changing careers and relocating across the world, offering a raw and honest account of scratching the itch —even when it’s not the "safe" choice.

On top of all that, David is also an online Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach, helping people get in shape and prep for fitness tests.

💪 Need help with your own fitness journey?

Check out his website: www.davidodcoaching.com

Follow him on TikTok: @davidodcoaching

Follow him: https://www.instagram.com/davidodcoaching?igsh=bGdwZGhtZ3o3cnJ0