Sean held a number of positions at Smurfitt Graduate School of business over his 20-year career there. Most recently he was Director of Marketing, a role he held for 11 years until he retired in 2015. Prior to joining Smurfitt he was Director of Marketing at BUPA Ireland where he was involved in its launch in 1996. He also had significant experience in the food sector having served as a GM and Marketing Director in Waterford Foods (now Glanbia).

When it comes to leadership, he saw the good, the bad and the ugly through his 50-year career.

Show Notes:

1.02 – Sean and his career journey – 1.56 – Good and great leaders – 2.41 – Clarity of purpose is critical – 4.36 – Education is creating better (but perhaps inexperienced) leaders – 5.31 – Leaders sometimes have to make tough calls – 8.41 – Your people know more about customers than you do – 10.01 - Connection to strategy and strategic planning – 12.16 – Creating engaging teams – 13.22 – Management by walking about – 15.41 – Don't tell lies! – 18.11 – Avoiding reputational impact – 20.11 – Leading through change –23.31 – Sean's leadership role models – 26.46 –Sean's advice for his 20-year-old self – know what you don't know.