Business Builders

*This episode was originally aired in November 2021*

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Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

I'm thrilled to welcome Dan Hobbs this week, Co-Founder and CEO of Protex, a software company using artificial intelligence to track safety for industrial employees.

Dan and his Co-Founder Ciarán are recent graduates of Y-Combinator, a start-up incubator based in San Francisco, boasting an enviable track record of finding the next big companies in tech.

Other notable alumni include Airbnb, Dropbox, Reddit, and Stripe!

In this conversation, we cover a host of topics, from Dan’s experience applying to and going through the Y-Combinator programme, raising money from some of the world’s most successful and best-known entrepreneurs, to Dan’s first start-up, which he started at the tender age of 22, and sold a few years later in 2019!

Find out more about Protex: https://www.protex.ai/

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

*This episode was originally aired in May 2021*

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

This week I caught up with Pat Caslin. Pat is currently CFO of Exit/Entry and serves as Chairman of Capventus.

In this conversation, we do talk about Pat’s career in business, but I think more importantly, Pat tells us about how a devastating diagnosis led him to discovering Stoic Philosophy and how this diagnosis has ultimately been a gift that has changed his values.

Pat talks about dealing with adversity in life and how to use it to your advantage, and the big question of what is actually important in the end?

Find out more and connect with Pat here: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/1patcaslin

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

*This episode was originally aired in May 2021*

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

Welcome back to Season 4 of Irish Business Builders! I'm excited to be back, and share more inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, creators and thinkers this season. 

Kicking things off is this wonderful conversation I had with Suzie McAdam.

In this conversation, Suzie talks about failing as an architect before discovering her true passion - Interior Design.

We also talk about Suzie’s journey from start-up designer to managing director of a now, much larger business, and the impact of appearing on Home of the Year and becoming a household name in Irish design.

Find out more about Suzie McAdam Design here: https://www.suziemcadam.com/

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

*This episode was originally aired in February 2021*

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

This week I chatted to Niall Wall, Executive Chairman of Enva – a leading provider of waste management and recycling solutions, operating across 30 facilities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, employing over 15 hundred people.

Between 2006 to 2016, Niall was the CEO of the The Ardagh Group, an Irish packaging PLC listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Over that ten year period as CEO, Niall and the team grew the business from €650 million to €8 billion in annual revenues.

In this conversation, Niall talks about investing in large public companies, what the key strategies were when growing Ardagh, and the learnings he gained running his very first start-up – a quail farm, in his early 20’s.

Find out more about Enva here: https://enva.com/

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #84, I talk to Shay Lally, the man behind the successful social media channel 'Houses to Restore.' Starting the channel during the pandemic, Shay has amassed over 67,000 followers by sharing insights into home renovations and property sales in Ireland. Shay's remarkable journey involves founding The Mobile Music School in 2011, which teaches music to students across 150 primary schools in Ireland, and rebranding his contracting business to 'Renew,' focusing on house renovations and commercial refurbishments. Shay's diverse career spans from playing percussion with the RTE Concert Orchestra to working as a qualified quantity surveyor and managing family businesses. This wide-ranging conversation explores Shay's early start, the challenges of running multiple businesses, and his ultimate aim of moving into property development.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH SHAY:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #83, I interview Sean Moran, CEO of the Home Project Centre Group. Sean shares the story of his career, from growing up in Crumlin, Dublin, to becoming a successful entrepreneur and business leader. He discusses the challenges of navigating the recession, dealing with NAMA, and executing a management buyout to save and grow the business. Sean also talks about his business philosophy, the importance of doing the right thing, and how he plans to step into a chairman role to focus on strategy and future growth.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH SEAN:

LinkedIn

Website

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #82, I talk to Will Meara, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Bingo Loco. Will shares the journey of how Bingo Loco transformed from a spontaneous event in Dublin to a global phenomenon with over 200 sold-out shows weekly across multiple countries. The discussion delves into the challenges of scaling a business, creating a unique competitive advantage, and the importance of investing in talent and operations. Will also offers insights into the dynamics of working with co-founders, the lessons learned from his family, and the future growth plans for Bingo Loco.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH WILL:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Bingo Loco

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #81, I speak with Harry Girvan, the founder and CEO of the Simplicity Group and MANTIS, about his journey from salesman to successful entrepreneur. Harry discusses the challenges and learnings he faced while bootstrapping his business, emphasising the importance of culture and loyalty within his team. He also introduces his new venture, MANTIS, which aims to solve the problem of high commercial fleet insurance costs through advanced smart camera systems. The episode delves into Harry's decision to seek external investment for the first time to scale MANTIS and expands on the role of the Entrepreneurs Organisation in his journey.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH HARRY:

LinkedIn

MANTIS

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #80, I talk with Brian Honan, founder and executive chair of Fortus Group. We discuss the challenges and strategies involved in growing a business, focusing on acquiring and integrating companies across the UK, Ireland, and Europe. Brian shares his unique journey from an accidental entrepreneur with Osmosis Technologies to leading Fortus, highlighting critical aspects of leadership, culture, and resilience in the face of significant health issues, including a recent ADHD diagnosis. This episode provides valuable insights on scaling operations, maintaining a family-oriented culture, and navigating the complexities of a buy-and-build strategy with a mix of equity and debt financing.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH BRIAN:

LinkedIn

Website

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.

Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.

In Series 9, Episode #79, I introduce Rani Dabrai, an executive coach and Ireland's only certified implementer of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Rani discusses her journey from founding MissMoneypenny, a virtual assistance business, to becoming a pivotal figure in EOS implementation. She shares key concepts of EOS including vision, traction, and healthy business practices, and emphasises the critical roles of visionaries and integrators within entrepreneurial teams. Rani also reflects on the personal challenges she faced while scaling her business and offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs seeking both financial growth and personal fulfilment.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH RANI:

LinkedIn

EOS Profile

Discover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.