Business Builders

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

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In Episode #69 of Series 8, I interview John Cunningham, founder and managing director of Complex Nutrition and Epicom. John shares his extensive experience in scaling successful businesses, navigating through crises, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. The discussion covers topics including cultural shifts within businesses, the importance of family, and dealing with financial challenges.

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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 Episode #68 of Series 8, I talk with Dave McCormack, co-founder of the video production agency Fluent. Dave shares his journey in the media industry, from his beginnings with City Channel in Dublin, to launching local TV stations across the UK, and finally transitioning into corporate video production. Dave reflects on the challenges he faced, the valuable lessons learned in his operational roles, the evolution of his career, and the significant opportunities he sees in video storytelling for businesses.

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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 Episode #67 of Series 8, I speak with Johnny Campbell, founder and CEO of SocialTalent. Johnny shares insights into the challenges and successes of building SocialTalent, a recruitment training platform that teaches large enterprises how to hire effectively using social media tools. He discusses the origins of the business, the accidental pivot to online training, the impact of the global financial crisis, and the continuous journey of learning to be a better CEO. He also highlights the importance of having a clear customer profile, the strategic use of AI in recruitment, and the future vision for SocialTalent.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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 Episode #66 of Series 8, I speak with Tom Keogh, founder and managing director at Keogh's Farm. Tom shares insights on the evolution of his family business from a modest potato farm to Ireland's largest homegrown potato crisps brand, exporting to over 20 countries. Listeners learn about the key challenges and successes faced by Keogh's, including an in-depth discussion on their focus on quality, strategic branding, and overcoming industry difficulties. Tom also touches on the significance of sustainable practices and global philanthropic efforts, alongside his long-term vision of making Keogh's a globally recognised brand on par with icons such as Guinness and Kerrygold.

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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 Episode #65 of Series 8, I chat with Ross Culliton, founder and CEO of Roody, a promotional products company. Ross discusses his transition from a Big Four accounting firm to creating custom Hawaiian shirts and Christmas jumpers. He shares his entrepreneurial highs and lows, including the learnings from a failed venture and how it fuelled the creation of Roody. Ross also explains Roody's commitment to sustainability, planting a tree for every item produced, and his ambition to plant a billion trees. The conversation touches on the importance of company culture, lessons from hiring practices, and the value of networks like the Entrepreneur's Organisation.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

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CONNECT WITH ROSS:

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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 Episode #64 of Series 8, I sit down with Aine Kilkenny, founder of Riley, an eco-friendly period products company. Aine shares how a personal inconvenience during a night with friends sparked the inception of Riley in 2021. She discusses the company's rapid growth, their mission-driven approach focusing on female health and sustainability, and the challenges they've faced along the way. Highlights include insights into their successful crowdfunding campaigns, the importance of maintaining core values in business, and the benefits of having a supportive co-founder team. Aine also opens up about the emotional journey of entrepreneurship, the critical role of customer feedback, and their ambitions for global expansion. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of Riley and how they're transforming the landscape of period products.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

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CONNECT WITH AINE:

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Website

Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

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.

We're back with Series 8, Episode #63. I talk with Ted Wright, CEO of Writech, about his extensive journey in the family-owned engineering business specialising in fire safety systems. Ted shares insights from joining the company in his early years, scaling the business through financial crises, and eventually leading it to an annual turnover of €140 million with operations across eight European countries.

CONNECT WITH CONOR:

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CONNECT WITH TED:

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Support Neurodiversity Ireland—an organisation committed to promoting understanding and advocacy for individuals with neurodiverse conditions  like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.  Neurodiversity Ireland  works to create a more inclusive society through community support and educational programs. Learn more and find out how you can get involved at neurodiversityireland.com. Together, we can make a difference!

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

*This episode was originally aired in April 2022*

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

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

This week I spoke to JD Buckley, CEO at Sky Ireland.

Sky, as most of you will know, is a global broadcasting and telecommunications company.

Since joining Sky in 2012, JD has overseen the growth of the Irish business from just 30 people to over one-thousand today.

In this very enjoyable conversation, JD talks about what he learned while working for Digicel in the Caribbean, along with an early opportunity that came from failing an exam in UCD, and he gives some really clear and honest advice for anyone who aspires to one day, becoming a CEO.

Irish Business Builders is brought to you by Jetbooks. Jetbooks provides online bookkeeping services for Irish Businesses. For a free 15 minute online consultation, visit www.jetbooks.ie

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*This episode was originally aired in June 2020*

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

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

Junior’s Deli & Cafe. Paulie’s Pizza. Lotts & Co. Can you see a pattern?

Barry McNerney and his brother Paul have built all of these iconic Irish businesses, and I loved hearing Barry’s tales of determination and passion in this interview. 

Starting out as an equity trader, lured to the profession by the slick Wall Street types you'd see in films, Barry soon realised this world wasn't what he'd imagined. His brother Paul being a chef, they decided to try their luck in the restaurant business and opened Junior's. It wasn’t easy, but  Junior’s became a hit with the community, with its authentic, honest, affordable food. 

What's amazing is what Barry and Paul did next. They went on to open Paulie's Pizza and boutique grocer Lotts & Co (all with big challenges along the way which you'll hear about). 

Still, Barry and Paul kept innovating, and seeing the headaches that ordering produce for restaurants presented, created UnifyOrdering. Starting out as a simple app to connect restaurateurs with suppliers, Unify is now available for everyone as a free app to get fresh, local Irish produce delivered to their homes. 

Find out more about UnifyOrdering here: https://www.unifyordering.com/

Connect with Barry on Instagram @barrymcn81

Irish Business Builders is brought to you by Jetbooks. Jetbooks provides online bookkeeping services for Irish Businesses. For a free 15 minute online consultation, visit www.jetbooks.ie

Thanks for listening!

CONNECT WITH CONOR:
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*This episode was originally aired in July 2020*

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

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

This week I spoke to Will Sparks, whose journey towards becoming a successful financial planner contained big hurdles.

While at college in UCD, Will overcame immense challenges posed by Dyslexia. Having previously been an admittedly average student, Will knuckled down, worked hard and got into a routine. He surprised even himself when he came first in his class in final year. 

The second hurdle came much later, when Will was working at a top finance firm. The GFC hit and Will was suddenly let go, and out on his own. Determination prevailed once again and he began building his own client list and eventually starting SparksWealth in 2019.

Stay tuned for some inspiring stories of self-discipline and optimism, with a few practical investment gems thrown in too!

Will mentions his favourite finance books:
The Education of a Value Investor by Guy Spier
The Dhandho Investor by Mohnish Pabrai

Find out more about Will and SparksWealth at https://sparkswealth.ie/

Irish Business Builders is brought to you by Jetbooks. Jetbooks provides online bookkeeping services for Irish Businesses. For a free 15 minute online consultation, visit www.jetbooks.ie

Thanks for listening!

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