CEO Corner by Sarah McGrath

“I might not have all the qualifications, and there might be gaps. But I will die trying.”

What does it take to lead one of Ireland's largest talent businesses, and to back yourself into the room before you feel ready?

In this episode of CEO Corner, Lorna Conn, CEO of CPL (the €800m talent solutions group employing 14,000 people) joins Sarah McGrath for a rare, honest conversation between two people who know recruitment from very different ends of the scale.

From CFO at 27 to CEO, Lorna shares how she has grown CPL through centralisation, culture, and a relentless focus on building a better business:

An essential listen for founders, leaders, and anyone building a career with ambition.

Sponsored by 360 Search. Your career, our expertise. www.360search.ie

0:00 Intro

What happens when ambition, pressure, and performance come at the expense of your health?

In this episode of CEO Corner, Associate Professor Dr. Robert Kelly –Consultant Cardiologist, Lifestyle Medicine expert, and creator of the Heart Reset Method – joins Sarah McGrath for a powerful conversation on the hidden health risks facing CEOs, founders, and senior leaders.

From chronic stress and poor sleep to silent plaque build-up and missed warning signs, Dr. Kelly explains why so many high-performing individuals ignore the very risks that matter most, and why prevention is the real performance advantage.

This is a masterclass in executive health, longevity, and sustainable performance:

→ why heart disease often develops silently for decades

All without waiting for a crisis to force change.

Dr. Kelly shares insights from nearly 20 years in cardiology, working with patients at both acute and preventative stages—and how his approach has evolved to focus on helping people stay well, not just treating illness.

An essential listen for CEOs, founders, and ambitious professionals who want to build success without sacrificing their health—and actually enjoy the results.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague or leader who needs to hear it.

Subscribe for more leadership, performance, and real-world insights from CEO Corner.

Dr. Robert Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/associate-professor-dr-robert-kelly-1111051a/

Sponsored by 360 Search — Your career, our expertise.

“You can be authentic and powerful at the same time.”

What does real leadership actually look like behind the title?

In this episode of CEO Corner, Marguerite Brosnan, CEO of AXA Insurance Ireland, joins Sarah McGrath for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, career pivots, and building high-trust teams that outperform.

From growing up between Tipperary and Kerry to becoming one of Ireland’s top CEOs, Marguerite shares the defining moments that shaped her leadership philosophy including leaving a secure teaching career, being championed by a sponsor early in her career, and learning why authenticity builds more trust than authority ever could.

Inside this episode:

• Why steady self-improvement beats competitive ambition

• “A leader casts a long shadow.”

An essential listen for leaders, founders, managers, and anyone building a meaningful career.

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who leads a team or wants to. Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping modern leadership.

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Connect With Us

Marguerite Brosnan: linkedin.com/in/marguerite-brosnan-baabb865/

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Sponsored by 360 Search: Your career, our expertise

In this episode of CEO Corner, Stephen Felle—CEO at Fordel and former youngest director on the board of Davy—joins Sarah McGrath to talk ruthless ambition, the Celtic Tiger, and what “real wealth” looks like in Ireland today.

From starting in stockbroking as a teenager, to sitting at the centre of Ireland’s boom years, to walking away from a high-paying leadership role to launch a startup weeks before COVID, Stephen shares a rare, candid look inside wealth, risk, and reinvention.

Ambition needs a channel – how not being good at sport pushed Stephen to find his edge in business and relationship-building.

The evolution from stock-picking to wealth management – why “boring” compounding beats flashy trading apps 60% of the time.

Celtic Tiger lessons – how visible excess (helicopters to the Galway Races, soaring bank shares) masked systemic risk.

The hidden cost of rapid career success – work–life imbalance, stress, and the danger of tying identity to title.

Entrepreneurship reality vs romance – why most people underestimate the financial and emotional strain of starting up.

Ireland’s new wealth story – business sales, pensions, and high earners replacing leveraged property as the main driver.

What good wealth management really is – holistic planning around pensions, gifting, college funds, tax, and family goals, not just “which fund”.

Transparency as a differentiator – the importance of clear fees, realistic returns, and saying “no” to opaque 8% schemes with hidden commissions.

Continuous mentorship matters – even at CEO level, having seasoned investors as sounding boards is a competitive advantage.

Perspective after illness – why Stephen frames leukemia and startup scars through the lens of luck, support, and privilege.

All while balancing a young family, big ambition, and the constant pressure of building something from scratch.

A must-listen for entrepreneurs, high-earning professionals, and anyone in Ireland wondering how to turn income into long-term, resilient wealth—without losing yourself in the process.

In this episode of CEO Corner, Sinead Fitzmaurice FCA – first female CEO of an Irish unicorn (TransferMate Global Payments), director of Fitzmaurice Finance and chairperson of Nazaré Point – joins host Sarah McGrath for a rare, candid conversation about private leadership and public success.

Sinead lifts the lid on what it took to scale a regulated global fintech to unicorn status while raising four children, including her daughter Sasha, who was given no hope at birth and went on to defy every prognosis.

→ Growing up in 1980s Ireland with “tighten the belt” economics and big ambitions

→ Being the only woman among 30 male managers at PwC and learning to speak up in the boardroom

→ Scaling TransferMate from startup to unicorn through years of regulation and licensing

→ The night the New York regulator called at 11pm and changed the company’s trajectory

→ Unicorn status, staff mortgages, and why valuation is a tool, not an identity

→ Stage 3 of her career: advisory roles, AI, fintech in emerging markets & Nazaré Point

• How childhood scarcity can drive ambition and the question “what am I chasing?”

• The internal “10 conversations” women often have before speaking in the boardroom

• Why quiet belief from one mentor can completely alter a career path

• The reality of guilt for working mothers

• The importance of product-market fit, regulation and a real moat in fintech

• Why “overnight success” usually means a decade of invisible grind

• How to give honest feedback, avoid wasted talent, and build a high-standards culture

• Designing your career in stages: training ground → scale-up CEO → portfolio advisory

“If you don’t adapt, you’re dead.” – What does it actually take to build and keep a hospitality business alive?

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Connect With Us

Noel Anderson: /noel-anderson-a7a2bb42/

From a Shy Bookish Kid to Leading Europe’s Insurance Powerhouse: Conor Brennan’s Leadership Journey

In this episode, we sit down with Conor Brennan, CEO of Ardonagh Europe, as he reflects on his personal journey and professional rise to leading one of Europe’s fastest-growing insurance groups. Conor shares his insights on scaling internationally, building purpose-driven cultures, and navigating the challenges of leadership across multiple markets.

Discover how Conor transitioned from a shy kid – "the forgotten Beatle" – to an ambitious CEO, why he believes mentorship and listening are game-changers, and how Ardonagh Europe became a powerhouse through strategic acquisitions and values-led leadership.

Episode Highlights:

Inspiring Leadership Lessons:

Conor offers candid advice on growing as a leader, setting ambitious goals, and surrounding yourself with great people. His story is a masterclass in balancing business performance with cultural integrity and personal growth.

Timestamps:

(00:00:01) Separating personal and professional identity

(00:03:21) Work-life balance and timely advice

(00:20:25) Joining at a senior level without experience

(00:28:00) The lifecycle of growth and the importance of change

(00:32:46) Purpose-Driven Business

(00:50:52) Advice for Ambitious Professionals

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, subscribe, and leave a review — your support helps us grow.

Embracing Uncertainty in Leadership and Industry Transformation

Join Sarah McGrath as she delves into a candid conversation with Robert Kennedy, CEO of Howden Ireland. Discover how Robert's competitive spirit and resilience have shaped his leadership style and guided him through the challenges of the insurance industry, from starting as a van driver to becoming CEO of Howden Ireland.

Please note: This episode was originally recorded in July 2024.

Since filming this interview, Robert has been appointed to succeed Carl Shuker as CEO of Howden UK and Ireland. We wish Robert all the best in his new role, which will commence in October 2025.

Episode Highlights:

Leadership Insights:

Robert emphasises the significance of adaptability and strategic thinking in leadership. He offers advice on achieving a sustainable work-life balance and underscores the value of cultural alignment in mergers and acquisitions.

Time Stamps:

Connect with Us:

Robert Kennedy: /robert-kennedy-4541a518/

Thank you for listening!

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with friends or leaving a review. Your feedback is appreciated. Sponsored by 360 Search, your career, our expertise. www.360search.ie

Discover Emma's Journey: From CEO of Grafter to New Horizons

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Emma Kennedy, the co-founder and former CEO of Grafter, a pioneering flexible workspace company. Emma opens up about her decision to step down from her leadership role and reflects on the personal and professional growth she experienced during her tenure.

Key Discussion Points:

Leadership Insights & Advice:

Emma offers invaluable advice on leadership, mentorship, personal branding, and achieving a work-life balance. Her story is a testament to resilience and the power of vulnerability in achieving personal and professional success. Join us for an episode filled with inspiring stories and actionable insights for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.

(00:00:01) Stepping down as CEO, why now?  

Emma's LinkedIn 

Listen on:

- YouTube

- Spotify

- Apple Music

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Dr Dylan Colbert is an intelligence researcher and performance and behavioural psychologist.

“To improve team performance, you must clearly show what performance looks like.”

An educational interview is not to be missed! We discuss the power of harnessing emotion when in the workplace. Dylan gives his insights on the recipe for success and how to avoid the pitfall of accepting mediocrity within your teams or for yourself.

We unpack the thought that when the “mind retires, the body follows” and how you can spend your whole life leveraging your intelligence even after retirement.

Dylan breaks down the science behind what constitutes an excellent leader and explains why those with charisma have an advantage.

Dylan’s research, which demonstrates that intellectual performance can be improved via intervention, has challenged the century-old notion that intelligence cannot be trained. Given his academic success, Dylan began applying his precise, meticulous, pragmatic approach to peak performance. Dylan's extensive research has allowed him to identify the psychological, emotional, and behavioural skills essential for elite achievement for any performer and activity.

01:07 What interested Dylan in the area of Psychology, personality, high performers, intelligence and how he ended up in the area of performance psychology

04:11 Dylan discusses a recipe to success and what it is. Understating objective and subjective success

06:11  Dylan explains how the different forms of motivation, mindset, action, emotion and their role in success

07:52  How discipline and commitment play a role in achieving success

09:40 Can we apply sports psychology principles to leaders in business – the miss conception of always being motivated

11:12  The ingredients of being great at what you do

12:52 Creating an environment to cater to those with little or much ambition

14:36 Optimise individual efforts for the company target

16:50 The benefit of empowering employees

18:21 Working into your 50s and 60s and how we perform cognitively at this age versus the youth entering into the market

22:28 Staying cognitively active in your later years, understanding brain health

24:15 How are we programmed to make decisions fast decision makers and slower decision makers? How are our decisions framed

30:20 Emotion is a tool. Learn how to harness it. How do we apply emotional regulations strategy during stress

35:33 – Inspiring action in teams, how great leaders inspire action. Understanding charisma.

 40:17 – Three fun questions to finish the interview

Dylan's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdylancolbert/

Sarah's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mcgrath/

Listen on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Td60vAXI34DSc0pCo9VSD

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/ceo-corner-by-sarah-mcgrath/id169900355

Thank you for being a loyal listener, and we hope you find our interview with Dylan useful. If you enjoy the episode, please consider sharing it with your network and leaving a review. Your support means the world to us.