Episode 1 – Season 2

Marie Kilduff in Conversation with Michael Comyn

Season 2 of Leading with Hearts & Minds opens with a deeply personal and practical conversation. Marie Kilduff talks with host Michael Comyn about his approach to emotional intelligence, leadership, and philosophy – and how these three strands come together to shape the way leaders think and act in healthcare.

Michael shares stories from over three decades of coaching and facilitation, reflecting on why emotional intelligence matters more than ever, what happens when leaders ignore it, and how philosophy can provide a framework for better decision-making under pressure.

Whether you are a seasoned healthcare leader or just starting your journey, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the human side of leadership.

In our final NCLC Leading with Hearts and Minds Podcast episode for Season One, Ms Bonnie Barnes, Co-founder of the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation, and Dr Deb Zimmerman, CEO, DAISY Foundation, provide an insightful overview of the role and function of the organisation.

Bonnie (and her husband Mark) founded DAISY, having lost her stepson, Patrick, to Immune Thrombocytopenia in 1999. Bonnie, Mark and their family were so grateful for the holistic, compassionate nursing care Patrick received that they set up the foundation as a way of recognising nurses and midwives for all that they do.

Deb is the CEO of the foundation and shares how this initiative has spread from the United States to 44 countries internationally while also providing an overview of the impact of the DAISY awards on nurses and their organisations.

Having listened to our podcast, if you or your organisation would like to get involved with this initiative, please get in touch with [email protected]

In this episode, Nursing and Midwifery Challenge Programme participant Rachel Kennedy shares her experiences of how this programme helped her develop her leadership skills and knowledge.

Rachel reflects on how she progressed through her Nursing career and used every opportunity for learning, growth and development. Rachel offers key messages for junior colleagues to help them overcome challenges they may meet.

Blathnaid O'Gorman, CNM2, Vulnerable Person’s Team, offers an inspiring insight into leading a service tailored to the needs of the individual as she shares her experience working in the area of inclusive health. Blaithnaid emphasises the importance of valuing everyone as a human being, regardless of how they present themselves or their social circumstances.

By using the skills and knowledge she acquired and developed as an ID nurse, Blathnaid demonstrates how she provides effective person-centred care, which enables her to connect with those in her care and empower them to make their own decisions regarding their health.

Throughout this podcast, it is evident that Blathnaid O'Gorman is an authentic leader who embodies the values of nursing every day in her role by ensuring that every service user receives high-quality care with the respect and dignity they deserve.

In this podcast episode, Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health, provides a comprehensive overview of the many aspects of her role and how she uses her expertise and experience to lead and influence policy at a national strategic level. In sharing her professional journey, Rachel provides an insight into how her experiences, role models and personal determination led her to become the influential leader she is today.

She speaks of her vision for nursing and midwifery in Ireland and how the Expert Review Body Report recommendations have shaped and will continue to shape both professions for the benefit of patients, nurses, and midwives in the future. 

Throughout the podcast, Rachel shares valuable lessons she has learned from her career, for the benefit of junior colleagues seeking support with their nursing or midwifery career choices.

In this episode, Ms Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery and Nursing, The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, reflects on some of the leadership successes and challenges from her career as a nurse and midwife.

Mary reflects on the influences that inspired her to become a midwife and how, as a Director, she led through some of the challenges she faced as policy, society and workforce changes prompted her to adapt and flex her leadership style to optimise care delivery and team cohesion.  

Mary shares her hopes and aspirations for the future of the midwifery profession and for the women, mothers and babies who access care in the maternity services of Ireland.

On this episode of Leading with Hearts and Minds, Vandana Iqbal shares her inspiring journey from her upbringing in India, where the influence of her parents and grandparents instilled core values of respect, compassion, and humanity. Vandana discusses her nursing education, her courageous decision to move to Ireland, and how her diverse experiences have shaped her into the compassionate leader she is today.

Vandana offers valuable advice and support to internationally educated nurses and midwives considering Ireland as their new home, as well as those who have recently arrived.

Throughout this conversation, Vandana reveals how she incorporates her deeply held values into her leadership approach, enabling her to authentically support her team and colleagues and ultimately, deliver exceptional care to her patients.

In this episode of Leading with Hearts & Minds, we sit down with Kellie O’Farrell, a Senior Occupational Therapist with the HSE, to explore her leadership, resilience, and empowerment journey. Kellie shares her lived experience of navigating visible and hidden disabilities and how she has harnessed her strength and determination to lead confidently in her personal and professional life.

Through advocacy, empowerment, and communication, Kellie has overcome challenges and thrived—demonstrating leadership that inspires change and inclusion. Tune in for a robust conversation on resilience, self-leadership, and the power of owning your story.

In this episode, Mr James Glover, National Lead for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, HSE, shares his experience of how he began his career in Scotland and moved into the area of DEI before migrating to Ireland, where he has led the way in transforming inclusion in the healthcare workforce in the HSE.

Throughout the podcast, James clearly explains his understanding of DEI and his belief in supporting people to demonstrate it personally and professionally. 

In this episode, we explore the journey of Sharon Slattery, a distinguished healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience in an acute academic teaching hospital. With 15 years in senior leadership roles and multiple promotions within St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Sharon brings a wealth of insight into clinical leadership, patient care, and the evolving role of nursing in modern healthcare. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Nursing, where she continues to shape nursing practice and leadership.

Dr Aoife Lane from the National Clinical Leadership Centre for Nurses and Midwives is joining Sharon in this conversation.

Together, they discuss Sharon’s career path, the challenges and rewards of leadership in a complex healthcare environment, and the lessons she’s learned.