Can creativity become a successful business?

In this episode, Aisling speaks with artist, designer and entrepreneur Victoria Mary Clarke about transforming creative ideas into commercial products and building a business around artistic talent. Victoria shares her honest journey through creativity, entrepreneurship, resilience and personal wellbeing, discussing how inspiration, persistence and product development helped shape her growing brand. She talks art, how she was inspired by friend actor Johnny Depp, and fashion designer Bella Freud, hanging out in kiddies art departments, and dealing with depression.  A deeply honest and inspirational account of going from depression to designing wearable art for a successful and growing business.

The conversation explores:

•  Creative entrepreneurship 
•  Turning artwork into commercial products 
•  Product design and licensing 
•  Building a creative brand 
•  Resilience and mental wellbeing 
•  Finding inspiration and overcoming challenges 
•  Growing a business as a creative entrepreneur 

This is an inspiring conversation for artists, designers, makers, entrepreneurs and anyone looking to transform their creativity into a sustainable business.

You can reach Victoria on https://victoriamaryclarkeangels.com and on Instagram at @victoriamaryclarke.  

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

Running a business can be rewarding—but it can also be challenging, uncertain and emotionally demanding.

In this episode, Aisling speaks with psychologist and author Deborah Byrne about building resilience, managing stress and developing practical strategies to support mental wellbeing as an entrepreneur. Drawing on her expertise in psychology and self-care, Deborah shares techniques for managing anxiety, maintaining perspective during difficult periods and developing habits that support both personal wellbeing and business success.

Topics include:

•  Building resilience 
•  Managing stress and anxiety 
•  Mental wellbeing for entrepreneurs 
•  Self-care and preventing burnout 
•  Developing a positive mindset 
•  Coping with uncertainty 
•  Practical wellbeing strategies 

Whether you're starting a business, leading a team or simply navigating a demanding period in your career, this episode offers practical advice to help you stay resilient and perform at your best.

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

What does it really take to build and grow a business as a woman entrepreneur?

In this special episode, Aisling brings together three inspiring women from very different industries to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership and building successful businesses.

Featuring:

• Marianne Murphy Cooney – Fashion designer and creative entrepreneur. 
• Geraldine Gleeson – Founder of Diesel Injector Services, operating in a traditionally male-dominated engineering sector. 
• Martina Hennessy – Former mortgage advisor turned technology entrepreneur. 

Together they share their entrepreneurial journeys, the challenges they've overcome, lessons learned and the advice they would give to aspiring business owners. This episode celebrates women in business while offering practical inspiration for entrepreneurs, leaders and anyone considering starting or growing their own business.

Sponsored by LEO Tipperary

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

Could your business achieve more by doing less?

In this episode, Aisling explores the principles of LEAN and how small businesses can improve efficiency, reduce waste and create better processes without necessarily increasing costs. Joining the conversation is Allyson English, who explains how LEAN thinking, originally developed through the Toyota Production System, has evolved into a practical approach for businesses of all sizes.

Topics include:

•  What LEAN really means 
•  Improving business efficiency 
•  Identifying waste within business processes 
•  Increasing productivity 
•  Continuous improvement 
•  Practical examples from SMEs 

Whether you run a manufacturing business, service company or professional practice, this episode introduces practical LEAN concepts that can help improve the way your organisation operates.

Please note that business support programmes discussed may have changed since this episode was recorded.

Sponsored by LEO Tipperary.

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

What do economists actually do—and why should business owners care?

In this episode, Aisling is joined by two of Ireland's leading economists, Jim Power and Patrick Mullane, to explore how economic trends influence small businesses, entrepreneurs and the wider economy. Together they explain economics in straightforward language, discussing the indicators business owners should pay attention to, how economic cycles affect SMEs and why understanding the broader economic landscape can lead to better business decisions.

Topics include:

•  Economics explained for business owners 
•  Business planning during economic uncertainty 
•  Inflation, growth and market trends 
•  SME resilience 
•  Strategic decision-making 
•  Preparing your business for changing economic conditions 

Whether you're running a start-up or an established business, this episode provides practical insights into how economic thinking can help you make more informed decisions.

Economic forecasts naturally change over time, but the principles discussed remain valuable for understanding how economic conditions influence business.

Sponsored by LEO Tipperary.

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

How do you turn a business idea into a sustainable business model?

In this episode, Aisling explores one of the world's most widely used business strategy tools, the Business Model Canvas. Joined by Rosemarie Ward and Aidan Shine from South East BIC, the conversation explains how the Business Model Canvas helps entrepreneurs understand, test and improve the way their business creates, delivers and captures value. Also joining the discussion is entrepreneur Marian Kennedy, who shares how using the Business Model Canvas helped her rethink and successfully evolve her business.

Topics include:

•  What is the Business Model Canvas? 
•  Designing sustainable business models 
•  Value propositions 
•  Customer segments 
•  Revenue streams 
•  Innovation and business strategy 
•  Planning business growth 

Whether you're starting a business, launching a new product or reviewing your existing strategy, this episode provides a practical introduction to one of the most valuable tools in business innovation.

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

What is Local Enterprise Week, and how can it help your business?

If you're starting or growing a business in Ireland, this episode explains how Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) support entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the year, not just during Local Enterprise Week. Aisling is joined by Ita Horan, Assistant Head of Enterprise, and Madeline Ryan, Training Coordinator, to discuss the range of business supports available to SMEs, startups and entrepreneurs.

Topics include:

•  What is Local Enterprise Week? 
•  Free business advice and mentoring 
•  Training programmes for SMEs 
•  Business grants and funding opportunities 
•  Start-up supports 
•  Growing an established business 
•  Where to begin if you're launching a business 

Whether you're just starting out or looking for practical support to grow, this episode provides an overview of the resources available to Irish businesses. For the latest in business news, training and mentoring available for businesses located in County Tipperary visit: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary

You can talk to TBF  on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie

Welcome to The SME Community Podcast, hosted by Aisling Hurley, design-led innovation researcher, lecturer, strategist and founder of TBF Innovation Lab.

If you're an entrepreneur, SME owner, innovator or business leader looking for practical, evidence-based ideas to grow your business, you're in the right place.

Each episode features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, policymakers and industry experts exploring topics including:

• Innovation & business growth
 • Artificial Intelligence & digital transformation
 • Leadership & strategy
 • Entrepreneurship & startups
 • Marketing & customer behaviour
 • Sustainability & responsible innovation
 • Intellectual Property & commercialisation
 • Funding, grants & business supports
 • Productivity, sales & business development

Unlike many business podcasts, these conversations bridge research and real-world practice, helping you understand not just what works, but why it works.

Whether you're building a startup, scaling an established SME, leading organisational change or simply looking for fresh ideas, every episode is designed to provide practical insights you can apply immediately.

Subscribe now and explore our growing library of conversations with founders, innovators, policymakers, researchers and business leaders from Ireland and beyond.

Visit https://tbf.ie for free resources, research, articles, training programmes and practical business tools.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show, leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur or business owner, it really helps more people discover the podcast.

We'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions for future guests.

Suggest a topic for a future episode.

The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.

Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.

🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/

Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie