Irish Business Builders

*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 @barrymcn81Irish 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.ieThanks for listening!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

*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 SpierThe Dhandho Investor by Mohnish PabraiFind 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.ieThanks for listening!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

*This episode was originally aired in November 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.Maurice Pratt's life in business is exactly the conversation I'd wanted for the finale of Irish Business Builders Season 2!He has been at the head of 10 companies, including Quinnsworth, Tesco Ireland and C&C. More recently, Maurice acts as Chairman of Uniphar Group, as well as holding numerous positions as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman for organisations across tourism, non-profit and healthcare sectors.Maurice also shares his views on managing ones time as a public company CEO and the best advice he ever received, from none other than Gary Weston.Find out more about Maurice Pratt here:https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1876971Irish 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.ieThanks for listening and see you all for Season 3 soon!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

*This episode was originally aired in November 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 sat down with Brian Crowley and talked about all things entrepreneurship, challenges and growth.Brian is a former international Irish boxer, who now has a played a part in the forming and managing of several companies. He founded TTM group, a specialist healthcare and recruitment company in 2002. After receiving an investment from Broadlake, Brian felt the need for a change and became a partner at Broadlake.Brian's story is one of resilience. He nearly went bust in 2008, but bounced back and is experiencing strong revenue growth with Broadlake.Connect with Brian Crowley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crowleybrian/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.ieThanks for listening!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

*This episode was originally aired in November 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 caught up with Norman Crowley, a successful serial entrepreneur who is doing remarkable things in business and in environmental awareness.Norman Crowley founded and sold 3 businesses with a total worth of $750million before the age of 40. Norman actually retired at the age of 28, but as you'll hear in our conversation, that was short lived. Under the Cool Planet Group, Norman has several businesses that all share the goal of creating a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future. We talk about why having a mission in business is so important and Norman's drive to do good for the planet.Find out more about Norman Crowley and The Cool Planet Group here:https://www.coolplanetgroup.ie/aboutIrish 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.ieThanks for listening!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

*This episode was originally aired in September 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.Welcome to Season 2 of Irish Business Builders!On today's episode I chat with Mick Kearney, whose life in business has taken him down many paths since he started out in the early 1980's.Mick brought Snap Printing to Ireland in 1984,  which quickly grew to be the largest Print and Design group in the country. A position it still holds today.Then in 2005, Mick and his business partner Ed Murphy, launched another Franchise inIreland – Home Instead Senior Care. Their philosophy is to provide a trusted service to older people, allowing them to stay independent and to continue to live in their homes for longer. Over the following 12 years, Mick and Ed grew Home Instead to €70 Millioneuros in revenues before selling a majority stake in 2017.Mick also managed to find time to become Manager for the Irish Rugby team,a position he held passionately and successfully for for 5 years, alongside colleagues Declan Kidney and later Joe Schmidt.Mick is open and generous with the lessons he has learnt, his business philosophies and insights. Enjoy!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.ieThanks for listening!CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedIn

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.Series 7, Episode #062 features a bonus conversation with Dr. Jack Skeen, a psychologist and executive coach. Skeen discusses his process of helping successful individuals find meaning and fulfilment beyond material success. He emphasises the importance of self-discovery, aligning with one's true self, and using personal superpowers for global benefit. Skeen shares anecdotes from his work, including helping people like Mohnish Pabrai and refers to figures like Genghis Khan, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs to illustrate alignment with one's purpose.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH JACK:WebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Support mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #061 host Conor Kearney talks with renowned sports broadcaster Brent Pope. Brent opens up about his battle with anxiety and depression and introduces his inspiring initiative, 'The Elephant in the Room'. This movement uses symbolic elephant sculptures to foster open discussions about mental health within organisations. Brent underlines the significance of addressing mental health issues, sharing personal stories to highlight the role of vulnerability, kindness, and support in recovery. The conversation also touches upon the global impact of the movement and encourages collective participation in promoting mental well-being.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH BRENT:LinkedinElephant in the RoomSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.Series 7, Episode #060 features in-depth insights from Tommy Breen, former CEO of DCC, as he discusses his career journey, the significance of cultural values, and overcoming challenges such as the 2008 financial crisis. Tommy also reflects on the sacrifices made by his family, particularly his wife Fiona, due to his career demands and shares his philosophy on continuous improvement and looking forward.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #059 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, host Conor Kearney sits down with Neil Skeffington, founder and CEO of Novelplast, a pioneering recycling company in Ireland. Neil shares his journey from studying polymer engineering to building a multimillion-euro business that tackles plastic waste by converting post-industrial and post-consumer materials into reusable pellets. He discusses the challenges of raising capital, the reality of plastic recycling, and the motivations behind his commitment to sustainable practices. This conversation delves into the complexities of the recycling industry, the importance of resilience and innovation in business, and Neil's vision for a future where waste is seen as a valuable resource. CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInNOVELPLAST:LinkedInWebsiteSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #058 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, host Conor Kearney interviews Lulu O'Sullivan, the founder of successful e-commerce brands GiftsDirect.com and TheIrishStore.com. Lulu shares insights from her entrepreneurial journey, starting with a small budget and pioneering one of Ireland's first e-commerce websites. She discusses the importance of customer service, the impact of culture over strategy, and lessons learned from challenges faced while scaling her business. O'Sullivan recounts her experience with the Leadership for Growth program at Stanford, which led to the creation of The Irish Store and further growth strategies.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInLULU'S LINKS:Gifts DirectThe Irish StoreSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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 In Series 7, Episode #057 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, Conor Kearney interviews Charles Cosgrave, owner and CEO of Village Vets, the largest independent vet practice group in Ireland. Charles shares his journey from a practising vet to a successful entrepreneur, detailing his early inspirations from his veterinary roots, his transformative experience in the UK, and the ambitious growth of Village Vets from just two locations to a thriving network of 20 clinics. He also discusses the challenges of balancing veterinary practice with business management, the importance of professionalising operations, and his vision for the future, including technological advancements and nationwide expansion.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInVILLAGE VETS:WebsiteFacebookInstagramSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growthIn Series 7, Episode #056 of Irish Business Builders, host Conor Kearney speaks with Laura Weldon, owner of Honey Honey Cafes, now with three locations in Dublin. Laura discusses her entrepreneurial journey, from her initial foray into business in 2018 to overcoming various challenges, including the impact of COVID-19. She elaborates on the importance of learning by doing, allowing customers to shape the brand, and the necessity of loving what you do. Additionally, Laura shares insights on scaling a business, the value of investing in technology and people, and balancing hard work with smart decision-making.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInHONEY HONEY CAFE:WebsiteInstagramFacebookSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growthIn Series 7, Episode #055 of Irish Business Builders, Conor Kearney interviews Barry Drennan about his extraordinary journey from mechanic to entrepreneur. Barry discusses transitioning from selling and servicing golf course machinery to founding his own business and how he successfully navigated the 2008 financial crisis by pivoting to a leasing model. Barry also delves into managing staff, creating a sustainable retirement plan through pensions and property investments, and balancing his professional life and personal passions such as running ultramarathons. Highlighting the mental and physical challenges of ultra running, the camaraderie among runners, and the profound life lessons he's learned along the way, Barry’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and finding passion in every aspect of life.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #054 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, Conor Kearney interviews Mary McKenna, founder and CEO of Tour America and The Travel Suite. Mary shares her entrepreneurial journey, influenced by her father's passion and values, highlighting her resilience through challenges like September 11th, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a near-fatal accident in 2004. She discusses maintaining work-life balance and fostering a culture of empathy. Mary also delves into her methods for creating a customer-focused company culture, emphasizing respect, communication, and addressing customer concerns promptly, ensuring zero complaints.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInTOUR AMERICA:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

Produced by JetbooksSubscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growthIn Series 7, Episode #053 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, host Conor Kearney speaks with renowned entrepreneur and adventurer Enda O'Coineen. The conversation delves into Enda's early fascination with the ocean, his competitive nature, and his journey from being expelled from school to becoming the CEO of the Business Post Group. The episode covers topics such as risk management, the fundamentals of business, strategic thinking, and the importance of focusing on the customer. Listeners will learn about Enda's ventures in Central Europe, his acquisition of the Business Post, and his views on technology's role in advancing society. CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH ENDA:Business PostKilcullen KapitalSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #052 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, Conor Kearney interviews Lorraine Heskin, founder and CEO of Gourmet Food Parlour, about her entrepreneurial journey. Lorraine discusses her early influences from American culture, the importance of a slow and steady growth strategy, and her experiences navigating the challenges of the Irish economic landscape. She shares insights into the art of building a strong brand, the value of adaptability, and the critical role of a supportive team. Lorraine also talks about balancing family life with entrepreneurial demands, the significance of good financial management, and the transformative experience of being an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInGOURMET FOOD PARLOUR:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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.In Series 7, Episode #051 of the Irish Business Builders podcast, host Conor Kearney interviews Sir Michael Smurfit. Sir Michael recounts his journey from joining his father's cardboard box company at 16 to transforming it into Ireland's first multinational corporation, Smurfit Westrock. Highlighting key moments and tough decisions, Sir Michael shares valuable insights on integrity, intuition in business, and the importance of understanding operations from the ground up.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInSupport mental health awareness with Brent Pope’s “Elephant in the Room” initiative. Join the movement to de-stigmatise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Adopt an elephant sculpture and show your commitment to creating a supportive environment for everyone. Visit www.elephantintheroom.ie to learn more and get involved.

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 had a chat with Barry Wallace, Managing Director of Dash Burger, a fast casual restaurant that specialises in something called a smash burger.Barry opened the first location on Kevin St just 18 months ago, and the concept has taken off like a rocket. There is already a second location on Capel St with imminent plans to expand nationwide.In this chat, we talk about Barry’s creative passion for food and his eagerness to constantly improve on his ideas… through what he calls, marginal gains.We also talk about Barry’s journey in business, from humble beginnings in food trucks, to franchising in Europe and finally creating Dash Burger, his proverbial secret sauce.Find out more about Dash Burger here: https://www.dashburger.ie/Join Barry for an ‘eat and meet’ with the burger legend himself; George Motz, on Thursday 19th May: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/dash-burger-presents-the-george-motz-pop-up-world-tour-tickets-327968401317

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 caught up with Jim Breen, Founder and Executive Chairman of Pulse Learning. Jim set up the business in 1999, with start up capital of just 10 pounds. It’s now a global organisation with an enviable list of clients and revenues in the tens of the millions!In this interview, Jim talks about his early days as a civil engineer, the steps he took to start Pulse Learning, and how becoming RTE's Secret Millionaire led to Jim Founding the Cycle Against Suicide an organisation set up to raise awareness of the supports available for anyone battling depression or self-harm.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