Now in its fifteenth year, the annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship event took place onsite in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Mayo on Monday last, October 2. What promised to be a really great evening lived up to it.
It was an evening hosted by the competent Susan Hayes Culleton (The Positive Economist) who engaged with all speakers and gained some truly valuable and practical takeaways when starting or navigating a business.
The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Event at ATU Mayo was established back in 2006. Now running for over 15 years, the ATU Innovation Hubs regularly attract hundreds of people to the event. Invited speakers share their experiences of establishing and running a business, including the many challenges and lessons learned. The Local Enterprise Office in Mayo is a proud partner of this event.
One local entrepreneur on the panel was Harry Hughes who was awarded the EY entrepreneur of the year in 2017 and represented Ireland in EY’s World Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 in Monaco. He is recognised as a visionary leader who has built a world class business alongside his brothers, Cathal and Owen. Portwest trades in 130 countries, continues to grow at over 20 percent per annum and now employees over 5,000 people worldwide.
Other speakers include Noreen Hackett (Advanced Cosmetics), the overall winner of this year’s National Enterprise Awards; Colm O’ Brien from Carambola which is a €12m schools meals company employing 200 people; Tracey Sweeney from Tracey Sweeney Fine Art Studio and Nigel O Reilly Goldsmith. Matt Conlon from Cytidel, a cyber security company and Helen Nolan the Co-Founder & CEO of the multi-award-winning Social Enterprise Spraoi agus Spórt in Carndonagh, Co Donegal.
Maria Staunton, Manager ATU Hub Mayo, says: “It was one of our best events yet with so many insights such as listening to your customers rather than what you want to hear, making decisions on where you want to be in the long term and ensuing to bring in the right people into your organisation which enables adaptability beyond yourself. This event looked at character traits needed to be an entrepreneur and supports available to help you grow your business.
John Magee, Head of Enterprise at LEO Mayo, says: “LEO mayo was delighted to support this year’s Spirit event. It is so important for entrepreneurs to learn from the successes and failures of others. There are many challenges and also incredible opportunities for businesses today in an ever-changing world. Resilience, belief and discipline were the themes of the day and there were so many nuggets of wisdom and insight. I’m really looking forward to learning from other entrepreneur’s experiences at the other upcoming Mayo Ideas Month events.
The events continue as part of Mayo Ideas Month for the rest of October so check out www.mayoideasmonth.ie for full details.
Pictured above were the speakers at the event, from left: Noreen Hackett, Advanced Cosmetics; Matt Conlon, Citydel; Colm O’Brien, Carambola school meals; Helen Nolan, Spraoi agus Spórt; Harry Hughes, CEO Portwest; Tracey Sweeney from Tracey Sweeney Fine Art Studio and Nigel O Reilly, Goldsmith. Pic: Alison Laredo
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