Down To Business

Bobby joins bestselling author Damien Hughes in Belfast to talk about high performance sport and business.

Ahead of next week’s ceremony for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023, Bobby chats with some of this year’s finalists about the idea of “pioneering”, doing something new, and everything associated with being on the cutting edge.Chris Kelly of EasyGoLouella Morton, the co-founder of TestReachNeil Skeffington of Novelplast Teoranta

Bobby talks to Kevin Elliott, the Executive Vice President and Head of Global Foreign Direct Investment at Bank of Ireland, to learn all about how the team there supports new international companies to establish banking and operations in Ireland.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Paul Kilcullen, CEO of BNY Mellon Fund Services Ireland.

Bobby is joined by Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search to discuss the business stories making the rounds today.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Melíosa O'Caoimh, 'Northern Trust' Country Head, Ireland.

Continuing our series of interviews with some of this year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which reveals this year’s winners on November 23rd, we look at the issue of AI and its intersection with businesses.To discuss, Bobby is joined by Charles Cosgrave of Village Vets who is a finalist in the Established Category; Brian Fahey, CEO of My Compliance Office who is a finalist in the International category; and also by Denise Tormey, President and co-founder of PlanNet21 who was a finalist in 2015.

For many, glass is nothing more than the thing in your windows, but for an entire industry in Ireland, it is so much more. Art pieces made from glass are all over our cities, towns, and homes and so, Bobby wanted to understand that industry from some of the preeminent names in it.To do that, Bobby is joined by:Tom Watts, Head of Design at Design and Crafts Council IrelandElke Westen, Owner of Studio Elke WestenMichelle O'Donnell, Owner of Glasshammer Studios

Bobby is joined by Caroline Murphy of the HR Suite and Ken Murphy, the Former Director General of the Law Society, to discuss the business stories circling today.

Shane Cradock has almost three decades of executive coaching experience and has decided to pass some of that knowledge onto us here at Down to Business. His new book 'The Inner CEO' advocates for a new way of managing your mind to lift your mood, and self-belief and achieve your full potential. Shane joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby does something quite different today and visits a comic shop in the heart of Dublin city to find out more about the world of superheroes and villains. Is it just a niche? Or bigger than we think?

Despite high aspirations to delight customers, many companies falter at the execution stage, leaving a gap between grand plans and customer realities. Steven has spent over a decade conversing with CX professionals and has a wealth of insights on why companies struggle to shine in customer service. His new management book serves as a guide to embedding a genuine Customer Culture within your organisation, offering practical tools and revealing how minor alterations can lead to significant outcomes.This week Mandy Johnston talks to Steven about his new book.

Taking a look at the business stories that are making the morning papers are Journalist and Author Valerie Cox and Douglas Keatinge- the Head of Communications with Avolon. Mandy Johnston fills in for Bobby this week.

In the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, the push for sustainable business practices has led to a notable trend: B Corp certification. Pioneered by the non-profit B Labs, this accreditation requires companies to meet rigorous standards in social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.Joining Mandy Johnston are two trailblazers who have taken their companies through the B Corp journey: Aoife McNamara, Founder of the ‘Aoife McNamara’ clothing brand and Jane McDaid, the Founder of Thinkhouse.

Ireland, with its rich tapestry of creativity, boasts over 30 art galleries that curate an impressive array of artistic expression from both local and international artists. Despite the complexities of funding, fierce competition, and intricate red tape, these cultural havens have not just survived but thrived, as evidenced by the nearly 800,000 visitors to the national gallery last year alone. What's the secret to their success?To find out more about the industry, Mandy is joined by Mary McCarthy, Director of the Crawford Art Gallery, Dr. Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, and Gerard Gormley, Director of Gormley's Fine Art.

Meet Conor Kelly, the innovative Irish entrepreneur who's turning heads in the world of artificial intelligence. Nominated for the 'Young AI Role Model Award' at the AI Ireland Awards, Conor is gearing up to launch 'Taxbot' – an AI designed to navigate the complex waters of Irish tax law. With capabilities that allegedly outshine 90% of human accountants on the Chartered Tax Exams, 'Taxbot' promises to be a game-changer for Irish businesses.

Sitting in the Executive Chair this week is Brid O’Connell, the CEO of Guaranteed Irish.

Down to Business has a long been association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and for the next few weeks, as we get ready for the announcement of this year’s winners on Nov 23rd, Bobby will be talking to some of this year’s finalists and alumni about some of the issues facing entrepreneurs but also exploring what makes them succeed.Joining Bobby is Nick Keegan of Mail Metrics who is a finalist this year as well as one of last year’s finalists, Lorraine Heskin of the Gourmet Panel, and John Purdy of the Ergo Group who was finalist a number of years ago.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is AJ Noonan, MD of Rhonellen Developments.

For this week's Industry Review, Bobby is joined by three farmers: Joe Healy, former IFA President and dairy farmer at Milestone Farm in Athenry, James O'Reilly, a tillage farmer from Ballyragget in Kilkenny, and Bobby Miller, Current chairman of Irish Grain Growers Group from Stradbally.

AI is undoubtedly the story of 2023, dominating headlines and rapidly making its mark on industry with Generative AI believed to become a $1.3 Trillion Market by 2032 according to Bloomberg. Despite this meteoric success, many are still scratching their heads when it comes to AI, in fact when surveyed between 60 to 70 percent of business leaders say they are confused by AI. Mark Kelly founder of AI Ireland and author of ‘AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution as a Business Executive' joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby took a trip out to the Gravediggers pub in Glasnevin, Dublin to find out why this is a must-see for any tourist or anyone else who calls Dublin their home.

While there is over demand for housing in the country, the market for office space is hurtling towards its lowest ebb in many years. The latest survey by BNP Paribas Real Estate has seen take-up levels fall by 63% in the past year alone. John McCartney the director of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories in the papers today is Susan Hayes Culleton aka 'The Positive Economist' and The MD of the Hayes Culleton Group & Stephen O’Leary of Olytico.

Dr. David Oxley believes there are four essential career crises that we will all have to face one day. He is also the author of 'A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them' - he joins Bobby to tell him more.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Annelie McCaffrey, Managing Director for Domino’s ROI

Joining Bobby for this week's Industry Review are three GPs to discuss the ins and outs of the medical profession in modern-day Ireland.They are:Dr. Eleanor Galvin from Rosemount Family DoctorsDr. Mark Rowe who is also the host of the podcast In the Doctors ChairDr. Brendan O'Shea, Specialist in Occupational Medicine at The Bridge Medical Centre & Assistant Adjuvant Professor at Trinity College Dublin

Following a recent rebranding from SAP Nurseries to Perenia, The Plant Experts, Bobby took a trip out to Tipperary to speak with owner, John Walsh, to find out more about what keeps him and the business going from strength to strength.

The prevailing narrative around Northern Ireland is that it’s a gloomy time; dealing with both Brexit and the fact that it has no working parliament gives the idea that it’s a state in trouble but David Smith, economist with the Sunday Times, has a much more optimistic take on things. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Mary Murray is from a small Irish startup called JR Games that makes jigsaws dedicated to GAA counties. She came bearing a Kilkenny jigsaw for Bobby as the two chatted about the genesis of the business.

Taking place last week was the Irish Management Institute (IMI) National Leadership Conference. Former Twitter EMEA VP, renowned podcaster, author of the Best Business Book of the Year 2022, and workplace culture thought-leader, Bruce Daisley gave a keynote address on the importance of diverse workplace culture in helping leaders and their organisation to innovate.He joins Bobby to discuss.

This week Bobby was joined in the Executive Chair by Noelle McCarthy of Blow Salons.

This week Bobby was joined by Sean Keyes of the currency to explain why we need to build more apartments high into Dublin's skyline.

High-profile, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author on the topic of professional development, leadership, and the future of work and learning, Paolo Gallo joins Bobby to discuss his latest book, 'The Seven Games of Leadership - Navigating the Inner Journey of Leaders.'

Bobby speaks to three people in-the-know to find out how the realm of the sommelier has changed in Ireland in recent years, and where the wine world might take us. He is joined by Nicola Curran Zammit from Two Cooks in Sallins, Philip Dunne, Founder of Vinspire Wine and Spirit Academy Ireland as well as group Sommelier at The Doyle Collection, and Morgan Vandermamer, current President of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers and co-owner of Union Wine Bar & Kitchen in Waterford

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories in the papers today is Linda Daly of the Sunday Times and Ronan Reid from Cantor Fitzgerald.

This week Bobby got adventurous and explored his Viking roots, by visiting the Axe Club at North Dock, Dublin!

Former Munster and Irish player, Marcus Horan, talks World Cup Rugby with Bobby ahead of tonight's game.

Cyber Security is a growing business. Kevin O’Loughlin, CEO of Nostra, is busier than ever helping build protections and first line defenses for businesses. Kevin spoke to Bobby.

They say style never goes out of fashion but for those of us who wouldn’t know haute couture if it came up and hit him in the face, finding the clothes that not only fit but make us look and feel like our authentic selves can be a real challenge. Thankfully the personal shopping industry is here to help.Joining Bobby for this week’s Industry review to look at the work of personal styling was:Orla Sheridan, Private Stylist and Fashion lecturer at GTIFiona Doyle, International Personal StylistLaura Jordan, fashion stylist & image consultant and owner of StyleSavvy

To go through the business stories of the week Bobby was joined by Gina London, communications expert and columnist with the Sunday Independent and Declan Ralph, Retail Development Director with BWG Foods.    

This week Bobby went to the Dublin Cookery School in Blackrock which has recently been taken over by a well-known foodie Gerry Devlin. Gerry showed Bobby around the school and introduced him to some of the students.

Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist, Institute for International and European Affairs spoke to Bobby as the nation braces itself for next weeks budget.

Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers who’s book The Irish Beef Book has just been reprinted to celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary and Pat joined Bobby to talk all thing beef.

This week Bobby was joined in the executive chair by Richard Meehan, President & CEO of Velico Medical

Behind every success is the unique story of an individual who has transformed their ambition into reality. 21st Century Business Icons: The Leaders Who Are Changing our World is a new book by Sally Percy, which explores the success stories and strategies behind some of the biggest names in business the world over.She joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ronan Reid, Director of Cantor Fitzgerald Services Ltd.

George Horn is a third-generation master glove maker based in the heart of Dublin city. Founded by George in the 1940's, the business is continued by his son, Brian, and grandson, Gerard.Bobby took a trip out to their shop in Stoneybatter to find out more about the business.

From smart doorbells to fully-fledged 24-hour surveillance, there are many ways to secure your home and business.But even though there is more technology out there to help keep us safe, are would-be criminals also getting more cunning?Joining Bobby to discuss the state of the residential & commercial property security sector is:Aaron Mooney, CEO of Action24Eoin Dunne, CEO of PhonewatchJonathan Pim, Technical Services Director at Manguard Plus

Huawei has made a massive statement in the world of smartphones with its new processor that showcases its capacity to support 5G wireless speeds.Our resident Tech guru, Andy O'Donoughue joins Bobby to discuss what kind of impact it will have on the likes of Samsung and Apple.