Episodes
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E242 That Great Business Show
We bring you the 'Absolute Truth', as Florida HQ'd Partsol announce they've moved their operational HQ to Ireland. John Callahan, CTO Partsol has just landed in Ireland with a very, very interesting twist on AI - they search for information in a very different way, hoping to expunge mistakes (some error rates with other AI systems can be as high as 25% according to John). Their product is aimed particularly at sectors that really, really need absolutely accuracy in its information (banks, insurance companies, government). They've had interest from Hollywood. And, even the simplest businesses can benefit from Partsol knowledge as well, like bread making. He explains. And, they're looking for businesses to partner with.
Partsol has already raised $17.5 million already and they're going again to raise up to $50 million to make a land grab. He's hiring and just four days in Ireland he has already hired his first hire. They need up to maybe 100 more people...and that's just in Ireland. They'll be hiring across Europe.
His 'hire in a heartbeat' is Chris Baker, a rollercoaster thinker.
Mark John, founder of Tramshed Tech. Thanks to the Welsh Government office at the British Embassy in Ireland, we will be running a series of chats highlighting the opportunities for Irish businesses using Wales as a stepping stone to the UK market, that is six times the size of the Irish market. They have many incentives to entice companies to base themselves in Wales, including introductory offers on office space, they have a couple of investment funds (you need to register as a UK company to benefit), as well as family offices etc, and a networking system not unlike Ireland. The Welsh know every other Welsh person, anywhere. The creative sector is very strong and Mark says there are many opportunities for Irish creative companies, including access to the UK broadcast market.
His 'hire in a heartbeat' David Stevens, of The Admiral Group
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Episode 241 That Great Business Show with Conall Ó Móráin featuring Alan Browne, CEO of Soarvo, a company born from nerd rage!
Too much juicy 3D data, not enough ways to actually use it? Soarvo has fixed that. Think less head-scratching, more wow-factor maps.
KOREC Group’s New BFF, they've teamed up to spread their geospatial gospel across the #UK and #Ireland.
Construction? Check. Agriculture? Yup. Telecoms? Absolutely. You can check every motorway for wear and tear from the comfort of your laptop...it means the end of the little man, with is measuring wheel, dicing with death on the hard shoulder of motorways.
And you'll be amazed what needs mapping, like (sshhh, we're not allowed to mention) Formula 1 tracks (safety first, no debris), horse racing tracks (which has a knock on to Paddy Power betting, for example) - they can even tell you if your house roof needs fixing...the applications are near endless.
Alan's 'hire in a heartbeat', Michael O'Leary, 'possibly Ireland's best CEO ever!'
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil - NOT a beard oil, the all natural oil for anyone who shaves.
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Missing episodes?
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Episode 240 That Great Business Show
Geoff Allen, co-founder Mersus Technologies - a VR company (not a training company!) that is changing how we do business in so many sectors. What they do is truly amazing. We know. We've seen their work. Having recently won a place on the Meta app store they're only one click away from 24,000,000 headsets (a number that is about to explode in size). They use gaming software to digitise training. They create a 'virtual twin' of a workplace, a virtual factory. They're passing tacit knowledge (knowledge gained through experience) to incoming staff. They're world leaders in the sector. Their big problem is funding, funding and funding. They're looking for a High Net Worth Individual who knows the bio/pharma space, to join as an investor.
His 'hire in a heartbeats' are Pat McDonagh of SuperMacs and Stephen Grant of Grant Boilers.
Improve your businesses' operational efficiency by 40%. Helen Burke, lead-founder Teambase Ireland, joins That Great Business Show to explain how she does it for the insurance industry and how other industries can learn from her. She has her eye on Ireland and the UK right now, having served her time as a kindergarten teacher (teaching the letter A for three weeks solid wasn't for her) in the Middle East where she came across Teambase. She says the insurance industry is still using Excel, hand written or copy and pasted, taking hours and hours to find insurance solutions. She's taking the donkey work out of this process. Networks are golden she says and she loves her insurance networks around the world.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat' is Jim Campion, that we had on a previous episode of the podcast.
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the world's best shaving oil (not a beard oil, it's for anyone who shaves).
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Episode 239 That Great Business Show
Laurent Germain, CEO, Egis Worldwide
Steven Preece, CEO, Egis Ireland.
Egis, the engineering company, the largest engineering company in Ireland, and they gave you The Port Tunnel, the Jack Lynch Tunnel, the Limerick Tunnel...and so, so much more. They're also making sure the Adare bypass happens before the Ryder Cup comes to Limerick.
We have two bosses in studio with us, the Irish boss and the Big Big boss, of a company employing 20,000 people worldwide. They have €1billion to double the size of the company...and they're looking for acquisitions in Ireland as well as worldwide.
They tell us why Cork, Limerick or Galway won’t be having a high speed train anytime soon. Why the government should follow the French model and hire the best engineers to project manage big infrastructure projects to keep them somewhere near budget. (In an earlier 13-year long career Laurent worked at the top end of government in France)And why Ireland needs another 6,000 engineers – right now. (Egis is hiring too).Their 'hires in a heartbeat'
The French boss opted for French star, Antoine Dupont
The English born, Irish boss, opted for Ireland and Lions coach, Englishman Andy Farrell
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E238 That Great Business Show
Thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil
Lithuanians William and Anthony explain how they ended up in Longford, set up a business called Tolvita together, importing and selling coated steel cladding that is ideal for home construction. Originally they came to 'collect a few bob' but a chat with MicroFinance Ireland led them to the Longford LEO who helped them create their enterprise. They're now looking for others in the domestic construction business to use their products that they (naturally) say is better than the rest. They have big ambitions to break into the Northern Ireland and British markets. There's a business opportunity here.
Their 'hire in heartbeat'? Richard Branson and Elon Musk (added reluctantly)
Michael Mi-Xuan borrowed time from C&D Petfoods when he worked their as a general operative to research his business. He had been into break dancing and ballet and had a yearning for bodybuilding. He knew nothing about the gym business, but that did not hold this born entrepreneur back. He borrowed money for 'his wedding' from Ulster Bank to set up his gym business in Longford. He then bought 2nd hand equipment from N. Ireland. But disaster. He had nowhere to put the equipment. A local businessman stepped in and Michael now has a thriving gym business, with ambitions to keep growing beyond Longford. And as an Irish body building champion he also has world ambitions win big internationally. This is a fun interview with business insights that include his views on nutrition. Spoiler alert. Don't eat junk near him!
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? International business coach Dan Pena - the one trillion man.
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E237 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit School, 'Podcast of the Year'
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the world's best shaving oil.
Alex Harris, co-founder, CogniStream
Turning market research on its head, using AI bots that sound more human than humans, creating campaigns in hours not weeks or months, cutting the cost by 90%, affordable for businesses of all sizes that are launching a number of products or services every year - and soon available in multi-languages.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat', Dr. Deirdre Robertson. They want her brains to make sense of what CogniStream is finding out.
Avril Power, co-founder, Giyst
Another AI plus marketing driven company that can take hundreds of hours of video, chop it, dice it and make it into something that people might actually watch. Your annual conference, shrunk to minutes. Your two hour webinar, delivered to you in a two minutes, salient points added. And all done in almost instantly. They've got patents. The may have a world business. They just need to raise €250k. Well worth a listen.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Canva founder Melanie Perkins and Sonru founder (and seller) Ed Hendrick
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E236 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School 'Podcast of the Year'
Jacqueline and Bernie Ffrench
Investing in employee wellness isn’t just a trend—it’s a business advantage. A healthier, more engaged workforce drives productivity, innovation, and success. Here’s why:
When employees feel physically and mentally well, they bring higher energy levels, sharper focus, and better problem-solving skills to work. Studies show that companies with strong wellness programs see a 20%+ boost in productivity.
Workplace wellness initiatives lower stress, prevent burnout, and reduce sick leave. Businesses that prioritise wellness report fewer absences and lower long-term healthcare expenses, benefiting both employees and employers.
Employees value workplaces that care about their well-being. A well-designed wellness program boosts job satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty, helping businesses attract and retain top talent.
Wellness isn’t just a perk—it’s a strategy for success.
#WorkplaceWellness #BusinessGrowth #HealthyEmployees #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement #Leadership #WellbeingAtWork #MentalHealthMatters #FutureOfWork
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Episode 235 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
An investment company that says they’re aiming to defy the "accepted norm", by flipping 70% failure, to a 70% success rate
MARTIN DUFFY is General Partner with Hibernia-Lab, at Dublin based early stage venture labs ecosystem that, inter alia, conducts 'thorough market research' develops ‘a unique value proposition’, identifies growth opportunities for almost any business, 'differentiates your brand', and maximises your businesses' market potential. Its investments appears positively eclectic with a portfolio of more than ten investments that includes a company that advises rugby teams, and another, called Team Taca (backed by dad and daughter team of Niall and Aisling Quinn) that has created a platform for youth soccer clubs. Hibernia-Lab has also worked with Leinster Rugby at Syracuse University.
Martin covers an awful, awful lot about business on this episode.
His 'hires in a heartbeat'? The late Nicola Tesla or the very much alive (and That Great Business Tip for the Top) Emma Meehan of Precision Sports Technology
Margaret Dineen - Food Whisperer
We like feature so many early stage food companies on the podcast as they make business accessible and understandable, whether we’re talking about buying, selling, marketing or doing deliveries. Lessons learnt from making bread, no matter what your industry, can make you bread.
Accountant Margaret Dineen is a food business whisperer. Her business Blue Sky Food Consulting, is a supply chain and commercial finance advisory service. Her other business, The Irish Food Trade Connect Forum is a Food and Drinks nationwide platform for trade development for the Irish Food and Drinks industry.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Niamh Lenehan, CEO, Agri-Food Regulator
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E234 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
A special episode recorded in Longford, thanks to the Longford Local Enterprise Office that is keen to highlight the international diversity of businesses being set up in Longford, with budding entrepreneurs from all over the world being drawn to the county.
On this episode we have two women entrepreneurs from very different parts of the world and both with unbridled ambition for their businesses.
Jenna Farrell, co-founder of Scopey, explains what Scope Creep is and how to cure it. Essential listening for anyone selling a service where clients demand more for less.
Uche Chiemeka is founder of UC Nuts. Covid almost did for her fledgling nuts business, but then she saw an ad for Supervalu's Food Academy. She says it was 'life changing'.
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil www.DeFactoShave.com
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E233 That Great Business Show
A banker who wanted to run a car sharing business but turned to lens making instead. Simon Forsyth is part of the Lir Optic team at UCD Nova, the UCD spin out lab. They've come up with a 'world beating lens' they believe. It shifts shape by applying an electric current to it. That means no little motors to drive lenses in and out. That means thinner, cheaper phones and laptops, and...well anything that uses cameras, which is quite a lot. They're raising €3 million to bring it to the world. The market is so big we don't have enough zeroes on the keyboard to type it out...and they're in talks with A Big Company. Could be huge.
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? Steve Jobs, who had the greatest team of optical engineers ever.
SaaS Apocalypse is something new to us at That Great Business Show. It’s a term used by Niall O’Gorman, founder of MarketSizer, a competitive intelligence platform that helps SaaS companies find the right customers, optimize growth, and stay ahead of the competition. Wait until you hear how detailed they can be. They say they can know more about a company than the company owners may do. And other analyses they can do is pretty mind blowing. They track 60 million SaaS subscriptions at the moment. And growing. Very fast. Next may be an 'always on' analysis of what big companies are using, and telling the procurement what is being spent, on what etc.
They're raising €1.5m. to head to North America.
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? Matt Damon, because he was once 'stranded on Mars'.
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the world's best.
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That Great Business Show with Conall Ó Móráin – Episode 232
Ireland’s Best Business Podcast - UCD Smurfit Business School 'Podcast of the Year' brings you two incredible stories of entrepreneurship and innovation!
💼 From Milan’s Theatres to Dublin’s Boardrooms
Meet Ilaria Eugenia Ferri, the ‘Mary Poppins’ of business—a Virtual Assistant who helps companies scale, streamline, and stay organised. After swapping Milan’s top theatres for Dublin, she turned her passion for organisation into profit, helping small businesses structure their operations for success.
🍓 Revolutionising Jam with Mór Taste
Felix Oster is leading the jam revolution, crafting Europe’s fruitiest jams with 85% real fruit and zero concentrates. His journey—from food manufacturing to judging at the World Cheese Awards—led him to create a healthier, tastier jam inspired by an unexpected moment in the Swiss mountains.
Tune in for inspiring business insights and don’t forget to REPOST & SHARE!What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Let us know in the comments!#ThatGreatBusinessShow #IrishEntrepreneurs #VirtualAssistant #FoodInnovation #SmallBusiness #Podcast
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E231 That Great Business Show
Michael Guerin, founder Imvizar, making tourist attractions eh, more attractive. And, his second business, Lureo, will make anyone a Hollywood director. It's Canva for 3D videos.
He travels. A lot. But that's business. And he expects his team to rock up to the office. Even the ones who live in Lisbon and Marseille.
And, there's a land grab going on in the sector, so having raised €1.5m he's going to raise more funds by the end of this year to bring the business big in the US.
His 'hire in a heartbeat', Walt Disney.
Ciaran Doherty, founder of Loadar, cutting costs in a very significant way for big businesses that ship products - by land, sea or air. The biggest problem they're solving is pricing - the number of variables is huge, but Loadar automates the process. He's looking for the world's biggest shippers, a couple of thousand businesses only, but if he secures them that would make Loadar very, very successful indeed. Invest NI and Catalyst sent Ciaran to MIT in the US for a week. It transformed him and his business. In a week.
It took him just eight weeks to raise €4m from Frontline Ventures amongst others.
He talks us through on how to win business. Step by step.
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? Adam Blake of MIT. We want Adam for the for the podcast. Please.
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E230 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit 'Podcast of the Year'
IKEA? Check. Jysk? Check. AJ Products. ??? Yes, it's another hugely successful Nordic brand, available across 19 countries, including Ireland. Tanya Cawley is the Ireland country boss and she tells us what's in the secret sauce. Not surprisingly, attention to detail is very, very important. Oh, and she likes a clean desk. Very, very clean. And shut that drawer!
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Sharon Carey who works at Dunnes Stores.
How to make smarter decisions in a noisy world. Nuala Walsh is an extraordinarily well qualified woman who has written a book - 'Tune In' (Harriman House) - about decision making. It's a practical resource for making better choices. Now, what business would not want that? She says the book will show how to make fewer errors.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Bill Clinton
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil. For everyone who shaves.
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E229 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
A 'handy number'? Some Non-Executive Directors, NED, can earn €80k for a monthly board meeting...some can earn twice that. Carol Bolger, formerly senior executive at Ulster Bank and Faculty member at Institute of Directors Ireland, teaches how to become a director at the Institute of Directors (IoD). You may be able to become a NED. Carol tells you how. At 10.00" she explains how tough it was being a senior banker in 2008, during the Financial Crisis.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Mairead McGuinness, former EU Commissioner.
Rebecca Markey is CEO of IFP Media and, of course, she 'gives back' by being Chair of the Enterprise Committee of the RDS. Once upon a time the RDS was the 'go to' place for agricultural training. That's mostly in the past. Now the RDS is promoting the 'circular economy' (using, reusing, replacing, substituting) that one report from InterTrade Ireland says there's €3 billion a year going abegging. The RDS is running a programme to promote the 'circular economy' and they want your company to apply. Like now. There's a cash prize along with some invaluable publicity.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Don Draper for Marketing as well as Blake from Glengarry Glen Ross
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, for anyone who shaves. De Facto Shave dot com.
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E228 That Great Business Show
Economist Alan McQuaid sees the end of the EU...and what's happening to the UK economy???
He wants our Government to spend some of the Apple billions on a massive airlift of SMEs on trade missions worldwide.
He says SMEs should get more grants, rent rebates and insurance subsidies.
'No Dáil politician should be a a multiple home owner'
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? All of the SMEs that have feature on That Great Business Show (he's a big fan) OR Nigel Owens (hear him on Episode 212).
Crossbar.
Willo King has run bars, off licenses, created a party app, manufactured party goods...and now runs a recycle bicycle business.
She's a classic SME entrepreneur and she's an inspiration to anyone thinking of starting their own business.
If you're in the bike business she'd like a word.
Her 'hire in a heartbeat', Edie King (aka her daughter). Find out why.
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E227 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
We know about XXX businesses, the ones that sell the dodgy stuff, but how about 50X businesses???
The 50X Programme from SME Matters connects you and your business with like-minded business owners in a peer-to-peer learning environment that’s transformative. Damien O'Brien is CEO of SME Matters and he says he doesn't offer just support— he calls it empowerment. And, he wants you to step into a new way of leading and succeeding. Listen to get a free masterclass.
Every business owner, or wannabe entrepreneur, is full of good intentions…to do more R&D, find cleverer ways of making things, and of course finding anything, anything to remove costs from the business. But of course, REAL LIFE gets in the way. The boiler needs fixing and your favourite person in accounts has headed for Australia and needs replacing. But fear not. That Great Business Show is here to help. Research Ireland wants to help with whatever it takes to make Irish businesses more dynamic, more innovative…indeed anything that makes our economy more competitive on the world stage. It is NOT just for big companies. Your business – no matter what size – can benefit. Ciaran Seoighe is Deputy CEO at Research Ireland tells us what’s available, who can get their goodies, and how to go about it…
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil.
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E226 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
Jim Campion, the man who didn't pivot, but who made a fortune (allegedly) by selling his eponymous insurance business to UK insurance consolidator PIB.
Jim served a very, very short time in the Civil Service, but then got into the insurance business - a business from which he has never pivoted. He now has 22 offices across the State. His first expansionary step was in buying Phil Hogan's (later EU Commissioner) insurance brokerage. And he wants to do more, buying as many smaller insurance brokers' offices as possible. He has 525 people working for him and and he's hiring another ten a month. He does get cheesed off though when people he hires don't turn up for work from Day One. He says 'if you want bodies go to the morgue', he's very interesting about retaining staff.
Then there was a cyber hack that shut down his business. Very serious. Interestingly, this experience made him think of selling.
Hire in a heartbeat? Brian Cody
Shemaine Doyle, founder Brave Marketing, who went to Dubai for two years and came back after eleven years - bringing with her a husband and two young kids. She was once big in marketing with Aryzta but she got the itch...the itch to set up on her own. Despite being very senior in business she still felt she needed networking. So she joined the Back for Business programme - for returning emigres who want to get back into business.
Shemaine explains how her small consultancy punches above their weight - even making camel milk (yes, it's a thing) popular.
Her hires in a heartbeat (plural) are mum, Joyce Doyle, Dragon's Den Steve Bartlett and singing star, Pink.
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E225 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School 'Podcast of the Year'.
Ronan Dunne, former boss of Verizon in the US, current board member Marks and Spencer (who he says are in the 'experience business'), Chair of Six Nations Rugby (and much, much more), on $10,000 sports tickets, introducing Irish businesses to his network, being a mentor to women entrepreneurs in Ireland, the difference between the male and female business ego, being paid to tell what you 'screwed up' in business... and then there's the LEO space company he's involved with...why he told Dómhnal Slattery, former CEO of Avalon, that he's not his 'rent a rolodex'...
Hire in a heartbeat? Nuala Fennell.
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the SHAVING oil for sports winners.
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E224 That Great Business Show
Ireland's TOP Business Podcast, winner UCD Smurfit's Podcast of the Year
How to get the top job in corporate USA. Ronan Dunne on how and why he moved from head of O2 in the UK, to head of Verizon Wireless in the US, heading a team of 120,000 people. Plenty of candid insights on the big differences between US and European corporate cultures, business values and strategies for success.
His 'hire in a heartbeat'? Arsene Wenger
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Episode 223 That Great Business Show
UCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'
Top Tip. Use Reddit...yes, Reddit. It has helped What's Exposed grow. Learn how.
'You're hacked'. It's happening all the time. It's happening to business big and small. It happened to a recent guest on the show and it cost that business many, many thousands of Euro. Worse still, the 'bad guys' can come back and back and back...What can you do? And how can you know if the 'good guys' aren't working for 'the bad guys'?
Elena Donea is Co-Founder, What’s Exposed https://www.whats.exposed/ based in Castlebar, County Mayo, an emerging cybersecurity business. They are experts in penetration testing / identifying cyber vulnerabilities.
Hire in a heartbeat - Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran & Pat O'Callaghan, Ecko
Need to go to a tradeshow, but can't afford it? Talk to LEO.
John Magee, Head of Enterprise at Mayo Local Enterprise Office and Chair of Network of Local Enterprise Offices
It’s no secret. We love LEO. Or more correctly LEOs, your Local Enterprise Offices. That is where your entrepreneur journey should start…from the very, very, very beginning. You have an idea. A better bucket. A shinier mirror. A yummier sandwich. Whatever. Next stop is to go and have a chat with your LEO.
Now…it’s not all milk and honey. Sometimes they’ll say no. Some other times it may be no but maybe…
Hire in a heartbeat, - Tom Murphy, Pamex and LEO mentor.
With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the world's best all-natural oil, for anyone who shaves.
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