Inspiring Ireland’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

As a former youth worker and committed champion of SME’s – I have long believed that the only long term solution to unemployment and social disadvantage are education and employment. I came to understand early in life that ‘ Young people can not be …what they can not see’.

I was delighted therefore, when I was invited to join Ellen Jordan and her colleagues in Deal Advisory at BDO Ireland for a fire side chat at their innovative networking event for young professionals - from more than 30 finance and legal firms across the country. Excited and proud to see such amazing young talent emerging in these firms and what really smart and confident young people we have in this little country of ours. I shared the lessons I have learned from over 30 years in business - from my time working in local enterprise - funding and mentoring start-ups - to founding and growing Smarthomes and to my current real estate company, Clyde Real Estate. Delighted too, to share stories from my time on Dragons' Den and from writing for the Sunday Independent for many years where I interviewed more than 300 of Ireland's most successful entrepreneurs.

Helping to inspire the next generation is a core value of mine. As a former youth worker working with early school leavers and those affected by alcohol and drug misuse, I learned early in life that the only long term solution to disadvantage and poverty for individuals and their families is education and job creation - to be able to get a job or create a job for yourself and others. Beyond achieving financial security, business for most of us, is not all about making money - it's about making 'a difference' - be it in the products we create, the services we deliver or the businesses we build. At such a challenging time in our economy, we now need to balance our ongoing reliance on FDI by helping inspire and support the next generation of domestic indigenous business builders. I also learned at an early stage the importance of having role models...' Young people can not be what they can not see'. So here's to all the young professionals who will both support and inspire the next wave of Irish business leaders. From what I witnessed last week, we're in safe hands