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Business Builders

Conor Kearney

I created Business Builders as a weekly interview series to have honest conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors about their journeys; their successes, setbacks, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As a growing business builder myself, I want to learn directly from my guests and share those insights with you. My goal is to provide listeners with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and real inspiration to help you on your own path to building and growing a business. 

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 12 min
  • English

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  • S14 · E5
    August 17 · 1 hr 25 min

    €50m Turnover in 5 Years | Liam Kearney, Revive Group

    THE ROOM | 23 OCTOBER 2026 Theme: Belief Applications are now open for a limited number of places at the first gathering of The Room. Attendance is limited to experienced business owners and investors and is subject to approval. Join me for a private morning of live interviews with Vincent Carton, former CEO of Manor Farm, and Nick Keegan, Founder & CEO of Mail Metrics, exploring the role belief has played in their businesses and lives, followed by audience Q&A. Nothing is recorded. Friday, 23 October | 10am–12pm | Windmill QTR, Dublin Tickets are €285 + VAT. Find out more and book your place: https://www.theroom.salon/event ------------------------ Liam Kearney explains why the most successful businesses are often built in industries nobody talks about, why entrepreneurs should think five and even ten years ahead, and how the lessons he learned from financial collapse, corporate burnout and personal tragedy helped him build Revive Group into one of Ireland's fastest-growing manufacturing companies. Liam Kearney joins Business Builders to share the story of building Revive Group from the ground up, transforming decades of experience in specialist municipal engineering into a global manufacturing and technology business that expects to exceed €50 million in turnover this year, with ambitions to surpass €100 million in the next three years and eventually reach half a billion euro in revenue. Liam reflects on losing a successful business during the financial crisis, being forced to leave Ireland, rebuilding his career in Denmark and ultimately returning home to start again. He explains why corporate life almost destroyed his entrepreneurial spirit, why he deliberately chose an industry that remains resilient during economic downturns, and how Revive is evolving from a traditional manufacturer into a data-driven technology company. The conversation also explores Liam's experiences growing up with dyslexia, being told he'd never achieve anything, and losing both of his parents in separate accidents. He discusses how those experiences shaped his ambition, why he isn't motivated by money, the importance of building world-class teams, and why creating opportunities for people through employability initiatives has become one of the most meaningful aspects of his leadership journey. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, manufacturing, engineering, leadership, resilience, scaling, industrial technology, data, innovation, globalization, dyslexia, ambition, founder mindset, team building, employability, Irish industry, personal tragedy, business failure, corporate culture and building global businesses from rural Ireland. "My reward is success. Taking something that didn't exist and turning it into a global organization." 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: • How Liam rebuilt his career after losing a successful business during the financial crisis • Why he left corporate life to become an entrepreneur again • How Revive Group grew into a business approaching €50 million in annual turnover • Why sewer infrastructure became the foundation of a global manufacturing company • Why Liam deliberately chose an industry that can survive any economic downturn • How Revive is transitioning from manufacturing equipment to harvesting and monetizing data • Why the best founders think five and even ten years ahead • How dyslexia shaped Liam's approach to business and leadership • Why Liam believes success has nothing to do with money • How personal tragedy strengthened his determination to build something meaningful ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 00:39 - What is Revive Group? 02:20 - Liam's previous business and the financial crash 04:09 - The story of buying a chicken factory on a train 07:16 - Losing a successful business 08:28 - Rebuilding in Denmark 15:40 - Why corporate life almost broke him 17:59 - Thinking five and ten years ahead 19:28 - Starting Revive Group during Covid 20:42 - Why data is more valuable than the machines 23:04 - Choosing a recession-proof industry 24:12 - Building the Warrior Project 25:34 - Building a world-class leadership team 27:06 - Do CEOs need technical expertise? 30:11 - Why Liam brought the business back to Ireland 32:56 - Building completely off-grid factories 33:19 - The Danish manufacturing model 38:04 - Growing towards €50 million in turnover 40:01 - The biggest challenge: cash 46:10 - Transitioning from manufacturing to data 55:17 - Where ambition comes from 57:49 - Growing up with dyslexia 01:01:14 - Why money doesn't motivate Liam 01:01:50 - Losing both parents in separate accidents 01:05:25 - Leadership, employability and giving back 01:12:01 - The three things Liam is most proud of 01:16:08 - The personal cost of ambition 01:17:14 - Advice for his younger self 01:21:50 - The Enterprise Ireland programme that changed his thinking Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, Liam Kearney, Revive Group, manufacturing, engineering, industrial technology, sewer infrastructure, municipal engineering, leadership, resilience, scaling, business growth, globalization, data, Industry 4.0, entrepreneurship in Ireland, founder mindset, dyslexia, employability, team building, innovation, Denmark, Irish manufacturing, business failure, ambition, leadership development, Enterprise Ireland.

  • S14 · E4
    August 10 · 1 hr 9 min

    From Professional Rugby To Building A €100m+ Business | Shane Leahy, Oxygen8

    Shane Leahy explains why rapid growth can become one of a business's biggest challenges, why great leaders build teams around their own weaknesses, and how the lessons he learned building Oxygen8 into a €100m+ global technology group are now helping him scale humanitarian aid in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones. Shane Leahy joins Business Builders to share his journey from professional rugby into telecoms and entrepreneurship, eventually helping grow Oxygen8 from a €30 million business into a global technology group generating more than €100 million in turnover, with operations spanning Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, the US and beyond. Shane reflects on the leadership lessons he carried from professional sport into business, why different people require completely different styles of management, and how recognising his own weaknesses helped him build stronger teams around him. He also discusses the challenges created by rapid international growth, a fraud of more than $10 million that forced the group to restructure, the importance of learning from failure, and why putting the right management structures in place became essential as Oxygen8 scaled. The conversation also explores Shane's decision to step back from the day-to-day running of his businesses and establish One for Humanity. Using the same proof-of-concept and scaling principles he learned in business, Shane and his team have helped establish 19 hospital units along the front lines in Ukraine and deliver more than $200 million worth of medicine, while also supporting humanitarian projects in Gaza and elsewhere. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, professional sport, scaling, international business, failure, resilience, team building, self-awareness, humanitarian aid, purpose, Ukraine, Gaza, technology, organisational structure, founder mindset, and using business experience to make an impact far beyond business. "You learn a hell of a lot more from your failures than you do from the successes." 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: • How Shane went from professional rugby into business and telecoms • How Oxygen8 grew from €30 million to more than €100 million in turnover • Why Shane believes great leaders need to manage different people differently • How to identify your weaknesses and build a team that complements them • Why rapid growth can expose weaknesses in a company's structure • How Oxygen8 responded after suffering a fraud of more than $10 million • Why failure can teach you more than success • How Shane applied business principles to humanitarian aid • How One for Humanity helped establish 19 hospital units in Ukraine • Why Shane believes simply showing up for people can make a profound difference ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:18 - What is Oxygen8? 04:17 - From professional rugby to business 06:38 - What rugby taught Shane about leadership 08:19 - Building a team around your weaknesses 11:06 - Why failure teaches you more than success 11:58 - The challenges of building a global business 12:19 - The $10 million fraud that changed Oxygen8 14:51 - When rapid growth becomes a problem 16:09 - Expanding across the world 19:14 - The opportunity in mobile payments 20:27 - Setting goals for growth 22:09 - Stepping back from the business 22:57 - Why Shane became involved in Ukraine 25:08 - Scaling One for Humanity 28:19 - Finding a new purpose in life 30:14 - Building frontline hospital units 32:03 - Delivering millions of dollars of medicine every month 32:57 - Taking the humanitarian model into Gaza 37:12 - Learning from failure in humanitarian work 38:34 - What life is like on the Ukrainian front line 41:21 - Why Shane continues to put himself in danger 43:12 - Hope and determination in Ukraine 46:51 - Applying a business mindset to humanitarian aid 54:29 - How the experience changed Shane's perspective on life 56:45 - Ireland's position in an increasingly uncertain world 01:05:38 - "It's the best thing I've ever done" 01:07:08 - The final message from Shane's father Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, Shane Leahy, Oxygen8, leadership, professional rugby, business growth, scaling, international business, telecoms, mobile payments, Africa, team building, organisational culture, management, resilience, failure, founder mindset, self-awareness, business strategy, One for Humanity, humanitarian aid, Ukraine, Gaza, frontline medicine, purpose, technology, Irish business.

  • S14 · E3
    August 3 · 1 hr 13 min

    How To Build A Business That Survives Anything | Pat Byrne, CityJet

    Pat Byrne explains why great businesses fail when leaders stop challenging themselves, why resilience matters more than avoiding failure, and how CityJet evolved from a small challenger airline into one of Europe's leading regional aviation operators. Pat Byrne joins Business Builders to share the story of founding CityJet, transforming it from a startup airline challenging the Dublin–London monopoly into an international aviation business that grew to operate almost 50 aircraft across Europe through innovative wet leasing partnerships with some of the world's largest airlines. Pat reflects on building and selling multiple businesses over a career spanning more than five decades, including Cornmarket and CityJet, recounts how a cold call to Richard Branson led to a partnership with Virgin, and explains why the biggest breakthroughs often come from challenging conventional thinking. He also discusses surviving constant crises in aviation, overcoming failure, building customer relationships instead of transactions, creating high-performing teams, avoiding the dangers of groupthink, and why the most successful founders never stop transforming themselves or their businesses. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, aviation, leadership, resilience, transformation, business strategy, innovation, customer experience, scaling, organisational culture, founder mindset, sales, marketing, change management, and building businesses that can survive constant uncertainty. "The real risk is not being prepared to take one." 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: • How Pat built CityJet from a startup into a major European regional airline • The cold call that led to a partnership with Richard Branson and Virgin • Why the airline industry is one of the hardest businesses in the world • How one customer conversation transformed Cornmarket into a market leader • Why selling is about relationships, not transactions • How to lead teams through constant uncertainty and crisis • Why founders become prisoners of consensus—and how to avoid it • The dangers of groupthink in business • How Pat approaches failure and bounces back from setbacks • Why great businesses are built through continuous transformation ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 00:56 - Building CityJet from scratch 04:28 - Why airlines are such difficult businesses 06:37 - Surviving constant crisis as a founder 11:00 - Building Cornmarket from one customer insight 18:16 - Why relationships beat transactions in business 20:01 - Selling Cornmarket and starting again 23:15 - Challenging convention and avoiding groupthink 24:34 - How Pat partnered with Richard Branson 31:24 - The mindset behind making bold decisions 40:09 - Selling CityJet to Air France 43:52 - Why Pat returned to CityJet years later 53:04 - Building a career through transformation 56:33 - Pat's philosophy on failure and resilience 59:11 - Helping businesses transform today 01:11:44 - Final thoughts Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, CityJet, aviation, airlines, Richard Branson, Virgin, Cornmarket, leadership, resilience, business strategy, transformation, sales, customer relationships, marketing, innovation, founder mindset, scaling, organisational culture, failure, risk-taking, change management, consulting, business growth, Irish business.

  • S14 · E2
    July 27 · 51 min

    How We Scaled From €3M To €20M By Starting Over | Oltian Dervishi, Forte Pespa

    Oltian Dervishi explains why every growing business eventually hits a ceiling, why founders must keep taking risks long after they've found success, and how Forte Pespa transformed itself from a traditional contractor into one of Ireland's fastest-growing offsite manufacturers. Oltian Dervishi joins Business Builders to share the story of building Forte Pespa from a small construction business into Ireland's largest aluminium balcony manufacturer, growing from €3 million to €20 million in turnover after completely reinventing the company and its business model. Oltian reflects on the difficult early years of entrepreneurship, including going nine months without taking a salary, explains why rebuilding the business from scratch became the only way to scale, and shares the lessons that transformed both his leadership and the company's trajectory. He discusses the importance of timing, learning through failure, hiring ahead of growth, building a culture driven by hunger rather than credentials, taking on private equity, and surrounding yourself with people who force you to think much bigger than you thought possible. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, manufacturing, leadership, innovation, scaling, risk-taking, company culture, hiring, private equity, business strategy, offsite construction, and building a high-growth manufacturing business from Ireland. "You can't teach hunger." 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: • How Forte Pespa grew from €3 million to €20 million by reinventing its entire business • Why every growing business eventually reaches a ceiling—and how to break through it • The advice from Oltian's father that completely changed how he thinks about risk • Why going nine months without a salary was worth it • How failure became his greatest business teacher • Why ambition matters more than talent • How hiring ahead of growth helped the business scale faster • Why the best founders learn to let go of control • How private equity accelerated Forte Pespa's next stage of growth • Why surrounding yourself with bigger thinkers changes your own ambitions ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:18 - What is Forte Pespa? 02:17 - The €3 million ceiling that changed everything 05:42 - Finding the opportunity that started the business 07:13 - Landing the first €1 million contract 08:10 - Surviving without a salary 11:02 - Why timing is everything in business 12:13 - Rebuilding the company from scratch 15:17 - Lessons from Oltian's father 16:21 - Why entrepreneurship beat the 9-to-5 18:02 - Why ambition matters more than talent 19:16 - Learning through failure 22:15 - Hiring before you can afford to 26:07 - Why every team needs spare capacity 27:22 - Reinventing the business to scale 30:16 - Growing from €3 million to €20 million 34:08 - Building a leadership team 36:15 - Creating a winning company culture 37:16 - Why Oltian hires for hunger, not CVs 40:25 - Controlling the entire supply chain 43:00 - Thinking bigger after EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 45:59 - Building a business that's impossible to compete with 48:18 - Why success hasn't changed his mindset 50:10 - Final thoughts Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, business growth, scaling, manufacturing, offsite construction, innovation, leadership, founders, company culture, hiring, ambition, risk-taking, failure, private equity, operations, strategy, engineering, construction, aluminium, supply chain, acquisitions, productivity, Irish business, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, Forte Pespa.

  • S14 · E1
    July 20 · 56 min

    From CTO to CEO | John Corley, Spanish Point Technologies

    John Corley explains why great products still fail, why ambition matters more than most founders realise, and how Spanish Point Technologies became a global software company powering the music industry. John Corley joins Business Builders to share the story of building Spanish Point Technologies from a small Irish software consultancy into an international technology company employing more than 120 people, generating €27 million in annual revenue, and providing the software behind music royalty systems across the world. John reflects on the costly lessons learned after investing millions into a product that received a standing ovation from Microsoft but ultimately failed commercially, and explains why distribution, market focus and go-to-market strategy matter just as much as building a great product. He also discusses bootstrapping for nearly two decades, transitioning from services to software products, embracing AI to solve real-world problems, preserving company culture during rapid growth, and why founders shouldn't be afraid to think much bigger than they're comfortable admitting. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, software, AI, leadership, product strategy, scaling, company culture, ambition, bootstrapping, and building a global technology business from Ireland. "Building a great product isn't enough." 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: • How Spanish Point Technologies grew into a €27 million global software business • Why a standing ovation from Microsoft still wasn't enough to make a product succeed • The difference between building a great product and building a great business • Why bootstrapping helped shape the company's long-term success • How AI is transforming the music industry and royalty payments • Why founders need the confidence to think and communicate more ambitiously • How to scale a business without losing its culture • Why hiring curious people beats hiring experienced people • How John transitioned from CTO to CEO after twenty years • Why some of the most valuable business lessons come from failure ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:28 - What is Spanish Point Technologies? 05:03 - Is AI changing software forever? 07:02 - Using AI to transform the music industry 14:12 - How the music software business began 17:11 - Bootstrapping the company from day one 18:50 - Winning Microsoft's Worldwide Partner of the Year 21:42 - Turning down venture capital 22:55 - Building products instead of selling services 24:05 - The €3 million product that failed 26:42 - The lessons that changed the business forever 28:15 - Building software for the global music industry 31:44 - Learning to think bigger as a founder 33:52 - Hiring and developing great people 37:23 - Scaling culture as the company grows 38:49 - Becoming CEO after twenty years as CTO 41:03 - Leadership without changing who you are 43:33 - Learning confidence and public speaking 46:59 - What entrepreneurs have in common 48:28 - Growing the company through ambition 49:29 - Why Spanish Point took private equity investment 52:09 - Starting the business with no investors 55:04 - What's next for Spanish Point Technologies? Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, software, SaaS, AI, artificial intelligence, leadership, scaling, business growth, founders, bootstrapping, software engineering, Microsoft, startups, company culture, hiring, CTO, CEO, product strategy, go-to-market strategy, music industry, music royalties, digital transformation, private equity, Irish business, Spanish Point Technologies.

  • S13 · E10
    July 13 · 1 hr 10 min

    How An Irish Entrepreneur Cracked The American Market | Dermot O’Shea, Taoglas

    Dermot O’Shea explains why sales beats fundraising, why America rewards ambitious founders, and how he built Taoglas into a $100 million global technology company. Dermot O’Shea joins Business Builders to share the remarkable story of building Taoglas from a two-person startup into a global leader in antenna technology, employing more than 350 people across ten international locations and generating over $100 million in annual revenue. After starting the business with little more than determination, supportive families and a relentless focus on sales and cashflow, Dermot explains why he ignored the startup obsession with fundraising and instead concentrated on winning customers. He reflects on breaking into the American market, why the US business culture helped accelerate Taoglas’ growth, and why resilience has been the defining characteristic of his entrepreneurial journey. Dermot also discusses building a high-performance culture, hiring people who believe in your vision, dealing with toxic employees, trusting your instincts as a leader, transitioning to private equity ownership, and why purpose - not money - is what continues to drive him more than twenty years into the business. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, sales, resilience, leadership, company culture, global expansion, private equity, purpose, and building a business that lasts. “We were focused on selling. Everyone else was focused on fundraising.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Dermot built Taoglas into a $100 million global technology business • Why sales and cashflow mattered more than fundraising in the early years • How an Irish company successfully expanded into the American market • The biggest differences between doing business in Europe and the US • Why resilience is one of an entrepreneur’s greatest competitive advantages • How to build trust with customers and win long sales cycles • Why company culture becomes more important as your business grows • How to identify and deal with toxic employees • What Dermot learned from partnering with private equity • Why purpose becomes more important than money over time ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:06 - What is Taoglas? 04:42 - How Taoglas was founded in Taiwan 09:54 - Winning the first customers 14:16 - Starting with no salary and no funding 17:12 - Growing from $1M to $100M 18:21 - When nobody believed the business would succeed 20:52 - Why sales beats fundraising 22:22 - Why great sales is built on trust 25:23 - Expanding into America 28:29 - Europe vs America: two very different business cultures 35:22 - The mindset America taught Dermot 41:41 - Growing from two people to 350 employees 43:47 - Why toxic employees can destroy a company 49:42 - Resilience as a founder’s greatest strength 53:00 - Working less and leading differently 55:09 - Money, purpose and private equity 01:03:00 - Why Dermot may never retire Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, sales, business growth, scaling, leadership, resilience, company culture, startups, founders, cashflow, fundraising, global expansion, American business, European business, private equity, acquisitions, manufacturing, technology, Taoglas, antenna technology, B2B sales, customer trust, CEO mindset, hiring, business strategy, Irish business.

  • S13 · E9
    July 6 · 1 hr 14 min

    Your Business Can’t Outgrow The Leader You’re Willing To Become | Brendan Mcgurgan, Simple Scaling

    🔔🔔 Brendan McGurgan explains why your business can’t outgrow the leader you’re willing to become; and why scaling starts with self growth first 🔔🔔 Brendan McGurgan joins Business Builders to share the lessons from scaling CDE Global from a 15-person engineering company into a global market leader operating across six continents, before founding Simple Scaling to help ambitious business owners grow with purpose. After spending nearly two decades leading one of Northern Ireland’s biggest business success stories, Brendan now coaches founders on the mindset, systems and leadership required to build companies that can scale beyond their dependence on the owner. He explains why most founders become the bottleneck in their own business, why delegation is a leadership skill rather than a management tactic, and why your business will only ever grow as far as you do. Brendan also reflects on navigating the global financial crisis, building a culture that thrives through adversity, creating a compelling vision that people genuinely want to follow, and why success should never come at the expense of your health, relationships or sense of purpose. This is a conversation about leadership, scaling, mindset, culture, delegation, purpose, and building a business that creates lasting impact. “Leaders will only ever scale to the ceiling of their own belief system.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Brendan helped scale CDE Global from 15 people to a global business • The mindset shifts every founder must make to keep growing • Why founders become trapped working in their business instead of on it • The power of delegation, systems and eliminating low-value work • How to build a culture that thrives through uncertainty and change • What the global financial crisis taught Brendan about leadership • Why vision is one of a leader’s most important responsibilities • How to inspire people by connecting business goals to personal goals • Why every stage of growth creates new challenges • How to scale without sacrificing your health, relationships or wellbeing • Why purpose-driven businesses create greater long-term impact ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open 01:57 – What is Simple Scaling? 04:27 – Why founders become trapped in their own business 08:09 – Delegation, systems and your zone of genius 10:25 – The mindset that stops founders scaling 13:13 – Why leadership starts with changing yourself 17:28 – Scaling CDE Global from 15 people to a global business 21:22 – Leading through the global financial crisis 27:08 – The principles behind successful scaling 30:05 – How to inspire people with a compelling vision 36:17 – Creating long-term business vision 44:05 – Where founders get stuck 49:39 – Every level has a new devil 51:33 – Balancing business with family life 01:00:27 – Why Brendan founded Simple Scaling 01:10:02 – Why you have an obligation to scale 01:12:16 – Where to learn more Topics covered: Scaling, business growth, leadership, founder mindset, entrepreneurship, SMEs, delegation, business systems, company culture, vision, purpose, leadership development, personal growth, scaling businesses, coaching, change management, resilience, business strategy, founder bottlenecks, Northern Ireland business, CDE Global, Simple Scaling, scale-ups, high-performance teams, business leadership

  • S13 · E8
    June 29 · 49 min

    How to Build a Business That Survives Every Crisis | Charlie Hamilton, Canadia Flooring

    🔔🔔 Charlie Hamilton explains how he led a business through the financial crash and Covid; and why the best leaders never stop dealing with reality 🔔🔔 Charlie Hamilton joins Business Builders to share the story of Canadia Flooring, one of Ireland’s leading flooring suppliers, and the leadership lessons he’s learned from three decades of building the business. Starting as an accountant before joining the company in its earliest days, Charlie worked his way from sales to Managing Director before eventually completing a management buyout and becoming owner. Along the way, he led the business through the global financial crisis, expanded into the UK when the Irish market collapsed, and later navigated the uncertainty of Covid. Charlie explains why he believes the most dangerous thing a leader can do is ignore reality, why surrounding yourself with experienced people matters, and how building the right team has been the foundation of Canadia Flooring’s success. He also reflects on the management buyout process, the importance of independent boards for SMEs, finding work you genuinely enjoy, and why entrepreneurship is often about spotting opportunities that others don’t see. This is a conversation about leadership, resilience, long-term thinking, business growth, and building a company that lasts. “The real danger is that you don’t deal in reality, and you don’t deal with the facts that are in front of you.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Charlie grew from accountant to owner of Canadia Flooring • The lessons from leading through the financial crisis and Covid • Why expanding into the UK transformed the business • The reality of completing a management buyout (MBO) • Why good advice is worth paying for • How an independent board helped grow the company • Why entrepreneurs see opportunities differently • How to build a resilient leadership team • Why listening to customers is a competitive advantage • The importance of planning years ahead, not just months • Why doing work you genuinely enjoy changes everything • What the next decade looks like for Canadia Flooring ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:03 - Introducing Charlie Hamilton and Canadia Flooring 02:41 - The story behind Canadia Flooring 09:25 - Building a nationwide business 11:22 - From accountant to flooring 13:16 - Becoming Managing Director before the financial crash 14:35 - Surviving the recession by expanding into the UK 16:09 - Finding work you genuinely love 18:12 - The confidence to lead 22:24 - Leading through crisis 25:06 - Why EO and great advisors matter 27:25 - Why every SME should consider a board 29:39 - Listening to customers 35:30 - Completing the management buyout 42:39 - Becoming an entrepreneur 44:40 - The future of Canadia Flooring 48:46 - 30 years in business 49:41 - Where to learn more Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, leadership, management buyouts, MBO, business growth, SMEs, Irish business, family business, recession, financial crisis, Covid, resilience, leadership mindset, boards, governance, strategy, customer experience, sales, scaling a business, construction, flooring, importing, entrepreneurship in Ireland, Canadia Flooring, business ownership, founder mindset

  • S13 · E7
    June 22 · 1 hr 5 min

    The Hidden Problem Facing Women in Leadership | Hannah Wrixon, KELLA

    🔔🔔 Hannah Wrixon explains why the most successful women are often the least supported; and why she’s building a global network to change that 🔔🔔 Hannah Wrixon joins Business Builders to share the story behind Keller and why she believes one of the biggest challenges facing women in leadership is something few people talk about. After building and exiting multiple businesses, Hannah noticed a surprising pattern. While countless initiatives exist to support startups and emerging leaders, many of the women who had already “made it” were quietly carrying enormous responsibilities with very little support themselves. The executives and founders mentoring everyone else often had nobody to turn to when they faced their own challenges. That insight led Hannah to launch KELLA, a private global community for senior women leaders and entrepreneurs designed around peer-to-peer support, leadership development, and meaningful connections. Alongside the story of Keller, Hannah reflects on building and selling Get the Shifts, navigating Covid, understanding her own strengths as an entrepreneur, and why ambition and personal fulfilment are not always the same thing. She also shares her experiences as a woman entering heavily male-dominated industries in the 1990s, the importance of risk-taking, and why she proudly describes herself as “unapologetically ambitious”. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, ambition, identity, and what success really means. “That’s all wonderful. But who’s mentoring you? Silence. Full stop.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why the most successful women are often the least supported • The story behind founding Keller and its mission to support women leaders • Why Hannah’s first attempt at building Keller went badly wrong • The costly mistake she made with Builder.ai • How she built and exited Get the Shifts • Why she sold the business after Covid • The challenges of balancing ambition with family life • Why knowing your strengths matters as a founder • How a conversation with her son changed how she thinks about identity • Why she believes women should be unapologetically ambitious • What success means to her today • How Keller plans to become a global network for women leaders ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:03 - Introducing Hannah Wrixon and Keller 02:55 - Why she founded Keller 05:18 - “Who’s mentoring you?” 05:47 - The mistakes she made building Keller 08:38 - Why the original tech platform failed 10:27 - Losing money on Builder.ai 12:08 - How Keller works today 18:47 - Expansion into the UK and global ambitions 22:45 - The story behind Get the Shifts 27:34 - The reality of entrepreneurship and cash flow 29:50 - The bank almost stopped payroll 32:21 - Covid and reinventing the business 36:21 - Why she sold the company 37:37 - “You’re my hardest-working, poorest friend” 38:48 - Why entrepreneurs don’t work normally 39:14 - Work addiction and identity 41:07 - Her relationship with her son Callum 43:02 - Why selling the company felt disappointing 46:22 - Finding purpose through Keller 50:34 - Being told there were no jobs for women in engineering 55:03 - The challenges women leaders still face 58:19 - Becoming an accidental entrepreneur 59:37 - Why she isn’t afraid of failure 01:01:10 - Being “unapologetically ambitious” 01:02:47 - What she wants written on her gravestone Topics covered: Women in business, women in leadership, entrepreneurship, startups, founder mindset, leadership, ambition, purpose, identity, work-life balance, business exits, scaling companies, peer networks, executive leadership, female founders, mentoring, gender equality, confidence, family, personal development, business growth, Keller, Get the Shifts, leadership development, founder psychology.

  • S13 · E6
    June 15 · 51 min

    From Grief To Purpose: Building ADHD Now | Danny Buckley

    🔔🔔 Danny Buckley shares how grief, purpose, and an ADHD diagnosis at 32 led him to build one of Ireland’s fastest-growing healthcare businesses 🔔🔔 Danny Buckley joins Business Builders to share the remarkable story behind ADHD Now and how a series of deeply personal experiences transformed both his life and his career. For much of his life, Danny believed there was something wrong with him. Undiagnosed ADHD left him struggling with anxiety, emotional regulation, and self-understanding, while family health crises and the devastating loss of his wife forced him to confront some of life’s hardest challenges. After receiving his own ADHD diagnosis at the age of 32, Danny discovered that understanding himself was only the beginning. Determined to ensure others wouldn’t face the same barriers he had encountered, he set out to build ADHD Now — an online service designed to provide fast access to diagnosis and meaningful support beyond it. What began with a mission to help others has quickly grown into a thriving healthcare business employing almost 100 people, alongside the launch of Autism Care and a broader vision to improve access to neurodiversity and mental health services across Ireland. In this episode, Danny reflects on grief, faith, purpose, emotional resilience, and why success means far more than money. He also explains how building a mission-driven business has helped turn pain into something that positively impacts thousands of lives. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, loss, personal transformation, and the power of finding purpose through adversity. “I thought there was something wrong with me my whole life.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Danny’s own ADHD diagnosis at 32 changed his life • Why diagnosis is only the beginning — and why aftercare matters • How losing his wife inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship • Why emotional awareness transformed his mental health • The story behind founding ADHD Now and Autism Care • How the business scaled to almost 100 staff in just a few years • Why purpose matters more than profit • The importance of structure and discipline for people with ADHD • How Danny thinks about success, grief, and happiness • Why Ireland can become a world leader in neurodiversity and mental health support ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 00:40 - Introducing Danny Buckley 01:20 - The vision behind ADHD Now 03:00 - Why diagnosis isn’t enough 07:20 - Growing up undiagnosed 08:30 - Family health struggles and adversity 09:50 - His wife’s illness and cardiac arrest 11:00 - The conversation that changed everything 12:20 - Grief and discovering ADHD 14:00 - Receiving his diagnosis at 32 15:00 - Building ADHD Now 17:30 - The role of faith and purpose 20:20 - Emotional regulation and self-awareness 23:00 - Why children need better support 25:50 - Redefining success 27:00 - Faith, entrepreneurship and the “magic formula” 29:00 - Scaling ADHD Now 35:00 - Leadership and knowing your strengths 37:00 - Why he no longer has bad days 38:30 - Parenting, support and family 41:00 - EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 45:00 - Imposter syndrome and self-belief 48:00 - The future of ADHD Now and mental health in Ireland 49:30 - Final thoughts Topics covered: ADHD, entrepreneurship, neurodiversity, autism, mental health, grief, resilience, purpose, leadership, emotional regulation, startups, healthcare, personal development, parenting, faith, business growth, founder mindset, emotional intelligence, Ireland, ADHD diagnosis, Autism Care, entrepreneurship and purpose.

  • S13 · E5
    June 8 · 1 hr 17 min

    Building A Global Kids Brand With Disney, Lego & Netflix | Emmet O'Neill, StoryToys

    🔔🔔 Emmet O’Neill reveals how StoryToys nearly collapsed after years of venture capital funding, how he cut the business from 45 people to 15, and how that turnaround ultimately led to a €35 million children’s media company with more than 300 million app downloads 🔔🔔 Emmet O’Neill joins Business Builders to share the remarkable story behind StoryToys, one of Ireland’s most successful digital media companies and the creator of educational children’s apps based on brands including Disney, Lego, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, Bluey, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and more. Starting his career as an illustrator before moving into digital media, Emmet spotted the opportunity created by the arrival of the iPad and helped pioneer a new category of interactive storytelling for children. But the journey was anything but straightforward. After raising significant venture capital and scaling rapidly, StoryToys found itself growing too fast in too many directions. Burn rates soared, the business came close to collapse, and difficult decisions had to be made. Emmet shares the painful reality of cutting the team from 45 people to 15, taking over leadership during the company’s darkest period, and rebuilding the business around profitability rather than fundraising. What followed was a remarkable turnaround. By refocusing on high-quality licensed content for preschool children, securing partnerships with brands such as Lego and Disney, and maintaining a relentless focus on product quality, StoryToys transformed from a struggling startup into a highly profitable global business generating €35 million in annual revenue. Along the way, Emmet reflects on working alongside his brother, the challenges of venture capital, product-market fit, acquisitions, leadership during crisis, creativity in business, licensing major intellectual property, and why he believes great businesses are built by enabling talented people to do their best work. The conversation also explores the future of children’s media, Netflix’s growing games strategy, AI’s impact on creative industries, autism-friendly product design, and why creating products that genuinely improve children’s lives remains at the heart of StoryToys’ mission. This is a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, product-market fit, and building a business that survives long enough to become extraordinary. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: • How StoryToys grew from a small Dublin startup into a €35 million business • Why Emmet believes many startups become addicted to venture capital • The mistakes that nearly caused StoryToys to collapse • How cutting the team from 45 people to 15 saved the company • Why profitability changed everything for the business • The story behind securing partnerships with Disney, Lego and Netflix • How StoryToys creates educational alternatives to addictive mobile games • Why creativity can be a powerful advantage in business leadership • The lessons Emmet learned working alongside his brother • How to identify and nurture talent inside an organisation • Why product-market fit matters more than growth at any cost • The realities of scaling a venture-backed business • How StoryToys was acquired and why Emmet stayed on as CEO • What makes successful acquisitions work after the deal is signed • The changing economics of children’s media and entertainment • Why Netflix is becoming an important gaming platform • How AI is being used inside StoryToys today • Why Emmet is less worried about AI than he was five years ago • How StoryToys designs products for autistic children and families • Why meaningful impact matters more than download numbers ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - What StoryToys does and the children’s app market 04:00 - Educational games versus addictive mobile apps 10:00 - From illustrator to digital entrepreneur 14:00 - Joining StoryToys and working with family 17:00 - Creativity as a business advantage 20:00 - Building products and securing major licences 26:00 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar and children’s storytelling 31:00 - Venture capital, growth and near-collapse 37:00 - Returning to profitability and saving the business 43:00 - Pandemic growth and finding product-market fit 46:00 - Selling the company and lessons from VC funding 50:00 - Acquisition by Team17 and continued growth 56:00 - The future of children’s media and gaming 59:00 - AI, creativity and the future of software 01:04:00 - The challenges facing children’s content creators 01:08:00 - Building products for autistic children 01:15:00 - Creating meaningful impact through technology Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, startups, venture capital, StoryToys, children’s media, educational technology, mobile apps, app development, product-market fit, Disney, Lego, Netflix, intellectual property, licensing, acquisitions, leadership, business turnaround, scaling companies, profitability, creative entrepreneurship, digital media, gaming industry, children’s entertainment, AI, artificial intelligence, autism, neurodiversity, company culture, product design, business growth, Irish startups, technology business.

  • S13 · E4
    June 1 · 1 hr 22 min

    “I Turned a $20M Company Into a $1.45 Billion Exit” | Cathal Friel, Raglan Capital

    🔔🔔 Cathal Friel explains how he built five public companies, turned a $20 million business into a $1.45 billion exit, and why IPOs may be making a comeback for ambitious entrepreneurs 🔔🔔 Cathal Friel joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on entrepreneurship, IPOs, public markets, distressed assets, investing, AI, and building companies across multiple industries. Cathal is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and company builder who has launched five public companies over the past fourteen years. His ventures have spanned sectors including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, renewable energy, and biotechnology. But this conversation is about far more than stock markets and finance. Cathal explains the repeatable model he has developed for identifying opportunities, acquiring distressed assets, raising capital, and building fast-growing public companies. He shares the story of how a struggling oil and gas company ultimately evolved into Amryt Pharma, which was later sold for $1.45 billion. Drawing on decades of experience as both an entrepreneur and investor, Cathal breaks down the realities of IPOs, why many founders misunderstand public markets, and why he believes going public can be a powerful alternative to private equity. Along the way, he reflects on being forced into the family business at sixteen, the lessons learned from rebuilding debt-ridden companies, the importance of rejection, networking, and continuous learning, and why entrepreneurship is a skill that can be developed rather than something people are simply born with. The conversation also explores AI, the future of work, Europe’s economic outlook, leadership, parenting, and why Cathal remains as excited about building businesses at sixty-one as he was decades ago. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, opportunity, resilience, and building businesses that create long-term value. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: • How Cathal built five public companies in fourteen years • The story behind a $1.45 billion pharmaceutical exit • Why IPOs are often misunderstood by entrepreneurs • The key differences between private equity and public markets • How distressed assets can become valuable businesses • Why investors care more about trust than ideas • The lessons Cathal learned from oil, pharma, biotech and renewables • How public companies can grow through acquisitions • Why rejection is a critical entrepreneurial skill • The importance of networking and building relationships • Why entrepreneurship is a learnable skill • The lessons Cathal learned from running his family business at sixteen • How to think about risk, opportunity and capital allocation • Why AI will reshape work and entrepreneurship • The future of IPOs in Ireland and the UK • Why continuous learning remains one of Cathal’s biggest advantages • The importance of balancing business success with family life • Why he believes Europe is entering a major period of opportunity ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Cathal Friel 02:00 - Building companies through IPOs 07:00 - How Cathal spots market opportunities 12:00 - The story behind Amryt Pharma 18:00 - Distressed assets and creating value 24:00 - Why IPOs differ from private equity 31:00 - Investing in small-cap companies 37:00 - Building businesses through acquisitions 44:00 - The future of public markets 49:00 - Rejection, confidence and entrepreneurship 58:00 - Running the family business at sixteen 01:05:00 - Networking, business cards and relationships 01:12:00 - AI, learning and the future of work 01:21:00 - Europe, geopolitics and opportunity 01:33:00 - Parenting, success and long-term thinking 01:38:00 - Final reflections and advice Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, IPOs, investing, public companies, private equity, distressed assets, business growth, capital markets, pharmaceuticals, biotech, renewable energy, venture building, acquisitions, leadership, networking, AI, future of work, investing strategy, family business, business resilience, startup funding, innovation, company building, European business, entrepreneurship mindset, scaling businesses.

  • May 25 · 1 hr 10 min

    A Big Exit, Confidence & Resilience Ciarán Mulligan, Yes Insurance

    🔔🔔 Ciarán Mulligan explains how he built and sold Blue Insurance, why crises create opportunities in business, and how becoming a father completely changed his perspective on success 🔔🔔Ciarán Mulligan joins Business Builders for a powerful and deeply personal conversation on entrepreneurship, marketing, scaling businesses, resilience, identity, surrogacy, and what really matters after success. Ciarán is the founder of Blue Insurance, the business he built into one of Ireland’s best-known insurance brands before selling in a reported multi-million euro deal. Now, he’s building again with YES Insurance - but this conversation goes far beyond insurance. He explains how Blue Insurance scaled by moving quickly, spotting opportunities during crises, and staying aggressive while competitors pulled back. From exploiting cheap advertising during recessions to building niche insurance products before competitors saw the opportunity, Ciarán shares the mindset that helped grow the company from a small operation into a major international business. He also reflects on the realities of entrepreneurship: negotiating relentlessly, staying lean, surviving economic crashes, dealing with uncertainty, and knowing when the right time to sell actually is. But this episode also becomes something much more personal. Ciarán speaks openly about growing up gay in Ireland, being bullied in school, building confidence over time, and why authenticity mattered to him as a leader. He also shares the emotional story of his surrogacy journey with his husband Brian, including the devastating loss of their first son Connor, the battle to bring him home from Georgia, and how becoming a father ultimately reshaped his priorities and outlook on life. Along the way, the conversation explores marketing psychology, hiring, scaling teams, founder mentality, innovation, customer care, travel, wealth, ambition, and why business success alone is never the full story. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, family, identity, leadership, and building a meaningful life beyond business. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: Why Ciarán kept advertising during economic crashes while competitors stopped How Blue Insurance scaled from a small startup into a multi-million euro company Why diversification was critical to surviving crises The marketing strategies that helped Blue Insurance dominate its niche Why being “lean” became a core operating philosophy How to negotiate aggressively during downturns The importance of spotting opportunities before competitors Why founders need to stop micromanaging as companies grow The biggest lessons Ciarán learned scaling teams and hiring people Why communication skills are essential in business How working nightlife jobs helped build his confidence and people skills His perspective on leadership, customer care, and company culture The realities of selling a business after years of building it Why making money didn’t fundamentally change who he was The emotional story behind his family’s surrogacy journey The devastating loss of his son Connor and the fight to bring him home Why becoming a father changed his priorities completely What success means to him now after business success and personal loss Why YES Insurance is his next big chapter

  • May 19 · 1 hr 34 min

    (RE-RELEASE) “Why So Many SMEs Get Stuck at €1M–€5M Revenue” | Ed Murphy, Greentech HQ

    🔔🔔 Ed Murphy explains why most businesses fail to scale, what franchising taught him about systems and growth, and why founders themselves are often the bottleneck inside their own companies 🔔🔔 Ed Murphy joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on scaling businesses, franchising, entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and the realities of building sustainable companies over decades. Ed is the founder of GreenTech HQ and one of Ireland’s most experienced franchise operators, having helped scale major businesses including Snap Printing and Home Instead Senior Care across Ireland. But this conversation is about far more than franchising. Ed explains why so many SMEs get stuck between €1m and €5m revenue, why great founders often struggle to scale their own companies, and why businesses without proper infrastructure inevitably hit a ceiling. Drawing on decades of experience building franchise systems, Ed breaks down the hidden mechanics behind scalable companies: systems, structure, operations, incentives, accountability, leadership, and repeatable processes. He also reflects on the rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com bubble, the lessons he learned from taking VC investment too early, and why today’s AI boom reminds him of the early internet era. Along the way, Ed shares practical insights on hiring, property, founder psychology, partnerships, incentives, and why sometimes the bravest decision in business is knowing when to stop. The conversation also explores what success actually means after decades in business, and why helping other people succeed ultimately became more fulfilling than chasing money itself. This is a conversation about systems, scaling, leadership, long-term thinking, and building businesses that can grow beyond the founder. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: Why most businesses fail to scale properly The hidden infrastructure every growing business needs Why many founders become the bottleneck inside their own company How franchising taught Ed to build repeatable systems Why systems matter more than hustle when scaling The biggest mistakes SMEs make between €1m–€5m revenue Why some founders had to “sack themselves” as general manager How to structure a business so it can grow beyond you The practical lessons Ed learned scaling Snap Printing across Ireland Why property can become a trap for business owners The story behind PrintOrigin and the dot-com crash Why Ed believes founders should approach AI carefully but seriously His advice for businesses adopting AI today The importance of partnerships, accountability, and shared decision-making Why “fail fast” is often the bravest thing an entrepreneur can do What success actually means after decades in business Why helping others succeed became his biggest motivation How GreenTech HQ is helping create jobs and startups in the southeast of Ireland ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Ed Murphy and GreenTech HQ 02:00 - Why SMEs struggle to scale 05:00 - Finding the gaps inside growing businesses 09:00 - Why founders sometimes become the bottleneck 13:00 - Discovering franchising in America 16:00 - Building Snap Printing across Ireland 20:00 - The hard realities of scaling franchise businesses 25:00 - What non-franchise businesses can learn from franchising 30:00 - Why systems create scalable companies 35:00 - The rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com era 43:00 - AI, technology bubbles, and founder advice 47:00 - The entrepreneurial “7-year itch” 49:00 - Building Home Instead in Ireland 51:00 - Adapting international franchises for local markets 58:00 - Risk, systems, and healthcare businesses 01:00:00 - Failure, ego, and knowing when to stop 01:02:00 - Goal-setting, partnerships, and accountability 01:09:00 - Why Ed eventually moved on from franchising 01:11:00 - Building GreenTech HQ in Wexford 01:14:00 - What success actually means 01:20:00 - Why helping others succeed matters more than money 01:27:00 - The future of GreenTech HQ and the southeast Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, franchising, business systems, scaling businesses, SME growth, leadership, founder mindset, AI, startups, operational systems, business infrastructure, franchising models, Home Instead, Snap Printing, GreenTech HQ, business partnerships, startup growth, innovation, management, business strategy, founder psychology

  • S13 · E2
    May 18 · 1 hr 34 min

    “Why So Many SMEs Get Stuck at €1M–€5M Revenue” | Ed Murphy, Greentech HQ

    🔔🔔 Ed Murphy explains why most businesses fail to scale, what franchising taught him about systems and growth, and why founders themselves are often the bottleneck inside their own companies 🔔🔔 Ed Murphy joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on scaling businesses, franchising, entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and the realities of building sustainable companies over decades. Ed is the founder of GreenTech HQ and one of Ireland’s most experienced franchise operators, having helped scale major businesses including Snap Printing and Home Instead Senior Care across Ireland. But this conversation is about far more than franchising. Ed explains why so many SMEs get stuck between €1m and €5m revenue, why great founders often struggle to scale their own companies, and why businesses without proper infrastructure inevitably hit a ceiling. Drawing on decades of experience building franchise systems, Ed breaks down the hidden mechanics behind scalable companies: systems, structure, operations, incentives, accountability, leadership, and repeatable processes. He also reflects on the rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com bubble, the lessons he learned from taking VC investment too early, and why today’s AI boom reminds him of the early internet era. Along the way, Ed shares practical insights on hiring, property, founder psychology, partnerships, incentives, and why sometimes the bravest decision in business is knowing when to stop. The conversation also explores what success actually means after decades in business, and why helping other people succeed ultimately became more fulfilling than chasing money itself. This is a conversation about systems, scaling, leadership, long-term thinking, and building businesses that can grow beyond the founder. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: Why most businesses fail to scale properly The hidden infrastructure every growing business needs Why many founders become the bottleneck inside their own company How franchising taught Ed to build repeatable systems Why systems matter more than hustle when scaling The biggest mistakes SMEs make between €1m–€5m revenue Why some founders had to “sack themselves” as general manager How to structure a business so it can grow beyond you The practical lessons Ed learned scaling Snap Printing across Ireland Why property can become a trap for business owners The story behind PrintOrigin and the dot-com crash Why Ed believes founders should approach AI carefully but seriously His advice for businesses adopting AI today The importance of partnerships, accountability, and shared decision-making Why “fail fast” is often the bravest thing an entrepreneur can do What success actually means after decades in business Why helping others succeed became his biggest motivation How GreenTech HQ is helping create jobs and startups in the southeast of Ireland ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Ed Murphy and GreenTech HQ 02:00 - Why SMEs struggle to scale 05:00 - Finding the gaps inside growing businesses 09:00 - Why founders sometimes become the bottleneck 13:00 - Discovering franchising in America 16:00 - Building Snap Printing across Ireland 20:00 - The hard realities of scaling franchise businesses 25:00 - What non-franchise businesses can learn from franchising 30:00 - Why systems create scalable companies 35:00 - The rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com era 43:00 - AI, technology bubbles, and founder advice 47:00 - The entrepreneurial “7-year itch” 49:00 - Building Home Instead in Ireland 51:00 - Adapting international franchises for local markets 58:00 - Risk, systems, and healthcare businesses 01:00:00 - Failure, ego, and knowing when to stop 01:02:00 - Goal-setting, partnerships, and accountability 01:09:00 - Why Ed eventually moved on from franchising 01:11:00 - Building GreenTech HQ in Wexford 01:14:00 - What success actually means 01:20:00 - Why helping others succeed matters more than money 01:27:00 - The future of GreenTech HQ and the southeast Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, franchising, business systems, scaling businesses, SME growth, leadership, founder mindset, AI, startups, operational systems, business infrastructure, franchising models, Home Instead, Snap Printing, GreenTech HQ, business partnerships, startup growth, innovation, management, business strategy, founder psychology

  • S13 · E1
    May 11 · 1 hr 35 min

    “I Built a Multi-Million Euro Business With €1,000” | Troy Armour, Junk Kouture

    🔔🔔 Troy Armour reveals how he built Junk Kouture from a €1,000 idea into a global movement, and why he believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma, creativity, and the need to stand out 🔔🔔 Join the movement to help spread 1 Million good deeds at Mo Chuisle: https://30daysofgooddeeds.com/ Troy Armour joins Business Builders for one of the most wide-ranging and unconventional conversations we’ve ever had, covering entrepreneurship, creativity, trauma, AI, identity, leadership, and the deeper psychology behind building businesses. What began as a small creative idea with just €1,000 in the bank grew into Junk Kouture: a global platform spanning more than 100,000 young people across 74 nationalities, helping students express themselves through creativity, fashion, storytelling, and performance. But Troy’s story is about far more than building a successful business. He explains why he believes most entrepreneurs are “addicts” driven by feelings of not being enough, how childhood experiences shape ambition, and why creativity often emerges from pressure, pain, and constraint. Along the way, Troy shares the early hustle behind Junk Kouture; writing letters to nearly 1,000 schools because he couldn’t afford marketing, persuading venues to host events for free, and figuring everything out in real time with no roadmap and almost no money. The conversation also explores Troy’s deeply personal journey of self-discovery: from leadership struggles and burnout, to ayahuasca retreats in Brazil, vulnerability, shame, and learning to accept himself. He also discusses the future of AI, why he believes we are entering “the age of creativity,” and how artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape business, software, and work itself over the next decade. This is a conversation about ambition, identity, creativity, healing, and what really drives people to build. “If you don’t fit in, then maybe you were born to stand out.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: How Troy built Junk Kouture starting with just €1,000 Why constraints and lack of money can create better businesses The unconventional early growth story behind Junk Kouture Why Troy believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma and insecurity The similarities between entrepreneurial obsession and addiction How creativity and pressure are deeply connected What Troy learned about leadership after nearly burning out Why vulnerability and shame shape so much of human behaviour The personal story behind Troy’s ayahuasca experience in Brazil Why he believes “most people leave school broken” How Junk Kouture helps young people build confidence and identity Why AI will transform business and usher in “the age of creativity” Troy’s predictions for the future of software, SaaS, and entrepreneurship Why environment and proximity changed the scale of his ambition What success, happiness, and fulfillment really mean to him now

  • S12 · E10
    April 20 · 1 hr 4 min

    “You Can’t Build a Business Without Hard Decisions” | Colin Culliton, Kith&Kin

    🔔🔔 Colin Culliton reveals why you can’t build a successful business without making hard decisions - and the realities of scaling through crisis 🔔🔔 Colin Culliton joins Business Builders to share the story of how he built and scaled a multi-million euro print and communications group, and the hard decisions that defined his journey. What began as a small “me too” printing company with six people grew into a €20M group of businesses spanning design, marketing, events, and more. But the path from startup to scale was anything but smooth. Colin explains how he approached growth in a traditional, highly competitive industry, starting with organic growth before using acquisitions to accelerate scale and expand into new areas. Along the way, he learned that business success isn’t about avoiding problems; it’s about facing them head-on. Nowhere was this clearer than during the 2008 financial crisis, when Colin made the counterintuitive decision to cut headcount while the business was still booming - a move that ultimately saved the company. In this episode, Colin breaks down what it really takes to build a long-term business: from making tough calls under pressure, to trusting your instincts, to building teams that can solve problems better than you can. He also reflects on leadership, the realities of managing multiple businesses, and why the fear of failure never truly goes away - no matter how successful you become. This is a conversation about resilience, decision-making, and the truth behind what it takes to survive and scale a business over decades. “If you think you can avoid hard decisions and build a business over the long term - you just can’t.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Colin started his first business - and why the idea itself mattered less than taking action How to grow a company in a traditional, competitive industry The role of acquisitions in scaling a business faster Why making hard decisions quickly is critical to long-term success What founders get wrong about growth during good times How Colin navigated the 2008 financial crisis and protected his business Why trusting your instincts is one of the most important skills in business The challenges of managing multiple businesses and leaders How to build teams with diverse thinking and strong problem-solving ability Why fear of failure never goes away - and how it drives performance ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Colin Culliton 02:00 - Starting a “me too” printing business 05:30 - Winning early clients and building trust 10:30 - Dyslexia as a problem-solving advantage 15:00 - Early growth and first acquisition 20:30 - Scaling through acquisitions vs organic growth 25:00 - Spotting risk before the 2008 crash 27:00 - Cutting headcount before the downturn 31:00 - Surviving the financial crisis 34:00 - Lessons from competitors failing 38:00 - Leadership, learning, and self-development 41:00 - How to approach buying a business 47:00 - Managing multiple companies and leaders 53:00 - Why business is always a fight 56:00 - Success, money, and what really matters 59:00 - Sacrifices and work-life balance 01:01:00 - Fear of failure and final advice Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, acquisitions, scaling a business, financial crisis, decision-making, founder mindset, SME strategy, resilience, Colin Culliton

  • S12 · E9
    April 13 · 1 hr

    "This Is What It Takes To Really Scale a Business" | Ciaran Burke, Swoop

    🔔🔔 Ciaran Burke, CEO and co-founder of Swoop, shares how he built a global fintech platform helping 300,000+ businesses access over £2BN in funding - and the brutal realities behind scaling a startup 🔔🔔 Ciaran Burke joins Business Builders to share the story behind Swoop and the realities of building and scaling a fintech company in the modern funding landscape. What started as a simple idea - helping small businesses navigate the complex world of finance - has grown into a global platform operating across multiple countries, connecting businesses with loans, equity, grants, and financial insights. But the journey from early-stage startup to international scale was anything but smooth. Ciaran shares the often unseen side of entrepreneurship; from sleepless nights during funding rounds to the pressure of keeping a team motivated while facing uncertainty behind the scenes. Along the way, he learned one of the most important lessons in business; not all revenue is created equal. Growth can look impressive on the surface, but without understanding margins and key drivers, it can actually hold a business back. In this episode, Ciaran breaks down what it really takes to scale a company: understanding your numbers, making tough decisions about where to focus, and navigating the emotional and operational challenges that come with growth. He also explains why many founders misunderstand funding, how businesses limit themselves by relying on a single source of finance, and why being “funding ready” is more important than ever. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, fintech, and the reality of building a business in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. “Not all revenue is the same… some of it looks good, but you’re actually giving most of it away.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Ciaran co-founded Swoop and the problem it solves for businesses The hidden realities of fundraising and founder pressure Why not all revenue is equal - and how to think about margin How small improvements in key metrics can drive massive growth What it really means to be “funding ready” Why many founders give up too early when seeking finance How to understand and track the most important numbers in your business The challenges of building a two-sided marketplace Why having a co-founder can be critical during tough periods What it takes to scale a business across multiple countries ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Ciaran Burke and Swoop 03:30 - The problem with business funding 08:00 - How Swoop works and makes money 12:00 - Early days and building the business 15:30 - The challenge of two-sided marketplaces 26:00 - Why not all revenue is equal 30:30 - Being funding ready and understanding your numbers 40:40 - Founder pressure and fundraising stress 42:00 - The importance of co-founders 48:30 - Building a business internationally 55:00 - Lessons from scaling Swoop Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, fintech, Swoop, startup funding, business finance, scaling a business, founders, cashflow, revenue vs profit, two-sided marketplaces, leadership, startup growth.

  • S12 · E8
    April 6 · 1 hr 36 min

    “You Don’t Need More Hustle, You Need This System” - Willie McMahon, EOS

    🔔🔔 Willie McMahon built, scaled, and sold a 45-person engineering business - then walked away to help other founders do it better. 🔔🔔 Willie is giving away 10 copies of the book Traction on a first come first served basis. If you’re running a company with between 10 - 250 employees, contact Willie to get your free copy: willie.mcmahon@eosworldwide.com Willie McMahon, EOS Implementer and founder of CalX (exited) joins Business Builders to share how he went from a one-man operation to building and exiting a scaling engineering business - and what he learned along the way. Starting with no plan, no funding, and no support network, Willie built a calibration and instrumentation business from scratch. What began as a solo operation grew into a 45-person company, navigating cash flow pressure, hiring challenges, and the realities of bootstrapping - before eventually merging and exiting. But the journey wasn’t smooth. Growth nearly broke the business multiple times. Hiring mistakes, cash constraints, and operational complexity forced hard decisions - including turning down major opportunities that could have destroyed everything. Willie shares how 90-day execution cycles and relentless problem-solving helped them scale - even before formally discovering EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). The conversation dives into what actually drives business success: people, structure, and clarity. Willie explains why most problems are not what they seem, why founders are often the bottleneck, and how systems - not effort - create scalable companies. He also opens up about the emotional side of building and selling a business: risk, fear, responsibility, and the moment you realise you’re responsible for other people’s livelihoods. Now working with founders through EOS, Willie helps businesses break through growth ceilings, build stronger cultures, and create structure that enables freedom. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling, leadership, and building a business that actually works. “It's not the person - it's the system around them.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: How Willie built and scaled a business from 1 to 45 people Why most businesses hit growth ceilings (and how to break through them) The reality of bootstrapping and managing cash flow Why hiring “another you” is a mistake How to think about risk as a founder Why short-term (90-day) thinking drives long-term growth The importance of culture and hiring the right people How to structure a business for scale Why most problems are systems problems, not people problems The emotional reality of selling a business How EOS helps founders gain clarity, control, and freedom Why you must grow as a person to grow your business ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 00:55 - Introducing Willie McMahon and EOS 02:00 - What calibration and instrumentation actually is 05:00 - Early career and falling into the industry 08:30 - The moment he decided to start his own business 11:00 - First hires and early hiring mistakes 14:30 - “I didn’t need another me” 16:00 - Bootstrapping and surviving on cash flow 18:00 - 90-day targets and early growth 21:00 - Becoming an employer and responsibility for people 23:00 - Turning down a huge opportunity 26:00 - Fear, risk, and decision-making as a founder 30:00 - Discovering EOS and business frameworks 33:00 - Why founders must grow to scale their business 37:00 - Building culture (and the fictional character hiring test) 42:00 - Merging the business and scaling rapidly 46:00 - Managing operations, hiring, and field teams 53:00 - Marketing tactics that actually worked 57:00 - Growth during COVID and scaling chall

  • March 30 · 1 hr 8 min

    “There Is No Finish Line in Business” | Gowri Subramanian, Aspire Systems

    🔔🔔 Gowri Subramanian built a $200M global software company over 25 years - without venture capital 🔔🔔 Gowri Subramanian, CEO of Aspire Systems, joins Business Builders to share how he built and scaled a global technology services company from zero to $200M in revenue; entirely bootstrapped. What started as a group of seven friends with no clear plan or funding became a 4,500-person software and technology services business working with global enterprises across the US, Europe, and beyond. But the journey was slow and difficult. It took years to find product-market fit, pivot away from a non-scaling business model, and reach profitability. Gowri explains how Aspire evolved from an industrial engineering consultancy into a software product engineering company, a pivot that unlocked growth. Instead of raising venture capital, the company reinvested profits and used debt funding to scale, taking a long-term approach. Moving from $10M to $100M required one set of capabilities; but, scaling beyond that meant competing with global firms like Accenture, Capgemini, and Infosys. Gowri shares why every stage requires a different company, strategy, and mindset. The conversation also explores AI and its impact on the software industry. Gowri explains why AI threatens traditional time-and-materials models, while also creating opportunities in legacy modernisation, enterprise transformation, and custom software. Beyond strategy, this episode dives into leadership, culture, and long-term thinking. Gowri shares why people and open feedback are critical to scaling, and why he’s focused on building a business for the long term - not for exit - including creating impact through philanthropy in India. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling, AI disruption, and building something that lasts. “Business is a rat race - there is no finish line.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: How Gowri built Aspire Systems into a $200M global company Why the first 7 years of business were the hardest The importance of pivoting when a business isn’t scaling How to grow without venture capital Why scaling from $100M to $200M is so difficult What changes at each stage of growth How to compete with global firms like Accenture and Infosys The real impact of AI on software businesses Why AI is both a threat and an opportunity How culture and people drive success The role of persistence over decades Why teaching skills creates more impact than charity ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open 00:55 - Introducing Gowri Subramanian and Aspire Systems 02:00 - What Aspire Systems does 05:00 - Moving from India to Singapore and Ireland 06:00 - Starting with no plan or funding 09:00 - 7 founders to 3 12:00 - Early business model and pivot 13:30 - Shutting down one business 14:30 - Road to profitability 18:00 - Early ambition 21:30 - Bootstrapping vs VC 22:30 - Growth to $100M 25:30 - Scaling challenges 27:30 - “Business is a rat race” 29:30 - AI and the future 34:30 - Culture and leadership 37:00 - Open feedback 40:00 - Founder mindset 47:30 - Angel investing 50:00 - India’s growth 59:30 - Philanthropy 01:05:00 - Long-term vision Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, scaling a business, bootstrapping, venture capital, AI and business, software industry, technology services, leadership, company culture, global expansion, startups, India economy, product engineering, long-term business building, philanthropy, founders

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