To celebrate International Women’s Day this year Limerick Chamber would like to highlight female role models in the Mid-West region and celebrate their achievements.
Joanne McEnteggart (Managing Director of First Names Group, Ireland)
What is your biggest achievement in business?
The biggest thing for me is achieving happiness among our people and clients. At First Names Group we put considerable time and energy into finding the best ways to deliver for our clients, so I feel very proud when a client gives us excellent feedback. Equally, I love when a member of our team shares their satisfaction in completing a particular project. I’m not sure any of that technically counts as a “biggest achievement”, but it’s certainly what I find most rewarding on an ongoing basis.
Also, being shortlisted in the 2018 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards for our contribution to the region was a welcome testament to the strides we have made in strengthening our Irish footprint and establishing First Names Group as a great place to work.
What is your motto?
My motto is one of the classics: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. In all of my dealings, I always try to look at it from the other side and ask myself how would I feel or react if someone was engaging with me in this way. I try to treat people how I would like to be treated and I think that builds trust in my relationships with colleagues and clients. I live by being fair. I am straight talker though and will always speak the truth, which can sometimes be my greatest strength and other times one of my biggest flaws!
What is your vision for the future?
With First Names Group having joined forces with SGG Group in 2018, our combined global group has significant plans for growth in Ireland, so I want a fully engaged and motivated team who are happy to walk beside me in pushing our Irish business forward to achieve our goals. We are looking to expand our service offering here and that means further jobs for the region, so I am very excited by our ambition, but as we grow my focus is also on making sure we remain true to our core values, stay agile and keep exceeding our clients’ expectations.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get to where they are now?
Ireland’s recruitment market is extremely active and competitive right now so that is probably my biggest obstacle at present. The senior team and I spend a lot of our management time looking at how we can keep making things better or easier for our people. What’s key for me is ensuring that First Names Group provides a work environment that everyone can be proud of and enjoy coming in to every morning. Not only to secure staff retention, but also because, if our people are happy, they will make sure our clients are happy too.
A good chunk of us are competing together in the Great Limerick Run this year, as part of the Fittest Company Challenge. We have kicked off our training regime and are trying to be more active on our lunch breaks to be prepared for the big day.
In addition, we recently gave the power back to our people through our internal ‘First Names First’ case competition, where we asked interdisciplinary teams if they were running the business what changes they would make. The competition was a great success, demonstrating exceptional teamwork as well as impressive business acumen; I have already taken on board and actioned a number of the suggestions made. Our winning team enjoyed a wonderful night of food and drink at Alex Findlater & Co in February.
Lavinia Ryan, Corporate Business Manager, VHI
What do I see as my major contribution or achievement in business?
There have been many business achievements and challenges over the years. I am privileged to work for Vhi Healthcare and with over one million customers it continues to be the market leader for health insurance in Ireland. The organisation which was established in 1957 continues to evolve and embrace change as it meets the needs of generations of people, helping them access best quality and best value healthcare through its extensive range of product, services and partners.
From my experience to be successful in anything you do it is never by doing it on your own. You always need a strong team of people around you, listening to each others views and perspective, to give advice, to be honest with each other or even to motivate each other. I have been very fortunate to have great mentors over the years in work and outside work who have given me great advice and direction.
I see it as my responsibility to give back to other colleagues who want advice or have asked for support to achieve their goals. Whatever that goal, it is important to them and they see it makes a difference to their working life and their perspective to their future careers. When you reflect it is not just the biggest scores on the board that is deemed the biggest achievement often it is the journey along the way or a challenge you have overcome which may not be up in lights but has had the greatest meaningful impact on your career journey.
What is your motto?
#makingadifference
No matter if it is for a customer, a colleague, or the community as I reflect at the end of each week I ask myself, “Have I made a positive difference this week?” and in planning the week ahead I look to see where I can make that potential difference.
I have found volunteering can be very satisfactory both on a personal and professional basis as it supports positive culture and gives back to society.
I along with my family we thoroughly enjoy giving back our time to the community. I have often said some people like to go on golf course for 4-5 hours, but I like to give my time to community work. This Saturday for International Womens day I along with 14 other colleagues from Vhi are abseiling off Croke Park for first time. We are fundraising for Plan International charity who have a campaign called “Because I’m a Girl”. It will be extra special for me as a Limerick woman to do this in Croke Park the year we are reigning All Ireland Hurling Champions.
What is your vision for the future?
A soiety that enables equal opportunity for women and men that reflects true society. Gender balance is not about men v’s women, but it is about providing balance in the workplace. Survey conducted with Global Leaders 2018 with over 1,000 international corporations highlighted the percentage of leadership roles by gender with 31% women in first level, 29% women in middle management and 22% women in senior management level. I would certainly like to see these percentages improve.
While surveys demonstrate Ireland has made a slight improvement, I do believe more companies are recognising the need to be proactive in having diversity and inclusion a key strategic priority. Companies are looking at programmes that support and encourage women in the workforce. They are recognising having an increase of women at all levels of management participating in decision-making can drive greater innovation, performance that will help attract and retain employees.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get to where you are today?
A great mentor of mine once told “Believe in my own ability, trust my own ability in my current position and the many future positions that I am capable to fill”
Research shows that it is often confidence that can hold women back from moving forward in their careers. A woman when reviewing a new job or promotion will look to see do they have all 10 competencies listed on the job description and therefore may or may not apply for the job. We need to continue to instil confidence in women to apply based on the quality of the many competencies they have suitable to the job. When you see that opportunity have confidence in your ability, talk to your trusted mentors and go for it as you never know what the future holds. It may not always work out at that moment, but you will certainly have learned something about yourself or the process you undertook which gets you ready for the next opportunity that is meant for you.
Miriam O’Connor, Partner, Sellors
What is your biggest achievement in business?
After the merger of Connolly Sellors Geraghty and Keating and Keogh solicitors in 2015 I was appointed Property Partner of the newly merged firm Sellors. I lead one of the strongest Property law departments in the city and have developed and grown the department year on year since 2015. While, I am so proud of what we have achieved as a firm, my personal standout achievement is not related to my legal career. In 2013, I founded and ran the National Business Expo, a free 2 day event in the RDS to help businesses and entrepreneurs get all the support they needed to start or grow their idea or business in the recession.
What is your motto?
Growing up in our house there were two mottos to live by. From my Mom, “What you put in, you get out” and from my Dad, “I can, and I will”. A solid work ethic will get you so far, but when you face those huge challenges in business and in life, it can be self-belief and determination that helps you overcome.
What is your vision for the future?
While Sellors is an old firm with a long history, we are a young partnership with young families. We want Sellors to be the best law firm to work in the Mid-West. We recognise that our service is only as good as our people and that you will only retain your best people if you can offer a work place which supports workers and their families to achieve a work/life balance.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get to where they are now?
Everyone will come across obstacles in their career, but it’s how you deal with the obstacles that counts! Surround yourself with good people that you can rely on and always trust your gut. A good friend “to talk it out” in the midst of any challenge is invaluable. One of my biggest challenges, rather than obstacles, is trying to balance home and work, but I’m still figuring that one out!
Louise Donlon, Theatre Director , Lime Tree
What is your biggest achievement in business?
Opening the Lime Tree Theatre in the midst of a recession and leading the team that has brought it to its current success: over 50,000 customers per year, with the best of local, national and international performances on the stages of the Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable.
What is your motto?
I don’t really have a motto as such, but my ambition for the organisation is always on my mind. Perhaps it’s “Think Big!”
What is your vision for the future?
The first years have been focused on building the brand – the next five will be about growing the numbers of performances and customers and expanding our footprint with the corporate sector.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get to where they are now?
The kind of obstacles that were involved in opening a brand new venue in the middle of a recession. But also, moving our family from Laois to a new home when I took on the job was also a very big step, selling our home in Laois and buying here – also in the midst of the recession!
Patricia Roberts, Proprietor, No 1 Pery Square
What is your biggest achievement in business?
Starting a new hospitality business concept in December 2008 as the recession hit and managing to keep the business afloat until we turned first profits in 2012 and the realisation that there was a business that could grow into the future.
What is your Motto?
Mind and care for each and every customer and they will help grow the business organically through reccommendation.
What is your vision for the future?
To see the citys profile grow and for the city to be a hot place to visit in next few years. To grow occupancy to a very high level and continue to develop the business and innovate the hotel concept for future guests.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are now?
Economic Recession, The citys profile from 2008 to 2012 in attracting leisure guests, lack of skilled labour.
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