‘Local to Global’ events aim to inspire female business leaders
By William O'Connor
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) South Dublin is encouraging more women to go from ‘Local to Global’ with their businesses by helping to organise events around the country, with over 1,000 female entrepreneurs expected to attend.
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, TD, launched the national programme of events for National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) 2018 taking place on Thursday, October 18 with 16 major entrepreneurial events planned across the country, including an event in South Dublin.
Oonagh O'Hagan, CEO of Meaghers Pharmacies, Amanda Mills, Senior Enterprise Development Officer with LEO South Dublin and Chiara Keating, Ambassador for the Dublin Region and Director of Uniformal Ltd.
This initiative is led by the 31 LEOs nationwide, and funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, Local Authorities and the Enterprise Europe Network.
The LEO’s have organised a programme of events under the theme “From Local To Global” aimed at inspiring the next generation of female business leaders to take their local ideas and make them a global success.
In 2017, the LEO’s played a key role in supporting female entrepreneurs across the country to start, and grow, their business. Over 18,500 female entrepreneurs took part in training, mentoring and networking programmes with their LEO in 2017.
The LEOs also supported over 280 female-run businesses with funding last year to help them start and grow their business.
On October 18, the event for South Dublin female entrepreneurs is taking place in Citywest Hotel and special guests include host and MC Colette Fitzpatrick, Keynote speakers Oongah O’Hagan (CEO Meaghers Pharmacy), Julie Sinnamon (CEO of Enterprise Ireland) and Helen Smyth (Facebook’s Head of Ireland for Small and Medium businesses). Local speakers include Chiara Keating (Managing Director and Co-Founder of Uniformal), Sarah Jane Brangam – (Co-Founder and Director of Cult Drinks), Caroline Gleeson (CEO of BidRecruit), and Sile Ginnane (Co-Founder of Liberty Bell).
Encouraging local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners to attend, Amanda Mills, the Senior Enterprise Development Officer with Local Enterprise Office South Dublin said: “‘From Local To Global’ as a theme for National Women’s Enterprise Day 2018 is very apt, especially with all the uncertainty around Brexit.
“We want to encourage more female entrepreneurs to diversify and to let them know that their Local Enterprise Office can give them the support they need to explore new markets. Last year alone, the LEOs provided training, mentoring and networking to over 18,500 female entrepreneurs along with providing grant assistance to over 280 female-run businesses and these figures continue to grow.”
