More customer voices needed in the boardroom
16 Mar 2022
In this post first published on the Institute of Directors' blog, I analyse the effect that the pandemic has had on customers' behaviours and why customers deserve more attention id in the boardroom. Read the full post
Five ways SMEs can accelerate the shift to digital
15 Oct 2021
While digital regarded as a top priority for businesses, there are concerns that the gap in digital adoption between SMEs and larger businesses is widening, My article offers practical advice for SME owners and managers on digital strategy, upskilling, setting KPIs and selecting partners.
Read the article on ThinkBusiness.ie
Marketing post-pandemic: the new reality
13 Sep 2021
Technology, changing consumer behaviours, automation, disintermediation and a host of other factors were already upended the traditional marketing landscape – and then the pandemic hit. My article explores how marketing in a post-pandemic era is changing and draws on research and analysis in The Paradox Report. Visit LinkedIn to learn about the seven big trends affecting marketing.
Existential crisis for media sector given Big Tech’s dominance
06 Sep 2021
In 2021 digital advertising will account for an estimated 53% of the Irish advertising market, with Google and Facebook accounting for four-fifths of the spend. My analysis of the implications on the media sector draws on primary research which was published in The Paradox Report, which I co-authored. Read my article on LinkedIn.
The Paradox Report: new research on Irish marketing and media
02 Sep 2021
The Paradox Report, a research study on the big themes that affect the Irish media and marketing sector which I co-authored with another independent Digital Strategist, John Dunne, was launched in September 2021. It includes new research, data that has never been previously published, analysis and expert commentary on a range of important topics of relevance to Irish marketers. Read more about The Paradox Report on this LinkedIn post.
Digital or die? New priorities for boards in a post-pandemic world
01 Jun 2021
Boards need to rethink how they engage with technology, given the seismic changes brought about by Covid-19. In this post published on the Institute of Directors' blog, I analyse how boards dealt with the digital agenda during the pandemic. I also make recommendations on how boards should ensure technology enables business growth and continuity, on the one hand, while overseeing cyber threats on the other.
Visit the Institute of Directors blog to read the post
Responding to an infodemic in the midst of a pandemic
14 May 2020
Besieged by Covid-19 information on TV, radio, print media, social media feeds and messaging apps, what type of media should be consume during the pandemic and why? In this piece I wrote as part of the #CopingWithCovid19 campaign, I made recommendations and shared my top picks for the content worth reading and sharing. Access the article on ThinkBusiness.ie.
Coping with Covid-19 campaign
14 Apr 2020
At the outset of the pandemic, I conceived and edited a social media campaign called #CopingWithCovid19 which offered strategies and tips to help cope with the professional and personal challenges which were being faced. It included infographics and advice from a number of specialists. Learn more about the campaign and access all the resources.
LinkedIn: why it's part of my daily routine
10 Mar 2020
I love LinkedIn. Hardly a working day goes by without me posting, commenting or sharing content on LinkedIn on themes that interest me - leadership, digital strategy, corporate governance, entrepreneurship, innovation, female leadership and much more.
I also use LinkedIn to stay on top of business news and to access analysis and insights that I sometimes would not get from other sources. I also enjoy connecting and engaging with business contacts and other professionals who share common interests.
Read what I post, like or share on LinkedIn
Personas and their importance in eCommerce
01 Nov 2019
In this contribution to this eCommerce Best Practice Guide, published by eConsultancy, I outlined the role that personas play in ensuring website design, customer journeys and content are created around the needs of typical site visitors. I provided guidelines on creating personas and how they can be used by marketing teams and their agencies.
Find out more about eConsultancy's eCommerce guide
Why business leaders need to rethink failure
06 Aug 2019
Leaders in traditional businesses have much to learn from fintech and other digital start ups about how they respond to customer needs and encourage their teams to experiment within certain boundaries, without fear of failure. This post makes the case for why business leaders need to embrace and not shun failure.
Read the post on the Institute of Directors in Ireland blog
How we launched a national newspaper - against considerable odds
04 Sep 2018
To mark the 1,500th edition of The Sunday Business Post, I was asked by the Editor to write about the tumultuous beginnings of the newspaper I had the privilege of co-founding. This piece was first published in the newspaper as part of a special feature and was subsequently republished on LinkedIn.
Read the piece on LinkedIn
Why marketers struggle with communicating strategic value to boards
02 May 2018
There is a large disconnect between marketers and boards of Directors. This post explores the reasons why and, importantly, recommends some steps that marketers can take to increase their influence in the boardroom.
Read my post on the Marketing Institute of Ireland's blog
Digital strategy: a top issue for boards in 2018
10 Jan 2018
Many directors struggle to keep up with digital developments and to grasp the implications for their businesses. The result is that many boards either don’t consider digital strategy or do so in a superficial way. This blog post outlines what boards need to do to stay on top of the digital agenda.
Read my post published on the Institute of Directors Ireland blog
I want to stop women feeling like frauds in a corporate culture designed for our grandfathers
22 Nov 2017
An opinion piece published by TheJournal.ie reflects on my experiencing of working in a male-dominated sector, the barriers which women face in progressing their careers and what they can do to overcome such barriers. The piece was published to coincide with the launch of #WomanUp, an action plan on female leadership.
Read the article on TheJournal.ie
Use #WomanUp to improve gender balance in your business
15 Nov 2017
#WomanUp, an action plan on female leadership, has been published by WoW, a voluntary initiative which I co-founded in 2015. It has actions for businesses to help increase females who take up leadership roles and also for women to assist them in overcoming the barriers to career progression.
Read my LinkedIn article about #WomanUp
Directors: why you need to grasp marketing’s strategic value
07 Feb 2017
Marketers are under-represented in the boardroom despite hard evidence that this discipline's customer centricity underpins good business. Directors need to understand marketing's strategic value while marketers need to communicate the value of marketing as a driver of business performance.
Read the post on the Institute of Directors' blog
DQ needed to lead and succeed in digital age
07 Sep 2016
A new set of leadership of traits is required by board members and the C suite executives to overcome digital disruption. What’s being termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires leaders to adopt different mindsets and approaches. Digital Quotient (DQ) is a must.
Read the article on LinkedIn
Turn retirement into an exciting ‘third age’ journey at DCU
07 Jun 2016
A new Dublin City University programme aims to turn retirement into an individualised exploration and discovery with learning and connecting with community.
Read the LinkedIn post
Corporate culture – fit for purpose for women?
06 May 2016
The differences between male and female brains need to be considered by organisations as they grapple with achieving gender diversity in the workplace.
Read the LinkedIn post
My old school photo
09 Oct 2013
This is a reflection on my school days in Manor House, Raheny in north Dublin, one of the first schools in Ireland to have a career guidance teacher. My school year produced some exceptional women – national and international figures in their chosen professions and “quieter heroes”, women who chose different paths but yet achieved so much.
Read the article on TheJournal.ie
