KBS Future Thinking KBS Future Thinking

In this episode, Finbarr and Erin are joined by Aongus Hegarty, a seasoned board member, strategic advisor, thought leader, and adjunct professor at the Kemmy Business School. Aongus also serves as Chair of the Lero Governance Committee, which oversees the National Software Centre backed by the Science Foundation of Ireland, based at the University of Limerick.


Aongus Hegarty strongly focuses on people, business, and technology, recognising the critical and interconnected role all three play in driving growth and innovation.



From 1999 to 2023, Aongus held several executive roles at Dell Technologies. His most recent position was President for International Markets, an organisation spanning over 170 countries. Before this role, he served as President of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for a decade, leading the business and go-to-market strategy. Additionally, he led the company’s SME business globally, drove strategic initiatives and growth with Dell’s channel and distribution partners, and held leadership roles in the company’s Consumer and Online businesses.



Aongus has extensive experience as a commentator on business, leadership, digital transformation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and diverse and inclusive workforces. In 2021, he was appointed by the Irish Government as Co-Chair of the Balance for Better Business (B4BB) initiative, promoting increased female representation on company boards and leadership teams. Furthermore, he is a member of the Special Olympics Ireland Council of Patrons, Chair of the Munster Rugby Commercial Advisory Group, and a member of the 30% Club Ireland Advisory Group. His past roles include Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union.



Aongus is also involved in several business ventures. He is the founding member of Lakeside Capital LTD, dedicated to sourcing and investing in forward-thinking sustainable enterprises. He is a member of the Global Advisory Council for VentureWave Capital, a private equity firm focusing on entrepreneurial companies with high-impact potential.



Aongus Hegarty is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2013 from the University of Limerick. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious life fellowship from the Irish Management Institute (IMI).


This episode was produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala

In this episode, Finbarr and Erin chat with Joel Olympio, entrepreneur and co-founder of 'Chapter', a startup aiming to enhance focus with innovative technology.



His work has been recognised globally winning awards by Dyson, Prototypes for Humanity and the Irish Design Institute.



Joel graduated from the University of Limerick in 2023, studying Product Design & Technology. He has worked at Dolmen Design & Innovation, an award-winning design consultancy firm based in Dublin.



Joel's interests are at the intersection of design, technology and inclusion which he uses to fuel the stories he tells through Chapter's products.


At Chapter, they are designing inclusive focus and productivity devices starting with Oasis, an award-winning pair of glasses that reduce visual distractions and enhance focus:

https://chapter.technology

You can read Joel's blog here:

https://joelolympio.com/myjournal


This episode was produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala

In this episode, Finbarr and Erin welcome Dermot Casey, CEO of the Industry Research and Development Group (IRDG). The conversation centres on the IRDG, a collaborative innovation network led by businesses striving for excellence in research, development, and innovation across various industries.


IRDG is a non-profit business network, representing, supporting and connecting hundreds of companies engaged in research and innovation nationally. Over the last two years, IRDG launched the Innovative Skillnet, Ireland's Innovation Index and the Amplify Conference.



Dermot became CEO in January 2022. He joined IRDG from Resolve Partners a leading Innovation Consultancy where he built accelerators, supported fundraising, and worked with founders, researchers, Universities, and Corporates.



Over his career, he’s ranged from investing and supporting deep technology companies in NDRC, as COO growing Storyful from 2 to 35 staff and over a decade in technical and management roles in GE. Dermot has been an adjunct lecturer in Strategy, Innovation and Digital Transformation at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD.



Dermot is a Board Member of the National Standards Authority of Ireland and was a director of the Festival of Curiosity from 2017-2023. He holds an MBA and a BSc in Computer Science from UCD.



https://www.irdg.ie/about-irdg/



This episode was produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala

In this episode, Finbarr and Erin are joined by a very impressive guest, a female entrepreneur and innovator in business, Áine Mulloy.



With an academic background in Humanities, Áine started her professional career in the publishing industry before moving into technology. She was previously the co-founder and CMO at GirlCrew, overseeing the growth of over 200 cities worldwide. While there she had some incredible professional and personal experiences, such as being named a Forbes Top 100 EU Female Founders to Follow, delivering a TEDx on Representation in Tech, and embarking on EU Tech Roadshows.



From there she moved to Accenture as an Innovation Design Lead, at Accenture's Global Flagship for R&D & Innovation. She worked with the CEO and senior leadership of Accenture's biggest clients to solve strategic challenges.



Áine Mulloy joined AWS in late 2022 as Business Development Manager for the Startup Loft Accelerator, helping early-stage startups scale.



In her spare time, Áine sits on the board of the Dublin Fringe Festival, a curated, multidisciplinary arts festival and year-round artist support organisation.



Áine empowers others to solve complex challenges in new ways. Her vision is to build a better future for communities, society and businesses by harnessing the power of diverse ecosystems.


This episode is produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala

As we kick off our second year, we will introduce bonus episodes during the upcoming year. In the initial Bonus Episode, guest host Professor Stephen Kinsella chats with Professor Ciarán Casey regarding Irish economics and his books 'Policy Failures and the Irish Economic Crisis' and 'The Irish Department of Finance 1959-99'



Stephen is a Professor of Economics at the University of Limerick, Head of the Department of Economics, and Research Associate at the Rhodes Centre for International Finance at Brown University. Stephen is also a co-director of the Immersive Software Engineering programme.



Ciarán is an economic historian and Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick.


This first book seeks to understand why almost all commentators on the Irish economy were unprepared for the scale of the recent economic crisis. It analyses the public contributions from a broad range of observers, including domestic and international agencies, academics, newspapers and politicians.


Ciarán's second book: By the late 1950s Ireland had suffered three economic crises in as many decades, falling significantly behind the living standards of neighbouring countries. Yet at the turn of the millennium it had reached virtual parity. This was all the more remarkable given the economic turbulence of the 1970s and the deep recession which lasted most of the 1980s.

A major contributing factor to this historic convergence was a series of new economic and social policies pursued from the 1950s. While the cumulative effect of these was not anticipated, they produced a boom in the 1990s that was genuinely exceptional by world standards.

The Department of Finance had primary responsibility for setting economic policy throughout the period. It was also charged with a swathe of other responsibilities in its role as 'the Central Department'. Its Ministers and officials were key agents of the changes that transformed modern Ireland.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Policy-Failures-Irish-Economic-Crisis/dp/3319901818



https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-90182-4



https://www.ipa.ie/government-and-politics/the-irish-department-of-finance1959-99.6029.html


This episode is produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala

This week marks the first anniversary of the KBS Future Thinking Podcast, we see no better way than featuring one of our outstanding students, Evelyne Mancassola. Evelyne is a 4th Year BA International Business Student at the University of Limerick and the Founder & CEO of The Poppy Cup.



In this episode, Evelyne shares with Finbarr and Erin her inspiring journey of launching a business during her fourth year at university, balancing entrepreneurial endeavours with academic commitments. A native of Limerick, she discusses her decision to go for the competitive BA International Business (BAIB) course at the Kemmy Business School. Influenced by excellent secondary school teachers, she discovered her talent for marketing early on, a passion that has significantly shaped her career path.



Evelyne's drive to gain international experience influenced her choice to pursue the BAIB programme, which subsequently played a pivotal role in her entrepreneurial journey. As a dedicated student and a Student Ambassador managed by the Undergraduate Coordinator, Elaine Mullane, Evelyne values education and the strong academic community at Kemmy Business School. This role offered her the platform to engage with peers, promote the school's exemplary programmes, and contribute to the educational journeys of both current and prospective students.



She also recounts memorable experiences from her time studying abroad and reflects on the enriching academic and extracurricular opportunities at the Kemmy Business School. Join us as Evelyne regales us with tales from her adventures abroad and her academic and entrepreneurial journey.


And of course, we must give a big shout-out to Poppy the dog!



https://www.instagram.com/thepoppycup/



https://www.tiktok.com/@aorcoaching/video/7336600356236922145


This episode is produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala