Powerhouse Business Break: Financial Empowerment & Literacy
Date: 12th November 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Enterprise House, O’Brien Road, Carlow
Are you a woman entrepreneur or small business owner who wants to feel confident when it comes to your business’ finances? Join us for this Powerhouse Business Break: Financial Empowerment & Literacy, a focused learning and networking session on money mindset, understanding your numbers and funding your growth.
This session will explore how to shift from anxiety to assurance in your financial decisions, decode the jargon around your accounts, and learn from other women who have successfully scaled and funded their businesses – including through export.
What is Powerhouse?
The Powerhouse Network is supported by Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office and our partners in Carlow Library Service, County Carlow Chamber, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet and South East Technological University. It’s a dynamic community designed to empower women entrepreneurs and professionals with the connections, tools and inspiration needed to succeed.
As part of the wider South East support ecosystem, Powerhouse helps women to grow sustainably, increase turnover and address long-term resilience and sustainability goals through peer learning, networking and strategic collaboration.
Strategic Benefits of Peer Learning & Development
At Powerhouse, we know some of the best financial and business insights come from your peers. By joining the Business Break series, you’ll connect with women who are asking the same questions about pricing, cashflow, funding and growth.
You’ll see new ways to approach familiar financial challenges, learn what’s working right now in real businesses, and avoid costly mistakes by hearing honest, practical insights from others on a similar journey.
What to Expect at this Business Break
This Financial Empowerment & Literacy Strategy Business Break will focus on:
- Money mindset & how to master it Move from fear to confidence in your financial decisions and learn to see money as a tool – not a stressor.
- Understanding the numbers (jargon-busting) Get clear on the key figures that matter in your business, what they mean, and how to use them day-to-day.
- Scaling & funding Learn from the experiences of female entrepreneurs who have scaled – including via exports – and explore practical options for funding growth.
You’ll leave with simple frameworks, questions to ask your accountant or adviser, and next steps to strengthen your financial foundations.
About the Speaker – Sinéad Cullen
Sinéad Cullen is a catalyst for values-led wealth and purpose-driven planning. With over 20 years in financial services, she has guided individuals, families and business owners through lifetime financial planning with a human-first, values-led approach.
As former Head of Wealth & Financial Planning at NFP Ireland, Sinéad built a high-performing consultancy, launched a lifetime planning proposition and helped scale a purpose-driven advisory model. She has been recognised as 2024 Top Producer, led the team that won Pension Broker/Financial Advisor of the Year 2023, and has been nominated for Women Mean Business Awards.
A Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) and MSc in International Business graduate, she blends sharp technical expertise with coaching savvy and real-world empathy. On stage, Sinéad is energetic, practical and memorable – delivering tools you can use the very next day. Passionate about financial literacy and women’s financial independence, she equips audiences to make confident decisions, create momentum and turn clarity into action.
Event Schedule (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
10:00 AM – Welcome & Introductions 10:10 AM – Expert Session with Sinéad Cullen: Financial Empowerment & Literacy Strategy 11:00 AM – Open Forum Q&A 11:20 AM – Networking Activity & Opportunity Sharing 11:50 AM – Closing Remarks 12:00 PM – Close
Facilitator: Nicola Doran, CEO, County Carlow Chamber
Why Attend?
This Business Break is ideal if:
- You feel unsure or anxious talking about money in your business
- You want to truly understand your numbers – not just hand them over to someone else
- You’re thinking about scaling, exporting or seeking funding and want to be prepared
- You value learning in a supportive, practical environment with other ambitious women
You’ll gain:
- A stronger, more confident money mindset
- Clarity on the key numbers to track and why
- Insight into real-world scaling and funding journeys
- New connections with women who understand the realities of running and growing a business
Investment & Booking
A contribution of €25 per session applies. You can also purchase the full series of 5 Business Break sessions for €100, giving you sustained learning, support and networking across the programme.
Spaces are limited, so early booking is strongly advised.
