The Brand, The Business & You

Venue:

Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, D18K2P1

Date:

02/03/2026

Time:

10am - 1pm

Category:

Enterprise Week

A practical storytelling masterclass designed to help entrepreneurs, founders, and small business owners shape a compelling story for their brand.

€10

The Brand, The Business & You - A Story only you can tell!

Join us at the Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, where you’ll enjoy seriously good coffee, warm breakfast pastries, followed by a networking lunch and engagement with expert brand storytellers and inspiring local entrepreneurs.

This unique Local Enterprise Week event will feature two inspiring speakers, valuable insights and networking opportunities. You will hear about real life tools and tips to empower you in building the story that works for your Brand, your Business & You.

As the founder of your business, you carry the insight, conviction, and lived experience that has shaped your business from the very beginning. No one else can speak with the same authenticity or depth of understanding. It truly is `` a story only you can tell.``

The Brand, The Business & You is an inspiring and practical storytelling masterclass designed to help entrepreneurs, founders, and small business owners shape a compelling story for their brand.

Date:	Monday 2nd March 2026
Venue:	Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, D18K2P1
Time:	10am (Registration at 9.30am) – 12.30pm (Followed by Networking Lunch)
Cost:	€15

Hosted by the Local Enterprise Office, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, The Brand, The Business & You, brings together expert brand storytellers and real‑world business voices to explore how authentic stories spark meaningful customer connection, strengthen brand identity, and highlight what makes your business different.”

This event is for those of you who may or not have a brand story, but particularly relevant for those who have never really thought about it ,or understood the importance of it to their business. What you will learn here, you will not find in any text- book or start up advice session.

This is an empowering, interactive storytelling event designed to enhance motivation, engagement and helping you to create the story only you can tell.

What you will take away

Participants will discover how their own journey, values, and purpose can become powerful tools for brand building — and how to communicate that story with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Whether you're starting out, scaling up, or refreshing your brand, this session will give you the insight, tools, and inspiration to elevate your story and strengthen your business.

Because in business — just as in life — the most impactful journeys begin with a conversation.

Event Schedule	The Brand, The Business & You — A Story only you can tell
09:30	Registration & Networking Light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs
10:00	Welcome & Opening Remarks: MC: Ruth Larkin Introduction from the MC, Ruth Larkin and overview of the session.
10:10	Keynote: Padraig Hyland An expert brand storyteller shares how authentic stories spark meaningful customer connection, strengthen brand identity, and highlight what makes your business different Padraig Hyland, Founder, The Core Story \| Leadership Coach & Storytelling Expert \| TEDx Speaker Padraig is a leadership coach, storyteller, and speaker passionate about human-centred leadership and the role that story plays in inspiring change. He believes business needs heart as well as smart and that real change only happens when people can connect personally to what’s changing and why. As the founder of The Core Story, Padraig works with global organisations including Heineken, DHL, Mars, Takeda and Bank of Ireland to help leaders find their authentic voice, bring strategy to life, and lead more inspirational change.
11:10	Business Journey Spotlight: Ruth Larkin Ruth will share her expertise on putting your story at the heart of your business shares her compelling brand story from Start Up to success in 2026 Ruth Larkin, Founder, Award winning founder for Entrepreneurship and resilience and leading a team of serial entrepreneurs who have been responsible for establishing, commercializing and growing international businesses Ruth Larkin is a serial industry entrepreneur behind multiple multi-million-euro businesses, and a professional consultant, trainer, executive coach and mentor focusing on foreign expansion, commercialisation, and sales and marketing strategyRuth is an expert speaker and MC at business showcases, international trade fairs, a regular contributor in international trade publications, a podcaster with Enterprise Ireland, winner of National Enterprise Awards, a national finalist in Business Woman of The Year Awards and winner of Enterprise Special Merit Award for Entrepreneurship and Resilience
11:50	Fireside chat and Open Discussion A space to ask questions, share insights, and explore practical storytelling strategies.
12:25	Closing Remarks: Lisa Brown, Head of Enterprise
12:30	Light lunch, Networking & Close A final chance to connect, exchange stories, and continue the conversation.