Local Enterprise Office Dublin City Women in Business Networking Event

Brigit 2023: Dublin City Celebrating Women in Business 

Date: Wednesday 1^st February 2022

Time:  12.00-14.00

Venue: Guinness Enterprise Centre, Taylor's Lane Dublin 8

The Brigit 2023 festival is a Dublin City Council organised celebration of the contributions and achievements of women past and present and includes a city-wide programme highlighting the stories of Irish women through the ages, promoting their immense contribution to our society, and welcoming the beginning of Spring. This event will be a celebration of the achievements and contribution of women in business to the life of the city and broadcaster and media entrepreneur Aine Kerr will talk to four innovative women in business in Dublin about their business stories so far followed by a panel discussion on key issues and tips for other women in business:

• Madeleine Blaine, The Collective
• Lucy O'Reilly, Designs for Growth Ltd
• Daisy Mauhay, The Nightingale Agency Ltd.
• Anita Donoghue, Annutri

Each of these women has a fantastic story to tell with all having invested time in developing their product/service offerings and marketing strategies over the Covid period and now reaping the reward in increased market interest and sales.  Aine Kerr will lead them in a discussion that will give insights into their businesses, their motivation and their future plans.  Please see profiles below.

There will be opportunities for attendees to network with other attendees at this celebration of women in business.  The lunchtime event will take place in the Guinness Enterprise Centre and tea/coffee and sandwiches will be available.

Please book your place through this link: https://forms.gle/You9jZPFTDmYf1Dd8

Profile of Entrepreneurs on Panel

Madeleine Blaine, The Collective

https://thecollectivedublin.ie/ 

Madeleine Blaine is the managing director of Silver Works and The Collective, both based on Drury Street in Dublin city centre. The Collective is a retailer of over 30 Irish and 5 European jewellery, gift and home accessories brands. A hub of beautiful, design led creations, at affordable prices. Madeleine's own jewellery brand - Gallardo & Blaine Designs, is also displayed within these walls. Silver Works runs short courses and classes in jewellery making. Best known for the award winning 2 hour " Forge a silver ring " class of which around 14 classes run a week and attract both Irish and tourists alike. Being such a fun class, and having over 3000 5 star reviews between Air B n B and Google, the class also attracts a lot of private, group events such as team building and hen parties and often ventures out to offsite venues as well. The other very popular class is " Make your own wedding ring" of which around 4 classes  are run a month. The couple make their own wedding bands and can have diamonds set in them afterwards. All 3 businesses work very well together and take over this beautiful, well preserved building in the heart of Dublin's creative quarter." 

Lucy O'Reilly, Designs for Growth Ltd

https://www.designsforgrowth.ie/

Lucy O'Reilly is the founder of Designs for Growth Ltd, a brand and web design business. Passionate about making digital marketing creative, accessible and jargon-free, Lucy works with SMEs who want a beautifully branded online presence designed for growth. 

After a 12 year stint in Paris, Lucy initially started designing websites in her early 40s as a creative hobby, responding to demand from voluntary arts & music organisations she was involved in. After a return to university to study digital technology and design, Lucy launched her business in 2018, initially trading as LucyDesigns, offering Squarespace website design services. Almost 5 years later, the business has evolved to include brand positioning & design, websites, online course design and digital marketing. Lucy is your digital guide, your ally as you navigate the world of online marketing and sales.

In January 2023 Lucy rebranded as Designs for Growth, collaborating with a broad range of colleagues to offer friendly and creative services to take businesses online with impact

Anita Donoghue, Annutri

https://annutri.com/pages/about

Daisy Mauhay, The Nightingale Agency Ltd.

https://tnpa.ie

Daisy Mauhay graduated as a nurse and took up her masteral in the University of the Philippines, the
premier university in her country. She came to Ireland in 2001 and joined St. Vincent’s University
Hospital as neurology nurse advancing to acute medicine after 12 years. She continued to enrich her
nursing knowledge and understanding of the healthcare industry while actively participating in
Filipino Healthcare community activities. She also put up several small businesses and established a
Montessori or Day Care Centre which is again part of her original plan when she specialised as
maternal and childcare nurse in the Philippines.
In 2016, encouraged by her husband Ronald, she founded The Nightingale Placement Agency later
giving the company her entire focus in 2020. Three years later in 2022, she became the LEO Female
Entrepreneur of the Year awardee.
A dedicated mother of four teenage girls and happily married to a very supportive husband, Daisy
continues to make a difference offering innovative approach and investing in the future through
technology. Her company, The Nightingale Placement Agency continues to grow as a company
maintaining the same philosophy she grew up with and making a difference by treating every client
as a family deserving excellent healthcare services.

Moderator

Aine Kerr, Co-Founder and COO of Kinzen

Áine Kerr is co-founder and COO of Kinzen, a regular on broadcast media, a Fellow of Columbia University’s Sulzberger Leadership Programme and an award-winning journalist. At the age of 12, as a curious yet introverted child, she knew she had something to contribute if only she had the courage to find her voice. Today she uses her voice to encourage other women to recognise and reach for their potential. Fast becoming one of the most recognised speakers in this area, Áine believes change can only happen collectively, and that men play as much of a part in change happening as women.

Earlier in her career Aine led global journalism partnerships at Facebook in New York. She was instrumental in creating the Facebook Journalism Project and the News Integrity Initiative (NII). She was also a key part of the leadership team at successful news agency Storyful for the five years before the company’s acquisition by News Corporation.

As a journalist Áine spent over seven years working as a political correspondent and news reporter with The Irish Times, The Irish Independent and The Irish Examiner. As of March 2021, she sits on the President’s Gaisce Council (Gaisce is the President of Ireland’s award).

She is also on the board of the NII, an advisor to the Institute for Future of Media and Journalism (Fujo), and co-founder of Online News Association (ONA) Ireland.

In 2018, Áine won in the media category at the Women of the Year Awards. In summer 2020, she brought her consummate skills to the radio waves as host of Reignite on Ireland’s national radio station RTÉ Radio 1, where she interviewed the likes of Gina Miller, Arianna Huffington, Jim Gavin, and Jamie Heaslip. Áine is also a regular guest host on The Business on RTE Radio 1.
Áine, who is a fully accredited Executive Coach, is a seasoned speaker with a fresh approach and broad appeal. Her career in business, journalism and life’s lessons makes for stimulating, content-rich talks. Some of the events she has spoken at include Web Summit, Collision and the Women in Tech Summit, as well as Inspirefest, LEO Entreprise, BUILA (British Universities International Liaison Association), CES, and IE Domain Registry CLG. As a popular and agile MC, she has also played a key role in some of the biggest media industry events in the world.