Taking place on Wednesday, 4 March at St. Peter’s, North Main Street, Cork, the event will feature keynote speaker Marie Gleeson, former Naval Captain and Managing Director of NavMar Leadership. Marie will share her inspiring journey from military leadership to entrepreneurship, offering powerful insights on resilience, adaptability, and leading with confidence in times of change. Drawing on her unique and distinguished career, Marie will explore key themes including decision-making under pressure, building resilient teams, and the critical role of collaboration in achieving sustainable success. Her experience and perspective promise to resonate strongly with women in business at every stage of their professional journey. The evening will be hosted by MC Louise Kane Buckley, Founder of Loula Natural, who will lead a dynamic fireside chat with Marie following the keynote address. Attendees can look forward to an engaging and candid conversation that delves deeper into leadership lessons, personal growth, and navigating challenges in business.
Speaking ahead of the event, Network Cork President Diane Higgins said, “Leadership is built over time from experience, resilience and courage. Marie has these in spades and we are looking forward to hearing how she has built her leadership and transferred these insights into building her business. This event is a collaboration with LEO Cork city and LEO South Cork and we are proud to be a part of enterprise week in a beautiful venue in Cork city.” This collaborative event will shine a light on the power of connection, community, and shared experience in supporting women in business and leadership. By working together through partnership and collective strength, we can create greater opportunities, stronger enterprises, and more resilient leaders across Cork and beyond.
Ita Madden, Senior Enterprise Development Officer at Local Enterprise Office, Cork City emphasised the importance of supporting women in business - “LEO Cork City is delighted to work with Network Cork and LEO South Cork on this upcoming event focusing on leadership as part of Local Enterprise Week 2026. Supporting women in business is an important part of what we do, and this collaboration gives us another opportunity to help local entrepreneurs build their skills and confidence to help them grow their business.”
In addition to invaluable leadership insights, the event offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with like-minded women, gain fresh perspectives, and celebrate what can be achieved when we work better together. Booking Information Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early booking is strongly advised. Attendees can register through one of the following links:
- LEO Cork City Booking Page
- LEO South Cork Booking Page
