AIBF Business Talk

From Lifeguard to CEO: The Woman Powering Ireland’s Busiest Leisure Centre

"I’d rather be the oldest person in the gym than the youngest in the nursing home."
That’s Lorna Brady’s motto — and she lives by it.

She started out as a lifeguard. Now she’s the CEO of Sportsco, a Dublin fitness centre with:

✔️ 5,500 members
✔️ 27,000 visits a month
✔️ A full wellness offering — from babies to 90-year-olds

In this episode of AIBF Business Talk, Lorna shares:

🛠️ How she led a €13M upgrade without closing a single day
🧠 Why emotional intelligence is her #1 leadership tool
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Her dream: a space where families can be well — together
🚀 And why “getting things done” is her superpower

Lorna has just been named AIBF Health & Fitness Executive of the Year 2025 — and once you hear her story, you’ll understand why.

💚 Real leadership. Real vision. Real Lorna.

Episode 177:🎙️ 5 Big Questions Every Leader Must Answer – with Shay Lynch

If you’re a business owner or CEO, these questions aren’t optional — they’re essential.

In this episode of AIBF Business Talk, we’re joined by Shay Lynch, founder of Future State, to dig into the tough stuff — the kind of leadership questions that separate good managers from great leaders.

Shay doesn’t sugar-coat. He breaks down why leadership always starts with self, how to stop “just managing,” and what to do when the pressure hits.

We also introduce Leadership Lab – a brand new 4-week accelerator from AIBF Entrepreneurs University, in association with Future State. It's practical. It's powerful. And it's designed to help business owners lead with purpose.

🎧 Listen now

Episode 176: 🦆 Rubberduck’s Ted Endo on the Future of Video Marketing

📢 This week on AIBF Business Talk, we feature Ted Endo of Rubberduck, a leading video production company crafting engaging brand content 🎥✨. Over the past 20 years, corporate video production in Ireland has evolved from occasional TV adverts to regular digital content for social media and websites 📱💻.

Rubberduck works with both large corporations and SMEs, with their diverse team; spanning baby boomers to Gen Z; blending experience with fresh creativity 🚀. Notable campaigns include a Transport for Ireland advert and promotional videos for Eurospar 🏪.

Ted highlights how the rise of digital marketing has made video more accessible and affordable, allowing businesses to connect with their audiences across multiple platforms 📢. He advises companies to embrace a tailored approach, focusing on smaller, frequent productions rather than large, one-off projects 🎯

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Recognised as Best in Class Video Production company five years in a row by the AIBF, Ted compares this honour to winning multiple BAFTAs 🏅. He invites businesses to reach out for bespoke, impactful video solutions.

📩 Want to elevate your brand storytelling? Tune in to hear more on how Rubberduck is here to help! 🦆✨

Episode 175 - Siobhán Ní Chofaigh on Business, Gaeilge & Breaking Barriers with Mint-Tek 🌟

This week, we celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with a special Irish-language episode featuring Siobhán Ní Chofaigh, CEO of Mint-Tek! 🌍🔧

Mint-Tek specialises in hardware prototyping, helping turn innovative ideas into reality. With strong national and international connections, many built during Siobhán’s engineering career, the company is a leader in its field. ✨

2024 marked Mint-Tek’s 10th anniversary, and to celebrate, they ran an exciting competition for TY students in Galway. The winning project is now in production — a fantastic opportunity for young innovators! 🚀💡

Siobhán emphasises the importance of supporting the next generation, encouraging creativity and innovation. Based in the Galway Gaeltacht, she proudly integrates the Irish language into daily business, proving that Gaeilge is much more than just music and poetry—it’s a powerful tool in business networking too! 💼🗣️

As a past recipient of the AIBF’s "Fiontraí le Gaeilge na Bliana" aaccreditation, Siobhán takes great pride in promoting both entrepreneurship and the Irish language.🏅

🎧 Tune in now for insights, inspiration, and a celebration of business through Gaeilge! 🎉

An tseachtain seo, táimid ag ceiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge le clár speisialta as Gaeilge ina mbeidh Siobhán Ní Chofaigh, Príomhfheidhmeannach Mint-Tek faoi agallamh againn! 🌍🔧

Déanann Mint-Tek sainfheidhmiú ar fhréamhshamhail crua-earraí, rud a chabhraíonn le smaointe nuálacha a fhíorú. Le naisc láidre náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta, go leor acu a tógadh le linn ghairmréim innealtóireachta Siobhán, tá an chuideachta chun tosaigh ina réimse. ✨

Ba í 2024 comóradh 10 mbliana Mint-Tek, agus chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh, reáchtáil siad comórtas spreagúil do mhic léinn na hIdirbhliana i nGaillimh. Tá an tionscadal buaiteach á léiriú anois – deis iontach do nuálaithe óga! 🚀💡

Leagann Siobhán béim ar a thábhachtaí atá sé tacú leis an gcéad ghlúin eile, cruthaitheacht agus nuálaíocht a spreagadh. Lonnaithe i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe, comhtháthaíonn sí an Ghaeilge go bródúil sa ghnó laethúil, rud a chruthaíonn go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó i gceist leis an nGaeilge ná ceol agus filíocht amháin – is uirlis chumhachtach í sa líonrú gnó freisin! 💼🗣️

Mar iar-fhaighteoir creidiúnaithe “Fiontraí le Gaeilge na Bliana” AIBF, tá Siobhán an-bhródúil as an bhfiontraíocht agus an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.🏅

🎧 Bígí linn anois le haghaidh léargais, inspioráid agus ceiliúradh ar ghnó trí Ghaeilge! 🎉

Episode 174 - Cathy Jones: Building Excellence at emeis Ireland

This week on AIBF Business Talk 🎙, we shine a light on Cathy Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer at emeis Ireland 🏥.

With an outstanding 95.4% satisfaction rate and 95.5% trust score from families ❤, emeis Ireland is committed to delivering exceptional care while investing in its people. Cathy’s passion for coaching drives leadership development, helping to ensure agility and innovation across the organisation 🚀.

Overseeing a team of more than 2,700 across 24 nursing homes and a growing home care service, Cathy is dedicated to creating a supportive, people-focused culture. With over 51 nationalities represented, she leads the way in diversity, inclusion, and ongoing development through their in-house training academy 🎓.

Employee wellbeing is a top priority, with initiatives such as the Mental Health First Aid responder programme 🧠, which has trained 41 team members to provide vital support for colleagues dealing with stress, anxiety and other challenges. Alongside this, an employee assistance programme offers counselling, life coaching and financial advice 💬.

Looking ahead, emeis Ireland is expanding with two new state-of-the-art nursing homes opening in Kilkenny and Portmarnock 🏡, alongside continued growth of the Manor Home Care service. 

Recognised as Business All-Star Residential Provider of the Year ⭐ ⭐ for two consecutive years, the team remains focused on excellence in care and workplace culture.

Tune in now for some wonderful insights!

Episode 173: 🎉 Event Success Secrets with Karen Thorpe of Kick-Off Event Management!

On AIBF Business Talk this week we feature Karen Thorpe, founder of Kick-Off Event Management, a company that brings event visions to life! From corporate functions to sporting spectacles, her team delivers seamless experiences with access to top-tier speakers and performers. 🏆🎤

Karen shares her journey from a decade in sports events to launching her business during COVID-19. She highlights how an MBA enhanced her expertise and why innovation is vital in the evolving events industry. 💡📈

Her company manages a diverse mix of sports, charity, and corporate events, stressing the importance of delegation and financial planning for success. 💰✅ She also discusses her successful partnership with Thrive Marketing and their Singles Mingle events; and offers insights into the power of networking. 🤝💼

For expert event management, contact Karen and make your event unforgettable! 🎊✨

🎧 Tune in now! 🔗🔥

Episode 172: The Power of Organisational Design – Insights from Allagi’s Ann Greene

This week, Ann Greene of Allagi joins AIBF Business Talk to discuss organisational design and its role in business transformation. Allagi, a multi-award-winning consultancy, helps companies align their strategy, structure, people, and technology for optimal performance.

Ann explains that organisational design is essential when companies experience strategy shifts, major events (like COVID-19), or inefficiencies in their current setup. Whether it's expanding into new markets or addressing internal silos, a well-structured operating model is key to success. 🏗️

With experience spanning industries such as financial services, biomedical, and technology, Allagi ensures businesses are structured for long-term efficiency and growth. Ann stresses the importance of thorough preparation before implementing changes to avoid costly missteps. 🔄

She also shares her passion for transformation, noting that “Allagi” means change in Greek. While organisational design is sometimes misunderstood, its impact is undeniable in driving efficiency, collaboration, and innovation. 💡

Transformation starts with the right design! 🚀

🎧 Tune in now! 🔗

Episode 171: Sontai’s Smart Dashboards: Chris Farr’s Game-Changer for SMEs 🎯

Chris Farr, founder of Sontai, joins AIBF Business Talk to discuss how his company simplifies data insights for SMEs 📊. Sontai offers pre-built KPI dashboards that integrate with various business systems, covering sales, finance, CRM, and marketing. By limiting KPIs to five or fewer per area, Sontai ensures business owners stay focused without feeling overwhelmed 🎯.

Chris shares his journey, highlighting how his experience in big corporations inspired him to create Sontai six years ago. He recognized that SMEs lacked the time and expertise to build dashboards, so he developed an accessible solution that consolidates data into one report.

He advises SMEs to prioritise essential data rather than overcomplicating reports with excessive formulas. Adapting to change is key, and Chris stresses the importance of structured processes to navigate unexpected challenges like global crises 🌍.

Sontai is growing, recently expanding its team to enhance innovation and customer experience 🚀. Chris emphasises the need for SMEs to stay informed about solutions that can streamline operations. 

Looking ahead, Sontai plans to expand data sources and refine its dashboards based on client feedback. His contributions have earned him multiple Business All-Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and AIBF recognition including a Fellowship 🎓.

Tune in for some wonderful insights into the world of extracting the best from KPI’s data.

Episode 170: Cube Design’s Barbara Monahan on Branding, Sustainability & Growth

This week on AIBF Business Talk, Barbara Monahan, founder of Cube Design, shares her expertise in branding and business culture. She helps businesses define their authentic purpose; create a positive culture, and build trust. 🌱

Barbara emphasizes that brand strategy is more than just visuals—logos and websites alone won’t cut it. Businesses must first understand their ideal customer and purpose before diving into marketing. She warns that skipping this step can lead to ineffective campaigns and confusion. 🤯

Her “Unbox” program 📦, a nine-week workshop series, offers small business owners a structured approach to brand alignment. Alongside storyteller Meg Kypena, Barbara guides participants in creating a one-page brand blueprint and an action plan for growth. 🛠️

Barbara highlights the importance of storytelling in branding, using archetypes (like those in Ben & Jerry’s 🍦) to create memorable identities. She also stresses that sustainability ♻️ is a growing factor in branding, with new compliance laws on the horizon.

Her advice? Step into your customer’s shoes 👟, revisit your brand strategy, and ensure your foundation is solid and human-centered. 💡✨

Tune in now for some wonderful insights from Barbara.

Episode 169: Ross MacMahon: Driving Bailey Hygiene’s Innovation & Success

This week on AIBF Business Talk, Ross MacMahon, CEO of Bailey Hygiene, shares insights on the company's impressive transformation. Initially an FMCG business, Bailey Hygiene shifted focus to environmental hygiene solutions, supporting facility managers in delivering top-tier standards. 🏢✨

Ross details the company’s remarkable growth, expanding from €4M to €7.3M and scaling from 8 to 20 employees in just five years. A key strategic move was transitioning from regional distributors to direct partnerships with facility management companies, supported by major IT investments. 💡💻

During COVID-19, the company seized market shifts, reinvesting profits into acquisitions and tech upgrades to future-proof operations. Ross emphasizes listening to customers, staying ahead of market trends, and making bold IT investments—even switching to a more expensive IT provider to ensure security and efficiency. 🔄🔍

Winning Business All-Star & Hygiene Services Company of the Year, Bailey Hygiene continues to innovate, focusing on e-commerce expansion and future acquisitions. Ross advises entrepreneurs to anticipate trends, benchmark against industry leaders, and embrace strategic risks. 📈🌟

🔊 “Listen to the sound of the river” to stay ahead in business! 🚀

🎧 Tune In now for brilliant insights!