This week, our CEO Mary McGrath joined a distinguished group of leaders at The Dylan Hotel for a business lunch hosted by June Butler of Bank of Ireland.

Alongside fellow leaders Peaches Kemp and Connie Costello, Mary explored how resilience and leadership go hand-in-hand when navigating today’s shifting business landscape. The session featured a resonant keynote from Imelda Hurley and was expertly facilitated by Nikki Canavan.

Three Key Takeaways from the Discussion

During the session, the panel touched on several vital themes for modern business leaders:

1. Resilience Starts at the Top: Leaders must remain a “steady hand” during periods of industry shift, ensuring that internal teams feel supported and clear on the vision.

2. The Empathy Advantage: A major consensus was that empathy is the most important tool in a leader’s kit. By viewing change through the customer’s lens, businesses can pivot in ways that add genuine value rather than causing friction.

3. Authentic Transformation: Change shouldn’t be for change’s sake. The speakers emphasised moving forward with transparency, ensuring that growth is aligned with the company’s authentic purpose.