Leadership Discoveries

Dr. Emmet Oliver is an academic, journalist and broadcaster. Drawing from his recent book Irish Nation Building: Government, Business and Power (1922–1958), Emmet reflects on the lessons modern corporate leaders can learn from history — from flexibility in decision-making to naming the uncomfortable truths others avoid. Emmet uncovers lessons in courage, adaptability and the art of learning from failure every corporate leader can apply today. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Emmet on LinkedIn

Returning guest Dean McAlister, EVP, Inizio Biotech, has spent over 35 years in Fortune 500 pharma leadership, including nearly 3 decades at AstraZeneca. Hear how to focus on your people while scaling for growth, how to balance performance and cost control, why leadership needs to happen at all levels, how to approach feedback in today's world, and whether empathy is still relevant. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Dean on LinkedIn

Cameron Bray is a business consultant specializing in building high-performing teams & in leadership development. He's been the Chief People Officer in a number of organizations, and spent a formative part of his career working for The Body Shop in the UK. Hear how to build an organization around virtual teams, how to lead in a virtual world, how to optimize productivity in hybrid work environments, the biggest challenges facing virtual leaders today, and Cameron's career backpacking the world. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Cameron on LinkedIn

Eimear Nolan is Associate Professor of International Business and Director of the Flexible Executive MBA at Trinity Business School. Her research interests are in expatriate adjustment, cultural agility, recruitment & retention strategies, AI (Artificial Intelligence) in education, and the healthcare sector. She also offers private cultural consultancy to organisations who wish to bridge cultural gaps & enhance global collaborations. Hear the insights from creating the Flexible Executive MBA program, how we can reduce culture shock for leaders and employees transitioning to a new country or city, why the best way to learn is by mistake, and what we should be cautious about with generative AI. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Eimear on LinkedIn

Carol O'Kelly is regarded as one of the leading proponents of Personal Branding, Communications, and Positioning Strategy for high-level C-suite and Owner/Managers, having worked with key teams in companies such as EY, KPMG, Horizon Therapeutics, BoI Corporate Banking, and The Executive Institute. She's the Founder & CEO of Redstorm Communications Ltd, which she established as a Strategic Marketing & Communications Agency in 2003 and still works with many of the same clients she had when she opened the doors - a fact she's immensely proud of. Hear why your personal brand matters, how to get started developing your personal brand, why confidence can be learned & nerves are a good thing, how to speak authentically on LinkedIn & other social media platforms, and how to celebrate what makes you remarkable. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Carol at Redstorm.ie and on LinkedIn

Tony White has deep expertise in Learning, Talent Management, and Leadership Development. With over 20 years of global experience spanning industries like Financial Services, FMCG, Healthcare, and Technology, he brings a wealth of insights drawn from his career and experience in senior Talent roles at brands such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, Allianz, and Inizio. He has shaped large-scale employee engagement programs, fostered learning culture transformations, and championed diversity and inclusion to make workplaces more equitable. Hear his leadership lessons from the military, how to create a culture of learning at your organization, how to get your team comfortable in chaos, and what we can do better at the intersection of Talent & Learning. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Tony on LinkedIn

Ashley Cox is a strategic leader in the Life Sciences sector and female founder, who has recently founded Caledonia Life Sciences. This is a consultancy specialising in corporate strategy and business development for early-stage biotech & pharmaceutical companies. With a solid background in European business development, she has held senior roles at prominent firms like EVERSANA & SmartAnalyst. Ashley is also a dedicated advocate for women in the healthcare industry, contributing over 6 years to the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, including roles as Regional Chair of Northern Europe & President of the London Chapter. Hear how to make the jump to starting your own company, what more we can do to encourage women in STEM, what we can learn from great & terrible leaders, the value of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), and her hopes & fears for AI (Artificial Intelligence). Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Ashley on LinkedIn

Kevin Murphy brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career as a CEO in the FinTech and Card Payments sectors, as well as serving as a Board Member and Independent Non-Executive Director. Specializing in growth acceleration and business transformation, Kevin has successfully led the growth, turnaround, and restructuring of businesses across Europe, North America, and Australia. His expertise spans private equity, large PLCs, and privately-owned companies. In this podcast, Kevin shares his insights on navigating dynamic and fast-paced environments, offering valuable lessons on turnaround strategies, quick decision-making, and managing stakeholders in private equity settings. He also emphasizes the importance of resilience, empathy, and integrity in leadership. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Kevin on LinkedIn

Deirdre Wafer leads a Customer Insights team for LinkedIn Marketing Solutions across EMEA and LATAM, empowering large, global brands and media agency clients with strategic insights from LinkedIn's unique first-party data. She's a strong supporter of multi-generational teams and currently co-leads the “Wisdom” Employee Resource Group globally in LinkedIn, which focuses on inclusive teams for those aged 40+ and their allies in the workplace. In this episode, listen to Deirdre talk about the perks of reverse mentoring, what we can learn from younger colleagues, the reality of ageism in the workplace, how to excel as an older worker, and her tips for successful career transitions. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Deirdre on LinkedIn

Jess Podgajny is the Managing Director of BW Consulting, a boutique management consulting firm servicing the Pharma and Biotech industries, with a specialty in Cell and Gene Therapy.  Jess is also Founder and CEO of LLUNA, a tech start-up focused on engaging teams. In this episode, listen to Jess talk about empowering teams for success, crafting enduring cultures, and activating senior leadership teams. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Jess on LinkedIn

Barry Flack is a Fractional HR Executive and venture capital and private equity People Consultant. He focuses on advising CEOs on navigating the complexities of the world of work. In this episode, Barry describes the role of the Fractional Executive, how it differs from an interim role, and the value for organizations. He shares his views on leadership, the current state of HR, what needs to change, and the opportunity for Generative AI. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Barry on LinkedIn

Eithne Harley is a Marketing Director at Accenture, where she sits in the global team supporting Technology in EMEA, and is a Board Member of Music Network Ireland. She's a lover of the Arts and champion of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Hear her compelling reasons for why businesses should support the Arts through their ESG budgets and the value to be gained. Eithne also talks about the Accenture initiative of Women on Walls featuring some incredible women in STEM and shares her own views on Advanced Digital Technologies. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Eithne on LinkedIn

Anne Clare (AC) Wadsworth is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Amica Scientific, a strategic medical and patient engagement agency. She has a proven track record of transformational leadership in the medical communications industry, building organizations to deliver best-in-class medical and patient engagement. Hear why and how she started Amica Scientific, how to build your team, how to resolve conflict among employees, how to learn transferable skills, and how to adopt AI. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Anne Clare on LinkedIn

Welcome to Leadership Discoveries! In this pilot episode, hear Host Dr. Shirley Kavanagh of Shirley Kavanagh Consulting interview Dean McAlister, EVP, Inizio Biotech. Dean has spent over 35 years in Fortune 500 pharma leadership, including nearly 3 decades at AstraZeneca. Hear how Dean became passionate about leadership, how to stay current in today's changing world, what to do when you get too comfortable, how to know yourself well first, and the best way to finish a business development meeting. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and LinkedIn, and Dean on LinkedIn