International Women’s Day at The View

At The View, we are proud to be home to multiple female-owned companies, and celebrating their success is something close to our hearts.  

This year we marked International Women’s Day by hosting a panel featuring three inspiring women who strive daily to make workplaces more inclusive, with cultures that are truly built around people.  

Emily Heslop, Catherine Crean and Gillian McKenna joined us on Friday 6 March in The View’s social space, together with over 25 women who took part in the conversation. The View’s Niamh Berry guided this thoughtful discussion, inviting the speakers to share their personal and professional journeys with an engaged audience.  

Each panellist reflected on the experiences and challenges that have shaped their careers, speaking candidly about the many roles women often juggle and the pressure to keep pushing forward, even when burnout looms. Their stories highlighted the importance of recognising when to pause, protect our wellbeing and support one another along the way. It was a truly inspiring morning, reminding us of the incredible contributions women make every day, in business and beyond. 

We’ve rounded up some of the empowering insights and stories that were shared by our guest speakers. Enjoy! 

Emily Heslop, Culture One 

Emily is the founder of Culture One, a consultancy service focused on building inclusive, neuro-affirming, and wellbeing-centred workplace cultures.  

As a late-diagnosed person with ADHD and an advocate for neurodiversity, Emily was open about her personal journey and how it shaped the work she does today. She also spoke about raising neurodivergent children and how it has impacted her outlook on life, both in the professional and personal spheres. It’s why she encourages people, particularly women, to stop themselves from always putting others’ needs before their own. 

After years in a corporate role she once loved, Emily experienced burnout and began to feel increasingly unsupported, particularly while navigating peri-menopause and, later, receiving an ADHD diagnosis. Taking time away from work allowed her to reflect, ultimately leading her to found Culture One, a purpose-driven business focused on creating more inclusive and supportive workplaces. 

Emily brings a personal commitment to highlighting the strengths of diverse talent and bridging the gap between untapped potential and business success. It’s why Culture One focuses on a human-centred approach to drive meaningful, authentic and lasting cultural change for businesses that want to move beyond intention.  

Catherine Crean, b-wave.io 

Catherine is a digital specialist and consultant who partners with organisations to build accessible and community-centred online presences. Passionate about digital equity, linguistic inclusion and bridging cultural gaps, Catherine focuses on ensuring that technology serves as a tool for connection, rather than a barrier.  

Recounting an earlier chapter in her career, Catherine opened up about the challenges and benefits of living and working in London with her husband. As their family grew, the couple made the decision to return to Dublin, a transition that brought both new hurdles and opportunities. It was during this period that they co-founded their company, b-wave.io, building something of their own while balancing family life and entrepreneurship. 

Catherine also spoke about how her career path continued to shift in unexpected ways. A new opportunity emerged through a fellow member of The View’s community, a moment that highlighted the power of strong networks and supportive workplaces. It was a reminder that meaningful connections can often open doors in ways you might not anticipate. 

Gillian McKenna, Insmed 

Gillian is a senior leader at Insmed, where she oversees strategic partnerships and business operations across the EMEA region.  

Promoting collaboration, inclusion and effective teamwork in the workplace is Gillian’s focus, particularly as it relates to bringing a people‑first approach to leadership in the healthcare and life sciences sector.  

Gillian’s work reflects her commitment to driving both organisational impact and meaningful outcomes for patients, making her insights especially relevant for discussions on equity, leadership and workplace culture. 

Gillian shared her experience of building a career in the corporate world while learning to listen more closely to her own needs. She spoke candidly about being hospitalised for six months at the age of 11 following an undiagnosed illness, an experience that shaped her perspective on resilience and health.  

Now in a busy leadership role at Insmed, Gillian reflected on moving to Switzerland at 30 and the importance of finding balance, and a voice, over time. Today, she feels more confident speaking up; during her intervention, she encouraged attendees to listen to their bodies and prioritise their wellbeing alongside their careers. 

To bring this engaging and supportive conversation to a close, each speaker shared the advice they would give their younger selves. This simple exercise serves as a reminder that perspective is fundamental; taking a step back when you are in the thick of it allows for a moment of calm that can positively impact the way you step up to the next challenge.