National Women’s Enterprise Event
National Women's Enterprise Event 2024
Left to Right ; Mary Jennings ,Michelle O’Keeffe, Maria Colgan
We hosted our 'National Women's Enterprise Day' event on 23rd October at The View.
National Women’s Enterprise Day encourages and highlights entrepreneurship across Ireland. It is designed and led by women to promote entrepreneurship, and it is an annual highlight in promoting women in business.
We had three fabulous speakers spearheading the inspiring morning. Michelle O’Keeffe, Mary Jennings and Maria Colgan lead the conversation about achieving a work life balance and juggling everything in between.
Michelle O'Keeffe from 'Platform 55' opened the morning by telling us about her career to date. Platform55 is a HR platform built to balance work and family life.
Michelle discussed how her career accelerated while she was heading on maternity leave with her first baby and delved into how the juggle ensued over the next few years. This is how Platform 55 was born!
Michelle discussed the importance of balancing the percentage of stress you feel versus your workload and how taking time to step away, to reframe and rethink, can not only help your business but also your family life.
One of Michelle's suggestions was to write out your goals, break it down into 10 steps so the mountain does not seem so high to climb. She also mentioned how a break away can also make a difference. This breakaway can be something for yourself, a walk, time with friends or a hobby.
Michelle recently took up Golf for the first time for this very reason. We look forward to seeing you on the golf course Michelle!
Mary Jennings from 'Forget the Gym' was our next speaker. Mary discussed her running history and how she began training for her first marathon. The marathon training and the path it took her on changed her perception of what she could achieve.
Mary discussed the integration of personal life and work, and how do we get to the place where we truly value ourselves.
Mary advised asking yourself questions to reframe what you really want in life.
What is your future plan?
Where do you see yourself?
What are you working towards?
What am I most proud of?
What have I achieved?
Mary also encouraged us all to take time out to move, breathe in the fresh air and move away from our desks during the day. To set an example, Mary brought us all out to the balcony. We all took advantage of the sunny day, enjoyed the surroundings and fresh sea air.
However, no matter what the weather or surroundings, Mary emphasized the importance of being in the present and seeing the beauty of any day.
Maria Colgan, author of 'Just for Today' was our final speaker. Maria discussed how having children was the catalyst for change in her corporate life.
Maria questioned, 'how do we create the new story to a new future?” and highlighted how we do not want to live our life with regrets.
Maria told us about the benefits she feels from taking time to start her morning with meditation and how calm it makes her feel for the day ahead. To show the calming effect meditation can have, Maria lead us through a meditation session.
We finished our day with a Q&A for the speakers and discussing the juggle of life work balance and how we can try to balance it all.
Thank you to Michelle, Mary, and Maria for sharing their experience and wisdom with us. Also thank you to all our attendees for joining us on such a beautiful morning!
Much appreciation to our local food suppliers ‘Taste of The Med’ and ‘Soul Food’ for our delicious breakfast.