All-Island Female Entrepreneurs Conference 2024

Caroline O'Neill

Conference Host

As a Business Coach and Social Media Consultant, Caroline embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and continuous growth. With a rich background as the CEO of DIGG Childrenswear from 2008 to 2019, she has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of business with resilience and adaptability. In today's dynamic business environment, Caroline recognises the necessity of constant learning and adaptation - advocating for proactive learning, pushing boundaries and relentless customer engagement in the face of rapid digital evolution. Driven by a passion for seeing others succeed, she is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs through their journeys. Whether it's sharing her wealth of knowledge or connecting individuals with resources, she is committed to uplifting others in their pursuit of business success. With Caroline as your conference host, expect an inspiring blend of experience, empathy and actionable insights to propel you forward on your entrepreneurial path.

Laura Bonner​​​​

CEO & Founder of The Muff Liquor Company

The Muff Liquor Company is inspired by the past and driven by the future. Join us as Laura Bonner takes the stage to share the grit and growth of her business journey, spanning from Inishowen, Donegal to Australia, with plans for expansion into the USA. This Award-Winning Premium Irish Spirit has garnered celebrity-approved investments from notable figures including actor Russell Crowe, comedian Jimmy Carr, and singer Ed Sheeran. As the driving force behind the business, Laura shapes the overall strategy, fosters new business relationships, nurtures existing ones and spearheads expansion initiatives. Laura's leadership has earned her prestigious accolades, including Ulster Business Woman of the Year 2019, Industry Era's Top 10 Most Inspiring CEOs of 2021, and Handcrafted Spirits Business Leader 2023, since the company's establishment in 2017.

Grá inne Mullins

Head Chocolatier & Founder of Gra Chocolates

Gráinne is the founder and CEO of Grá Chocolates, a renowned pastry chef, recipe writer and TV personality in the culinary world. Having been named Former Eurotoques Young Chef of the Year and recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 (2023), Gráinne's culinary journey is marked by innovation and excellence. Grá Chocolates was launched in the midst of a pandemic as an online store from her parents kitchen counter. Selling out in just 8 minutes, Gráinne started the journey strong, having always been food obsessed throughout her 10 years of working in Fine Dining and Michelin starred restaurants. With this passion, Gráinne strives to ensure that her customers receive the best chocolates, followed by the best customer service. Grá Chocolates is a brand on a mission to disrupt the chocolate world as we know it.

Karen Yates

Founder of Taylor Yates

Karen Yates, an entrepreneur from Manchester, set out to revolutionise the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland. Inspired by the scenic Causeway Coast, she launched an eco-friendly handbag line, collaborating closely with her daughter. Together, they blend craftsmanship and sustainability, reflecting their commitment to quality and the environment. Karen's leadership has propelled her boutique hotel and handbag line to success, attracting travellers and fashion enthusiasts who share her dedication to luxury with a conscience. Her story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs, showcasing the power of passion, creativity and family collaboration in driving meaningful change.

Louise Doyle

CEO of Needi

Louise Doyle, Mum of three and CEO and co-founder of needi.co.uk, is revolutionising the corporate gifting industry with an intelligent gift-matching service. Alongside co-founder Steph Scholes, Louise has propelled Needi to the forefront, reshaping the way businesses approach corporate gifting. Needi has developed a cutting-edge gift matching algorithm that leverages AI and psychological principles. This innovative approach enables Needi to deliver an unparalleled corporate gifting concierge service, connecting businesses with perfect gifts from local independent businesses. Notably, industry giants such as Virgin, Spotify, QuickBooks, and KPMG Acceleris have benefited from Needi's expertise, saving substantial time and resources through their corporate gifting solutions. From personalised new-starter gifts and client onboarding incentives to branded merchandise and exclusive Christmas offerings, Needi is redefining the standard, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing employee and client satisfaction. Louise's vision to create the perfect combination of technology and human touch makes Needi a powerhouse in the corporate gifting realm, known for its efficiency, personalisation, and innovative, feel-good gifting experience.

Louise Brogan

LinkedIn Content Marketing & Training

Louise runs a boutique marketing agency working with entrepreneurs, SME’s and professionals who want to raise their profile through LinkedIn in a genuine and valuable way. As an international speaker, she hosts the LinkedIn with Louise Podcast and YouTube channel. For the past three years, Louise has been a Small Business Britain Champion, in the top 100 Small Businesses in the UK and the top 100 female entrepreneurs. In 2019, Louise was invited to attend No 10 Downing Street to represent small business and was invited in 2022 to meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace at a reception honouring Small Business contributions to the UK economy.

Claire Colvin

Simple Scaling

Claire is the Co-Founder of Simple Scaling and Co-Author of the Amazon Best Seller "Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business." Serving as a coach and mentor to scaling SME leaders worldwide, alongside her business partner, Brendan McGurgan, they established Simple Scaling Ltd. in 2020, aiming to inspire, connect, and enable ambitious leaders to scale purposefully. Drawing on nearly 50 years of collective scaling experience and extensive research, they developed the ScaleX™ framework, which is based on the 10 timeless principles that exist in successfully scaled businesses around the world. Their ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme has attracted over 70 ambitious SME leaders across Ireland to date, forming a thriving ScaleX™ alumni. In 2023, they hosted the inaugural ScaleX™ Summit in Belfast, featuring prominent speakers like Steven Bartlett, Marga Hoek, and Damian Hughes. With a goal to impact 1 million SME leaders by 2033, they are expanding their Accelerator Programme to Dublin and Manchester later this year. Recognising the vital role SMEs play in economies, they are committed to bridging the gap—only 2% of the 400 million SMEs globally achieve scale. Simple Scaling is poised to make a substantial impact in transforming this landscape.

Oonagh O'Reilly & Marie-Claire McGreevy

MCO Performance

MCO Performance is a creative, innovative and action-oriented sales and marketing consultancy specialising in systemising commercial operations, motivation and mindset and creating high performance cultures. The pair have more than 30 years’ combined specialist expertise in driving transformational change and growth working with Top 100 brands and high growth scale ups including NI Chamber, Irish Football Association and Texthelp. They have a stellar track record in exceeding challenging revenue targets and providing leadership to grow and develop high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams to deliver substantial commercial growth. A passion for accountability-based leadership was the catalyst that led them to co-found MCO Performance. Having previously led the commercial function at the iconic ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall venues, they empowered their intergenerational team to achieve significant success and become a high-performing unit. Now, they partner with blue chip clients such as Danske Bank and Sunday Times’ Top Track 100 and Best Places to Work Award winners including First Event to uncover the power of creating straightforward systems and processes that allow their teams to use more of their processing power for the magic, rather than the mundane.

Aine Kilkenny

Co-Founder of Riley

Aine is the co-founder of Riley, a female-founded startup revolutionising period care with sustainable organic cotton products. With a commitment to both body and planet, Riley offers innovative solutions for a healthier menstrual experience. A seasoned marketing professional, Aine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Dublin Institute of Technology and a post-grad in Public Relations from Fitzwilliam Institute. With over 9 years of experience spanning start-ups to enterprise-level companies, Aine brings expertise in customer-centric strategies and global operational management. She spearheads day-to-day operations at Riley, focusing on long-term initiatives such as product development, risk management, and cost reduction strategies. Under Aine's leadership, Riley has garnered acclaim, securing an impressive roster of corporate clients that contribute to 75% of the company's revenue. Recognised for its dedication to menstrual equality, Riley is poised for global expansion, backed by a recent €1.5 million funding round, a testament to its potential for growth and impact. Driven by a personal passion for health and wellness, Aine has pursued studies in nutrition and lifestyle coaching, enriching her understanding of holistic well-being.