Lead Well with Mark O'Reilly

How do you learn to back yourself when self-doubt shows up — especially when performance, identity, and reputation are on the line? In this special episode of The Lead Well Podcast, recorded live at Fitvision's International Women's Day breakfast, Mark O'Reilly sits down with three exceptional Irish leaders — Lorraine Heskin (CEO & Founder of Gourmet Food Parlour), Professor Maura McAdam (Professo...

In this week’s episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O'Reilly speaks with Professor Alan Smeaton from DCU, one of Ireland's leading voices in artificial intelligence, about what leaders, coaches, and organisations need to understand about AI right now. They explore why human leadership cannot be replaced by AI, how hallucinations are built into the technology by design, and why the way most peopl...

How do you build confidence in uncertain times—especially when performance, pressure, and identity are shifting? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly speaks with Andrew Conway about transitioning from elite sport into business and what uncertainty teaches us about performance. They explore managing pressure, designing the life you want to live, turning values into behaviours, an...

What does a truly healthy workplace look like—and how can you spot issues before they turn into problems? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly sits down with John Ryan from Healthy Place to Work to unpack what really drives sustainable performance inside organisations. They dig into the difference between lead vs lag indicators, why traditional employee surveys often miss the re...

How do you build a culture where people thrive? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly sits down with Lorraine Heskin, CEO and Founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, to explore leadership, culture, and sustainable business growth. Lorraine shares her journey from corporate life and working in the US to building one of Ireland’s best-known hospitality brands over nearly two decades. They...

How can internal communications drive employee engagement, trust, and performance at work? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly speaks with Kate Fitzmaurice, Head of Internal Communications & Employee Engagement at Vodafone, and Paul Cauley, Communications at Boots Ireland. They discuss leadership communication, employee engagement, building trust at work, and how effective inte...

In this episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I’m joined by Professor Robert Kelly, a consultant cardiologist who’s become one of the clearest voices in Ireland on heart health. Robert trained in cardiology in Ireland and the UK, before completing specialist training in the US in interventional cardiology, the world of stents and emergency treatment. But years in clinic showed him something uncomforta...

In this episode I sit down with Dan Campion, director and founder of Prymal Productions, a podcast and media-growth studio helping businesses and creators get their message heard through strategic audio and video content. Dan is also the host of The Prymal Podcast, where he explores the human side of performance, business and personal development, and shares real-world lessons on content, connecti...

In this solo episode, I explore one of the biggest barriers to leadership and team performance: avoiding tough conversations. The truth is, the biggest problem in communication is often the illusion that it is happening. When difficult conversations are handled poorly, or not at all, we see misunderstandings, low morale, stalled innovation, and a breakdown of trust. I share insights from psycholog...

Why do some leaders inspire action, while others struggle to get their message across? In this solo episode, Mark O’Reilly unpacks the real reason: stories beat stats every time. Drawing from the science of memory, the psychology of influence, and years of hands-on experience, Mark explores why even the best ideas get lost in translation unless they’re wrapped in a compelling narrative. He breaks...

Today on Lead Well, I’m joined by Barbara Louise Brennan a seasoned mental health advocate, trainer, speaker, and consultant who has spent close to two decades leading the charge on stigma reduction and inclusion across Ireland. Barbara has led Ireland’s national programme to reduce mental health-related stigma, worked with major organisations like An Post, Boots, IBEC, and the HSE, and lectured i...

In this short episode, I explore stress tolerance as a critical skill for leaders navigating the pressures of modern work. With nearly 60% of employees reporting they feel stressed most of the time, the cost of ignoring stress in leadership is rising. But this isn’t about pushing through or waiting for the next break. I unpack why expanding your Window of Tolerance—a concept from Dr. Dan Siegel—is...

In this first episode of The Leadership Paradox series, I introduce the core idea: why today’s most effective leaders are increasingly at risk of burnout — and why achieving both high performance and personal wellbeing is not a given, it’s a skillset. I’ll share why I believe this is one of the most urgent leadership challenges of our time, based on research and what I see in boardrooms, coaching...

Today on the Lead Well podcast my guest is David Crimmins, a seasoned leader with a deep track record in health-tech, scaling businesses, and securing investment for high-growth companies. As the former CEO of WebDoctor—now Medihive—David led the company through two major investment rounds, growing its valuation to over €60 million and strengthening its position in the digital healthcare space. Be...

Today, on the Lead Well podcast I am joined by Professor Maura McAdam, a globally recognised expert on entrepreneurship, gender, and leadership. Maura is a Professor of Management at Dublin City University (DCU) and Director of Entrepreneurship at the university. She has spent her career challenging traditional narratives around entrepreneurship, examining how gender, identity, and power dynamics...

In this episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I’m joined by Fredericka Sheppard, co-founder and Managing Director of Voltedge Management, to discuss her journey as a leader and entrepreneur. Fredericka shares the challenges and lessons she’s learned while building her business and navigating the evolving landscape of leadership and HR. We explore how HR must evolve to meet the challenges of modern lea...

Today, I’m joined by Nick Charalambous, Managing Director of Alpha Wealth and a leader with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. From his early days in investment banking to founding and growing a thriving advisory firm, Nick has consistently demonstrated resilience, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to empowering his clients. In this episode, we’ll explore Nic...

In today’s episode of the Lead Well podcast, I’m excited to be joined by Emma Kennedy, the founder and CEO of Grafter, a company transforming the way we work. Founded in 2021, Grafter offers high-end office solutions that include private offices, co-working spaces, and meeting rooms in Ireland and the UK. In this episode, we dive deep into Emma’s entrepreneurial journey, exploring how she launched...

In the latest episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I sit down with Andy Kenny, co-founder of Misneach Ukraine, an organisation that’s making a real difference in the lives of those impacted by the war in Ukraine. Andy’s journey from personal trainer and gym owner to humanitarian leader is truly remarkable, and today we explore the motivations, challenges, and success behind his work. Tune in as we di...

On this weeks Lead Well podcast I am joined by Jonathan Logue. After over a decade at LinkedIn as a Senior Director of Talent Development, Jonathan left earlier this year and founded Logue&Co, a HR advisory and coaching company. We will be discussing his transition back to entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned while working with senior leaders in one of worlds largest organisations and his own...

On this week's Lead Well podcast I sat down with Jane Asple, founder of Emma by Jane. Emma by Jane is known for creating high-quality, well-priced luxury jewellery and leather handbags. The brand has gained significant recognition, with features in British Vogue in recent years. Jane and I discuss creating balance in the key areas of your life to benefit your business, how to boost your self-belie...

5 key lessons from season one of the Lead Well Podcast. This episode is a practical guide to building self-belief, whether you are a business founder, manager or just looking to take on that next challenge.

This week on the Lead Well podcast I am joined by Daniel Davey of daveynutrition. Daniel is an author, founder and coach and has previously worked as the performance nutritionist to both Leinster Rugby and Dublin Football. We discuss a range of topics relevant to both business and life. Daniel shares his approach on how he brings his team together around a shared vision and what he learned in this...

On this weeks Lead Well podcast I am joined by Amy O’Flaherty and Fergus Kerrigan. Amy and Fergus are the founders of Ethos and Tru Health. Both hail from corporate backgrounds, with Amy from Dublin and Fergus from Galway. Their journey into wellness began after experiencing significant health issues related to stress and their demanding corporate careers. Their personal health matters motivated t...

In the latest Lead Well podcast episode, Nick Lawlor, founder of Employee Financial Wellness (EFW), recounts his entrepreneurial journey from establishing Lawlor Financial Planning in 2011 during Ireland's financial crisis to the recent acquisition of EFW by UK-based Wealth at Work. Nick started his career helping individuals navigate financial turmoil, recognising the profound connection between...