Boardroom Insights with Dr. Alan O'Neill

In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill speaks with Pius Furlong, founder and CEO of Tara Global and a senior hospitality development specialist with deep experienceacross Ireland, Dubai, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Pius explains how luxury hospitality and branded residential developments work in the GCC, including the roles of developers, hotel brands, non-hospitality brands,white-label o...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill steps slightly outside his usual territory. While he normally interviews leaders of mature, scaling organisations, this conversation explores a very different kind of journey: a startup built from a blank sheet of paper. Alan is joined by Tim Jones, founder and Managing Director of Symphysis Medical, a Galway-based medtech company developing a d...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill is joined by Dr. Edel Marron, leadership lecturer at Ulster University and founder of COTA Consulting, for a rich and grounded conversation on what truly defines great leadership today. Together, they explore the shift from outcome-driven leadership to a deeper focus on the enablers of performance emotional intelligence, psychological safety, an...

Recent events in the Middle East remind us how quickly the world can feel unpredictable. But moments like this also reveal something important: the strength of the foundations that societies have built over time. Because I spend a lot of time working in the UAE, I’ve been paying close attention to the response from its leadership and institutions. What stands out is the calmness and confidence amo...

In this solo KISS episode of Boardroom Insights, Dr. Alan O’Neill reflects on a recent conversation with Farid Badri, a veteran of the Dubai oil industry and former refinery leader. While their discussion centred on crude oil, refinery economics and geopolitics, Alan zooms out to look at the bigger story: how Dubai has deliberately designed its future over the last 60 years. Drawing on economist D...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights with Dr. Alan O’Neill , we dive into the business of oil, the story of Dubai, and what really drives the modern energy economy. My guest is Farid Badri , a chemical engineer and veteran of the oil industry who spent around 30 years in mid– to downstream roles, including leading major operations inENOC and overseeing refinery assets in Dubai. Farid takes us beh...

In this first episode of 2026, Alan explores why the start of the year is the most important moment to pause, reflect, and plan… not through resolutions, but through deliberatestrategy and honest organisational introspection. Drawing on a real case study from his consulting work with a mid-size beverage distributor, Alan walks through the journey from firefighting to strategic planning, and ultima...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights , I sit down with Jason Atkinson, Managing Director at Russam, to explore the fast-evolving world of interim and fractional leadership. Jason brings decades of experience from the UK’s first interim management provider, founded in 1982, now a global group supporting organisations around the world. Our conversation unpacks why interim leadership has become a st...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights, Alan O’Neill speaks with Barry Shevlin, Owner & Managing Director of Global Home Improvements, a Dublin-based family businesscelebrating 45 years serving Irish homeowners. Barry shares how Global built a premium reputation by staying fiercely focused on customer experience, manufacturing to specification, and backing their work with astandout and amazing...

In this solo episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill builds on his recent conversation with Jason Atkinson (MD of Russam) to offer a clear, practical guide to the fast-growing world of interim and fractional leadership. Alan unpacks two crucial perspectives : 1️⃣ For Boards A structured decision-making framework to determine whether you need an interim, a fractional leader, or a permanent hir...

(Reflections on my recent conversation with René Carayol, MBE) Last week on Boardroom Insights, René Carayol, MBE shared some powerful insights about leadership, the kind that stay with you for a long time. In today’s solo episode, I revisited three of his themes and linked them to what I see every day inside boardrooms across Ireland, the UK, and the UAE.

In this episode of  Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill sits down with renowned leadership coach, speaker and author  René Carayol MBE,  a man who genuinely coaches  CEOs and heads of state , not just talks about it.   René opens with a powerful personal story that leads to his central conviction:  trust is now the biggest driver of business performance.  From there, the conversation ranges across t...

In the last episode, I sat down with Wojtek  from ABO Energy , one of Europe’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies. And his message was crystal clear: We are living through the fastest energy transition in human history. Sustainability is no longer just about  planet  and  people . It’s now a  profit  strategy, renewables are officially cheaper than traditional energy.   The cost curves hav...

In this conversation, Alan O'Neill and Wojtek Swietochowski discuss the critical role of renewable energy, particularly solar, in achieving sustainability. They explore the economic benefits, the importance of energy storage, and the integration of solar energy with farming. Wojtek shares insights into AboEnergy's business model, the challenges of legislation, and the future trends in rene...

Following two previous episodes with Paco Underhill and John Mitchell, Alan connects the dots between AI hype and boardroom reality… why culture is the operating system, change management is the gearbox, and strategy still decides the race. In this solo episode, Alan O’Neill explores how AI is reshaping not just technology — but culture, leadership, and strategy. Drawing on insights from previous...

AI isn’t just changing how we market — it’s changing how people find and buy . In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill speaks with John Mitchell , Principal of All Human , a digital agency leading at the intersection of technology and AI. They explore: What AI means for the future of search engines Why merchants will need to rethink their websites entirely How AI partnerships like Ope...

In this episode, Alan O’Neill takes us behind the scenes of professional speaking — how events are booked, tailored, and delivered — and shares a powerful case study from Suzuki UK. Discover how one heritage brand keeps customer experience at the heart of its success, and why culture, not just training, is the true key to consistency. Topics Covered: How keynote speaking really works Why every pre...

Following last week’s conversation with Paco Underhill, Alan O’Neill shares The KISS 7-Day Challenge — a simple but powerful roadmap for leaders who want to turn customer insight into execution. In this episode, Alan breaks down seven daily actions that help teams stay aligned, customer-focused, and fast-moving. If Paco showed us how to see the customer, this is how to act on it.

Paco Underhill is often called the godfather of retail anthropology. As the founder of  Envirosell  and author of  Why We Buy ,  The Call of the Mall  and  How We Eat , he reshaped how businesses design space, understand human behavior and build experiences around real people, not unrealistic, imaginary personas. Long before our conversation, Paco’s approach to observing people was quietly influen...

In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill introduces the KARA Leader’s Six-Pack — a practical framework that shows leaders how to: Turn strategy into daily action Build the muscles every leader needs (Self, Team, Business) Balance courage with compassion so people stay with you while results are delivered If you want to lead with both grit and grace, this episode is your playbook.

Alan O’Neill speaks with Ralph Ward about the changing role of boards, the dynamics between CEOs and chairmen, and why diversity and skills are crucial for effective governance. From the value of non-executive directors to the future of hands-on boards, this episode explores what really makes boards work.

Alan O’Neill talks with Jean McCabe, Managing Director of Retail Excellence Ireland, about the state of retail in 2025. They discuss phygital shopping, AI’s role in cutting costs, creating magical customer experiences, and why retail skills are future-proof. Essential listening for leaders in retail and beyond.

Product. People. Place. Your customers judge you on all three. In this episode of Boardroom Insights , Alan O’Neill explores the often-overlooked power of place in shaping your proposition. From Paco Underhill’s Why We Buy to real-world stories of hotels, websites, and supply chains, you’ll walk away with a practical checklist to differentiate your business.

In Part 3 of our August series on Proposition, Alan O’Neill explores why people are the most powerful leg of your 3-legged stool (Product, People, Place). Discover: The story of “Johnny the Bagger” — and why customers queued just to see him. How empathy and consistency keep customers loyal, even when competitors are closer or cheaper. The 3 Cs framework for customer interactions: Connect, Consult,...

In this solo summer episode, Alan O’Neill dives deep into the “Product” leg of the 3-Legged Stool — part of Step 6 of the 7 Steps to Profit. He shares hard-earned lessons on product strategy, including category design, pricing architecture, flagships, and innovation. A must-listen for any business that’s looking to clean up its offer, differentiate with intent, and drive higher margin.