Boardroom Insights with Dr. Alan O'Neill

In this solo episode, Alan O’Neill dives into Step 6 of the 7 Steps to Profit — your Proposition. He reveals why focusing only on product is a mistake, and how his proven 3-Legged Stool model (Product, People, Place) gives companies a stronger, more aligned way to grow. Learn how to audit your business, avoid the price trap, and stand out in today’s crowded marketplace.

Alan O’Neill sits down with global AI expert Dr. Samir Mirdad... advisor to billion-dollar companies... to explore the real-world impact of applied AI . From saving lives on oil rigs to predicting sports injuries in real time, Samir shares jaw-dropping examples of how AI is quietly transforming entire industries. You’ll learn: What applied AI really means (and why most AI out there isn’t real) How...

Gen Zs Part 2. This episode explores how they behave as customers (B2C) or as buyers (B2B). In this episode, Alan O’Neill unpacks what Gen Z really wants — and why their expectations matter more than ever for both B2C and B2B leaders. From Patagonia to Shein, Starbucks to Shopify, Gen Z are calling out inauthentic brands and rewarding the ones who live their values. You’ll learn: Why values, trans...

By 2030, Gen Z will make up 72% of the global workforce — but most organisations are still leading like it’s 2010. In this episode, Alan O’Neill sits down with Julie Ryan, Deputy MD at Harvest, to unpack one of the most important workplace studies of the decade. You’ll learn: What makes Gen Z truly different (and what doesn’t) Why “phygital” communication is redefining the workplace How to lead, r...

In this solo KISS Insights episode, Alan O’Neill shares stories of real leaders facing real pressure and reflects on what leadership really requires in times of change. From burnout to boardroom tension, Alan explores the emotional toll of modern business and introduces a 100-year-old piece of wisdom that still resonates: Desiderata . No ads. No jargon. Just perspective. If you’re leading through...

ESG. Sustainability. Responsible Investment. These buzzwords dominate boardrooms — but what do they actually mean? Alan O’Neill is joined by Daniella Woolf, CEO of Danesmead Advisory, to unpack ESG like never before. They explore: How ESG has evolved — and why many get it wrong What regulations like SFDR and SDR really require The trap of greenwashing (and how to avoid it) How companies of every s...

Think money is the biggest motivator at work? Think again. In this short KISS episode of Boardroom Insights, Alan O’Neill introduces the KASH model — Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, and Habit — as the true drivers of productivity. Packed with real-world examples from retail and leadership coaching, Alan explains how you can improve output, motivation, and customer experience — without adding to your...

Mark Eardley, founder of Langcliffe International, joins Alan to unpack the secret world of M&A deal origination. With 30+ years in corporate finance, Mark explains how his team matches committed buyers with vendor-led opportunities across Europe and the U.S. You’ll hear how Langcliffe built Europe’s largest buy-side deal pipeline, why culture matters more than price, and what every founder sh...

Most companies create a strategy and file it away. But in this solo episode, Alan O’Neill reveals why static plans fail... and what to do instead. Drawing from 30+ years of boardroom experience and the K-STRAT framework, Alan unpacks: The difference between vision, culture, and strategy Why rolling 3- to 5-year plans work better than rigid timelines The six strategic pillars that every organisatio...

Mark Delaney, Managing Director of Retail at Halfords, joins Alan for a no-BS conversation about the real drivers of business success. From leading £2B organisations to running startups, Mark shares the leadership lessons that matter: why culture must lead strategy, how to align siloed teams, and why too many companies still get customer experience wrong. He also shares a contrarian view: why Appl...

Why do we resist change, even when we know it’s necessary? In this short, powerful episode of  The Boardroom Insights Podcast , Alan O’Neill breaks down the psychology behind resistance to change — and what leaders can do to guide their teams through it. 🦋 Featuring the inspiring Kara caterpillar story from the "Show me the lid on the box" book, this episode explores: Why change feels harder than...

What happens when your business is surrounded by air raid sirens, displacement, and daily uncertainty? In this powerful episode, Alan O’Neill speaks with Dr. Gennady Polonsky — a business mentor, professor, and humanitarian — who joins us from western Ukraine to share his unfiltered view of life and leadership under siege. 💡 Discover: How Ukrainian businesses are surviving (and thriving) in warti...

In this episode of  Boardroom K.I.S.S. Insights , Alan O’Neill reveals why great customer service isn’t enough... and how companies like Selfridges and LC Packaging elevate their entire  experience  to keep customers coming back. Discover: The key difference between service and experience A powerful 3-part model to improve loyalty How internal culture drives external excellence A must-listen for a...

Leo Crawford helped turn BWG Group into a €2 billion powerhouse behind Ireland’s best-known retail brands — Spar, Mace, Londis, Eurospar, and XL. In this episode, Alan O’Neill sits down with the former CEO and now non-executive director to unpack 30+ years of business lessons, leadership insight, and retail strategy. You’ll discover: How BWG scaled to over 1,000 stores across Ireland and the UK Th...

In this episode of  Boardroom KISS Insights , Alan O’Neill tackles a deceptively simple question:  What values are most important in today’s organisations? From culture as “how we do things around here” to the hidden power of well-chosen values, Alan breaks it all down in just 15 minutes. You'll hear: ✅ Why generic values don’t work ✅ How values guide behaviour, hiring, and leadership ✅ The...

Jim O’Keeffe joined AIB to earn a few bob during college... and 35 years later, he stepped down as Managing Director of Retail Banking. In this deeply honest episode of  The Boardroom Insights Podcast , Jim reflects on his extraordinary journey through Irish banking, from the front lines of the financial crisis to leading thousands of people across the country. Alan O’Neill and Jim dive into: • Wh...

The Boardroom Insights Podcast is now weekly — and in this brand-new solo series, Alan O’Neill shares the tools and strategies that help businesses scale, align, and thrive. In this first solo episode, Alan breaks down the  7 Steps to Profit  — the proven framework that has helped global brands like Selfridges, Emirates Insurance , and Toyota achieve sustainable growth. You’ll learn: ✅ The most c...

In this episode of  The Boardroom Insights Podcast , we sit down with David Fleming, co-founder of KR8 Advisory, a powerhouse in business transformation and strategic advisory. With a proven track record of guiding companies through complex restructuring, capital raising, and high-stakes decision-making, David shares the principles and strategies that separate thriving businesses from those that f...

How do you scale a luxury brand without losing its soul? In this episode of  The Boardroom Insights Podcast , Chupi Sweetman—founder and CEO of  Chupi Jewellery —reveals the strategy, culture, and leadership that turned her idea into one of Ireland’s most celebrated global brands. Every piece of Chupi Jewellery is  made in Ireland , and every part of her business is built with purpose. This is ent...

Is marketing broken?  Colin Gordon — former CEO of  Glanbia Consumer Foods & C&C  and the mastermind behind  Bulmers’ legendary rebrand — thinks so. In this episode of  The Boardroom Insights Podcast , Colin shares his insights from 30+ years in the consumer goods industry and discusses his controversial new book,  "Marketing is in Trouble." 🔥  Inside this episode: ✅ How Colin turned Bul...

In this debut episode of  Boardroom Insights with Alan O’Neill , we sit down with Sean Sheehan—an experienced banker with 35 years in the industry who made the bold transition to CEO of Scouting Ireland. Sean shares invaluable lessons from the corporate world and how they apply to leadership in an entirely different sector. How do financial principles shape decision-making in a national organisati...

Welcome to Boardroom Insights – the podcast that takes you inside the minds of top business leaders, decision-makers, and industry pioneers. In this  trailer episode , host  Alan O’Neill  introduces you to the vision behind  Boardroom Insights  and what you can expect from future episodes. With decades of experience advising global companies on strategy, culture, and profitability, Alan shares his...