Ireland Portugal Business Network Podcast series

In this episode, we explore one of the most pressing topics in today’s tourism economy — the challenges and opportunities in employment across the hospitality sector, and how new labor laws might shape its future. Joining Ellis Dixon, Marketing and Content Manager of the IPBN, are two experts with distinct but complementary perspectives: Sofia Almeida, Tourism and Hospitality Coordinator at Univer...

Building on his i nsightful contribution to last December’s IPBN discussion on business in 2025 , Ricardo led a focused session on how design thinking can serve as a strategic tool for international growth. Specifically, the session explored how ethnographic research and user-centered approaches can identify complementary products and inspire alliances across international markets—not just with cu...

Follow along with this practical online Masterclass with IPBN member Carlos Justino , an expert in AI-driven business strategy and digital transformation. In this one-hour session entitled "Smart Growth on Social Media: Strategies, Trends and AI-Powered Automation," Carlos guides us through the evolving social media landscape, sharing actionable insights on how businesses—especially SMEs—can move...

In this podcast, we sat down with Afghani-born Aziza Akrami and Moroccan-born Hind Falah to talk about their inspiring, remarkable journeys from their respective homelands to arrive at Porto Business School, where they currently study. We discuss their initial motivations to pursue higher education, adapting to life in Portugal, their passions and aspirations, what it’s like embracing a new cultur...

As AI rapidly shifts from buzzword to backbone of modern business, the need to adopt it strategically—and understand where to find investment—has never been more urgent. Therefore, we’re excited to introduce the fourth and final panel of the day, featuring case study presentations from Philippe Brodeur, Barry Flynn, and Martin Duffy—three professionals who are applying AI in practical, high-value...

Titled “How to Start with AI and Investment Opportunities for AI Startups,” the third panel will explore how founders, SMEs, and innovators can move from AI curiosity to execution, with the added lens of investment readiness. Moderated by IPBN member and Strategic Growth Advisor Carlos Justino, the discussion will feature three leaders at the forefront of AI adoption, business innovation, and scal...

The IPBN's June 17th Dublin Innovation Conference featured speakers and panelists from different sectors to bridge the gap between theory and practice, the first of which focused on new EU regulations in AI legislation as a framework for SMEs to discover tools to help them remain compliant with Agatha Bulha, Stephanie Prenderville, and moderator Lee Bristow. Agatha Bulha is a lawyer at José Bulha...

Panel 2 of the IPBN Innovation Conference focuses on AI case studies regarding sustainability and data analysis. JC Durbin, Head of Innovation and AI at IPBN Executive Partner, Ardanis, introduces the panel and delivers a case study from the company. JC is a seasoned leader and engineer with broad experience guiding projects from design to production. With a robust technology background and divers...

In this episode, we spotlight the powerful keynote statements delivered at the Second Innovation Conference in Dublin by two thought leaders shaping the future of AI: Lee Bristow and Martin Duffy . Lee Bristow , author of "The Human AI Alliance" and serial tech founder, explores what it means to build responsible AI . With expertise spanning RiskTech, automation, and information security, Lee advo...

AI is everywhere—but is it truly a strategic priority for your business, or just another tech trend? In this practical and insightful masterclass, Stephanie Prenderville , Founder of SP Consulting, cuts through the AI hype and helps you assess whether AI can meaningfully accelerate business results, reduce operational friction, and enable future agility. The Masterclass, entitled "Is AI a Strategi...

As interest in relocating to and investing in the Algarve continues to grow, so does the demand for clarity around the various incentives and residency schemes available in Portugal today. To address this, we opened out Member Meet Member event in the Algarve with a focused and informative panel discussion followed by networking opportunities. Our expert panel explored and clarified several key pr...

Check out the podcast taken from the online Masterclass on the EU Pay Transparency Directive, coming into effect in 2026. In this session, three IPBN members shared their expertise on the legal, practical, and strategic implications of the new regulations, ensuring you are ready to meet compliance standards and avoid penalties. Listen as they decode the legal requirements, discuss practical steps...

Listen to an exclusive online Masterclass with IPBN member Lee Bristow, author of Human AI Alliance. In this episode, Lee explores essential governance strategies to help businesses confidently adopt AI and walks the audience through implementing governance frameworks to ensure fairness and equity in AI systems (Reducing Bias). Lee also touches on ways to develop safe, secure, and responsible AI p...

Today's podcast is with Raquel Pinto , a career and leadership coach with over 15 years of experience in career and management coaching. Raquel helps people achieve career goals and hone their leadership skills in order to broaden their scope and determine the next best steps for their professional lives. In this episode, we look at Raquel's "Five traits"—strategic thinking, accountability, influe...

Today on the podcast we welcome Jo James from AmberLife, a motivating and results-focused Business Coach, Author and Trainer, empowering you to take your business to the next level, while ensuring you maintain the balance you value in life. In this podcast we discuss confidence in a business context, her book Make Mondays Matter, helping entrepreneurs grow sustainably with AmberLife, maintaining m...

Listen to this conversation between IPBN member Brian Shanahan of Informita and Carlos Justino of the UAlg Tech Hub that focuses on the objectives of understanding the impact of the recent tariffs on SMEs with the aim to help minimize the impact on business with some practical advice for both businesses and consumers alike.

IPBN member company and host of the upcoming Member Meet Member event in Porto, FinTrU, has grown significantly in Porto, now with over 200 employees. In this podcast, Telmo Fernandes, the Site Lead at FinTrU shares what initially attracted the company to Portugal and how the expansion has contributed to the company's success. We cover a variety of topics from Telmo's experience with expansion and...

Claire is a publicist specializing in thought leadership campaigns for founders and venture capitalists in the technology sector. In this session, Claire covers: The 'First Impression' Test: Assessing whether your website and social media platforms are clear, engaging, and trustworthy. Common Mistakes That Push Customers Away: Identifying issues like outdated information, unclear messaging, and in...

Join us today to hear the whirlwind story of Otonomee, what inspired its creation, key milestones, global teams, remote-first expansion, challenges and benefits of scaling internationally, current partnerships, and Otonomee's exciting future plans as told by Hilary O'Shea, COO of the company.

Check out this panel conversation about Sustainable AI-Scale Data Centres with Innovative Cooling and 100% Renewable Energy with: India Branquinho de Oliveira , Sustainability Manager at Start Campus | Delivering Al-Scale Data Centre and Luis Adolfo , Director, Skanstec Engineering, IPBN Executive Partner, moderated by IPBN member Kayleigh Ann Myles , ESG & Sustainability Lead @ Lawler Sustain...

Listen to this exclusive conversation about the Vertical Farming Revolution and Farming Sustainability. This talk focused on the VF opportunities within cities and what Farming Sustainability means with John Paul Prior , Chair of the IPBN Porto and Director of Sales Strategy and Technical Development at Farmony , and Patrick FitzGerald, Ceo & Founder Beotanics , a plant genetics and plant base...

In the first panel discussion, Siobhán Finn, CEO of Community Enterprise Association Ireland (CEAI), spoke about efforts to foster entrepreneurship in rural communities while Laetitia Arrighi de Casanova, Director of B Lab Portugal, shed light on how the global B Corp movement is reshaping business practices with a focus on social and environmental impact. The conversation was moderated by IPBN Bo...

The host of the IPBN's Sustainability Conference, Chitra Stern, co-owner of Martinhal Resorts and the United Lisbon International School, shared insights on how sustainable business practices have been embedded into their developments in Portugal. She said, “My husband, Roman, and I came to Portugal 26 years ago for both business opportunities and lifestyle,” Stern recalled. “Building sustainabili...

Joining us today is Raquel Horta, the Co-Founder of Partnium Services, a company dedicated to helping businesses scale efficiently through tailored, on-demand services. With over 25 years of experience in operations, strategy, project and program management, and business transformation, Raquel Horta is no stranger to working seamlessly with many different organizations. She has seen firsthand the...

Joining this podcast is Video Production Specialist José Nunes of IPBN executive media partner RXL Studio who will be present at the upcoming 6th Annual Sustainability Conference in Lisbon to make sure out AV is top notch. RXL has covered several IPBN conferences thus far and, on our side, we can say that they excel at what they do. From interviews to images, to drone footage, we have been more th...