UCD Business Impact

10 June 2026 - BComm alumnus Larry McGrath shares his journey from a career in investment analysis to moving to one of the companies he assessed, where he could see science and innovation in real time and have a positive impact on people’s lives. A fascination with healthcare led Larry to steer investor relations at CVS Health, which includes a portfolio that ranges from stores to health insurance...

Ashley McDonnell | CEO of VYKO, Ireland’s First Luxury Group 4 June 2026 - What does it take to scale Irish heritage into a global luxury powerhouse? UCD CEMS Masters in Management alumna Ashley McDonnell built an elite career with LVMH, Dior and Puig before returning home to found VYKO, Ireland’s first luxury group. In this conversation, she breaks down how she is applying international brand str...

Why did the world’s most sophisticated risk managers miss the warning signs of a multi-billion dollar commodity shock? Professor of Finance, Valerio Poti joins us to dissect the abrupt end of market calm following the escalation in the Middle East. 

Is the aviation industry prepared for potentially the greatest oil shock in history? As jet fuel costs soar amid geopolitical conflict, former GECAS CEO Norm Liu joins us to analyze the resilience of aircraft leasing. We explore why regional risk assessment and airline consolidation are now critical survival strategies. Beyond the hangar, Liu discusses the urgent energy demands of AI and why he is...

In this episode, we step into the world of the elite global business programme, the CEMS Master in International Management at UCD Smurfit School. As Ireland’s only member of this prestigious 33-school global alliance, the programme is consistently top-ranked by the Financial Times. Each year, the multilingual cohort of 15+ nationalities takes a deep dive into modules around global leadership, str...

How can leaders navigate the tension between AI automation and developing core critical human skills? In our latest episode, Lorna Conn, CEO of Cpl, explores the evolution of the global labour market. Managing a workforce of 14,000, Lorna argues that while AI fluency is non-negotiable, the future belongs to those who master "deep human skills"—creativity, compassionate leadership, and critical ove...

Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chair of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, and Kathleen Gallagher, journalist with the Business Post and winner of the Women in Business Journalism Award Category at the 2025 UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, look back over the stories that hit the headlines. 

UCD BComm alumna Siobhán Talbot is one of Ireland's most accomplished and widely respected business leaders. Join us as she discusses her remarkable career journey, which she describes as a "baptism of fire" from the hard graft of PwC to her rise to Group Managing Director of Glanbia. Siobhán shares how the massive risk of strategically pivoting Glanbia away from purely food production into global...

UCD BComm alumna, Fiona Carney, explores one of the biggest transformations reshaping the world of work , AI . A leader at Microsoft, she draws on her expertise to explain how AI is enhancing productivity, enabling higher-value work, accelerating innovation, and transforming how companies engage with customers. But, she explains how technology alone isn’t enough; people, skills, and change managem...

Aviation could account for up to 20% of global carbon emissions by 2050, but as Professor Tom Conlon explains, the real barrier to change isn’t technology, it’s finance. He believes that if the sector is to grow, it has to decarbonise, but to do so, bold investor actions are required. Tom’s recent research, featured in Science , one of the world’s leading academic journals, explores how new financ...

Dr Emmet Oliver, Lecturer at UCD College of Business, takes a deep dive into the pivotal decades that shaped modern Ireland, drawing on insights from his new book, Irish Nation Building: Government, Business and Power, 1922–1958 .

What does it take to build and sustain a culture of excellence under relentless pressure? Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen joins us to explore the leadership lessons from one of the most successful professional rugby organisations in the world.

In this inspiring episode, we speak with Eamon Fennell, former GAA Champion turned Salesforce professional, about his leap into education through Ireland’s top Executive MBA programme. With a background rooted in sport, now thriving in a global tech company, he shares his unusual career journey and how the MBA gave him the tools to transition into a strategic, business-focused role.  Whether you'r...

Assistant Professor Paul Dylan-Ennis of UCD Smurfit School dives into the evolving world of cryptocurrencies— where rebellion meets regulation. From Bitcoin’s libertarian roots and links to MAGA culture, to Ethereum’s resistance to mainstream finance, this discussion tackles the tough questions.

In a rapidly changing job market, the traditional CV just doesn’t cut it anymore. In this episode, Louise Campbell, Senior Manager of Smurfit Careers Network, shares essential insights on the evolving recruitment landscape—and what graduates need to know to stand out.

How can biologically inspired computing shape the future of AI in business?  In this episode, Assistant Professor Miguel Nicolau, Business Analytics and Computer Science at UCD College of Business, explores how nature’s principles help evolve better technological solutions, the role of explainable AI, and the growing challenge of trusting machine-generated decisions in business. Join us as we disc...

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Marius Claudy, Associate Professor of Marketing, to explore the profound ways morality influences our relationship with technology.  He discusses the ethical dilemmas of algorithmic bias and unpacks the nuances of how political views, social conditioning, and human psychology shape our trust in emerging tech. As regulation looms on the horizon, w...

Governance expert Dr Margaret Cullen explores the biggest challenges facing corporate boards and shares actionable solutions to navigate uncertainty. She highlights the power of a clear corporate purpose in fostering collaboration between the board, CEO, and executive team and explains why cognitive diversity is key to driving success. 

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with UCD Quinn School alumna Sadhbh Wood, a trailblazing entrepreneur who turned recycled coffee grounds into a thriving skincare business. Hear how she became the first Irish finalist in the International Hult Prize, the world’s largest social entrepreneurship competition for students. Sadhbh shares her start-up story, the challenges of building a sustainabl...

Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chairman of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, and Catherine Sanz, journalist with the Business Post and winner of the Women in Business Journalism Award Category at the 2024 UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, look back over the leading business stories of 2024.

Dr Anshu Suri digs deep into the heart of consumer behaviour from why customers are more tolerant of brands supporting green initiatives, the real reasons people take to social media to list company complaints and why big firms neglect their customers. Listen to this fascinating conversation covering current consumer behaviour and where we’re headed in the future.

From Greenlabelling to Greenshifting, Assistant Professor Fabiola Schneiderm, UCD College of Business discusses how businesses can navigate new regulations and work towards true green credentials.

Founding donor of UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business and BComm alumnus, Lochlann Quinn, joined us for this special episode as part of UCD Culture and Engagement Week. Across a high-impact leadership and philanthropic career, Lochlann developed and guided many businesses, serving as Chairman of AIB, ESB, National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the director and driving force...

Expert in digital transformation and Academic Director of UCD Smurfit Executive Development Professor Joe Peppard reveals why technology competitiveness is a necessity and why digital transformation is less about digital and more about transformation.