30th January - Brigit 2025 Women in Business Event with themes of Resilience, Sustainability and Renewal

Local Enterprise Office Dublin City Women in Business Networking Event

Brigit 2025: Dublin City Celebrating Women in Business  

Date: Thursday 30th January 2025

Time:  10.15-12.30

Venue: The Oak Room, Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2

The Brigit 2025 festival is a Dublin City Council initiative consisting of 80 thematic events taking place across the city, offering an exciting and diverse celebration of women’s contributions to culture, society, and history.  The Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain will open this morning event celebrating the contribution of women business to the city.

Lord Mayor Emma Blainde

The theme of the event is Sustainability and Renewal and it will feature brief talks by entrepreneurs and a discussion moderated by entrepreneur and broadcaster Aine Kerr.  

The panellists will be Aisling Connaughton of Cyd Connects and Maria Burke, Pharmacist, Entrepreneur and Executive Coach - see profiles below.

Aisling will talk about how one of the solutions to the climate crisis is more women in business, now backed up by research from the UN Secretary General.  Solving the climate crisis means moving away from a traditional “shareholder” business model towards a “stakeholder” model focusing on planet, people and profit.  It's proven that women put purpose at the heart of their business and female-led businesses want to serve people and planet rather than just make profit at any cost. That means championing female business leaders is now more important than ever.  Here is the link to the research.

The end of January, start of February was traditionally seen as a time for renewal and hope and Maria will talk about the importance of renewal, both from a personal and business point of view and how this early part of the year is the perfect time to set priorities.  Maria will explain not only why renewal is vital but also  how you can work on yours.  She will touch on how critical resilience is for success in business and life in general.

Event details will be added as they are confirmed.

The morning event will take place in the Mansion House and will finish with networking over tea/coffee and sandwiches.

Places are limited and can be booked through this link.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Moderator: Áine Kerr, Entrepreneur and Broadcaster

Aine Kerr 2025

Áine Kerr is an award winning entrepreneur and broadcaster. 

She was co-founder of Kinzen, acquired by Spotify, and Managing Editor of Storyful, acquired by News Corporation. 

She is a two-time graduate of Dublin City University with a Bachelor of Education (B’Ed) and Masters in Journalism (MAJ). She holds a Masters in Business Practice with University College Cork (UCC). She is a Fellow of the Sulzberger Leadership Program in Columbia University, NYC. 

A former Global Head of Journalism Partners at Facebook in New York, Áine has worked for Ireland’s main broadsheet newspapers.  Áine is chair of Gaisce, (the President of Ireland’s award for young people), chair of the 100 million euro social innovation fund Rethink Ireland and chair of the education schools initiative The Shona Project. 

Aisling Connaughton, Co-founder & Sustainability Solutionist, Cyd Connects

Aisling Connaughton

Aisling Connaughton is a co-founder of Cyd Connects, a women-led sustainability consultancy helping businesses become a force for good.  Cyd Connects is a certified B Corp, participant of the UN Global Compact and specialises in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals via sustainability roadmaps that make navigating the journey fun and inspiring.   Now is the time for every business to become a force for good.  Through Cyd Connects, Aisling turns social and environmental responsibility into competitive business advantage.   As a TEDx speaker and guest lecturer at London Business School, Goldsmiths University and EADA Barcelona, Aisling’s skill is in taking what can seem like a dry and overwhelming subject like sustainability, and making it simple, innovative and fun.

Aisling’s 18-year global career in PR spans sustainability, marketing, and communications.  She has worked for Huawei Technologies holding posts in Shenzhen and San Francisco.  Aisling began her career in the beauty industry, working for L’Oreal, Aveda and Clarins before taking the Global Head of PR role with leading sustainable British brand Liz Earle Beauty Co.

Aisling is a proud member of the University of Cambridge Wo+Men Leadership Centre. She has a Masters in Social Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths University of London and received a scholarship to the Cambridge Judge Business School Rising Women Leaders Programme.

In her role as a certified B Leader, Aisling is working to raise awareness of how the B Corp framework can act as a catalyst for better business and accelerate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

Website: www.cydconnects.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aisling-connaughton-01111123/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/aisling_connaughton/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cydconnects

TEDx talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYy33FhURNM

Maria Burke BSc.(Pharm)MPSI, Business Mentor, Executive Coach Best-Selling Author, Pharmacist. 

Maria Burke 2025

Maria Burke is a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur and now a high-performance coach and mentor.  With decades of experience managing three pharmacies, founding a wholesale distribution business, writing the #1 bestselling book The Formula – How to be your very best self, and growing her coaching and mentoring business, she has developed a unique approach to guide others through challenges and to move past limits.

 Maria holds a BSc in Pharmacy from Trinity College Dublin and an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching as well as a Foundation in Team Coaching. She is also a LIFT Ireland facilitator. 

Maria is a member of the Enterprise Ireland Mentoring Panel, guiding business owners and teams to start, grow and scale.  With a certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) she helps clients achieve what once felt impossible - just like summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro taught her about pushing through barriers.  She helps her clients find clarity, set meaningful goals, and overcome the beliefs that keep them stuck  by providing structured steps to make decisions, organise actions, and implement achievable plans. 

linkedin.com/in/burkemra

Please email leodcwomeninbusiness@gmail.com if you have any questions.