Business Leaders Reflected on the “Journey to Sustainable Success” at Groundbreaking Professional Event
Network Ireland Kerry in collaboration with their National Sponsors, AIB, held their third annual collaboration event on Wednesday Evening at The Rose Hotel, Tralee with the theme of: “The Journey to Sustainable Success”. This event brought three industry leading panel of experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable success, from start-up to large SME.
Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event, which provided a unique platform to explore the growth journeys of a start-up, a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME, all in strategic collaboration with leading banking institution AIB. This event celebrated the real-life evolution of businesses through various stages of development, highlighting the impact of tailored financial support and sustainable practices in achieving long-term success.
This event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon and MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack. Stephen most recently also took on the role of MC at the recent National Network Ireland Awards and delivered a super performance to a crowd of 500 attendees in Killarney this past September and was no stranger to the stage on Wednesday evening.
Attendees heard firsthand from the following founders and business leaders;
- Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ
- Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd.
- Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group
These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally. These stories demonstrated how close partnerships with financial institutions like AIB, funding institutions and investors enabled them to access capital, manage risk, invest in education and build resilient business models with sustainability at the core.
Three leading businesswomen also promoted their businesses on the night, for the Minute on the Mic:
- Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy
- Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa
- Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching
“AIB were delighted to collaborate with Network Ireland Kerry for their October Event, “The Journey to Sustainable Success”. Well done to Emily and the Kerry Committee and a huge thanks to the three excellent speakers, Sarah Farrar, Garrett Dillon and Susan Quirke Crowley and the three Minute on the Mic Speakers, Tara Elzingre, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein and Sharon Hartnett. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Network Ireland Kerry going forward and we wish them continued success with the Network.” – MC, Stephen Stack.
“This event was a testament to the power of partnership. The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact. Network Ireland Kerry benefits considerably from our Partnership with AIB both locally and nationally as our National Sponsor and it is a pleasure to see the power of networking bringing us all together to deliver impactful events like The Journey to Sustainable Success” – Network Ireland Kerry President, Emily Reen.
This event was also a vibrant networking mixer that connected business professionals, investors, and support partners across sectors.
Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on Wednesday, 12th November in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
To register to attend, go to www.networkireland.ie/events
