Inspiring Relaunch of Powerhouse on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day and Powerhouse Relaunch Inspires

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce were delighted to be part of the relaunch of the Powerhouse Network – which took place as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations last Friday (the 7^th of March) in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel.

Cathaoirleach Fergal Browne opened the proceedings and Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor with Local Enterprise Office Carlow, brought us through the redeveloped Powerhouse Network and Programme – highlighting the variety of events and supports designed to support female entrepreneurs, executives and professionals.  This included a variety of new events including the quarterly Business Break series, and the Powerhouse South East Innovation Summit which will take place in SETU in the summer.

The keynote speaker for the event was the inspiring Marie Gleeson, a former Irish Navy Captain, who’s powerful journey of leadership and learning resonated with the audience.  Her honest, pragmatic, engaging approach to life, business, success and failure were refreshing and relatable to so many in the audience.

MC for the event was Chamber CEO Nicola Doran, who moderated a panel of speakers discussing the topics business growth, leadership and resilience.  The panel featured Gemma Purcell (SETU & Chamber board member), Laura Mongey (Executive Coach representing Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet), Sarah Byrne (Business Advisor with LEO Carlow) and the keynote speaker Marie Gleeson.  The panel brought interesting perspectives, anecdotes and insights – and we could have listened to them for much longer had time allowed.

The event was brought to a close by Aoife Byrne (of SBE and Chamber board member) who pulled out the highlights from the day and reminded us of the power of a support network of like-minded people.

Both this event and the redeveloped Powerhouse Network have been organised by Carlow County Council Local Enterprise Office in collaboration with County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet, SETU and Carlow County Library.

The power of collaboration was a key theme throughout, as Nicola Doran explained: “We are exceptionally lucky in Carlow to have such a strong and progressive support eco-system, for businesses to connect into and interact with. And more importantly to have such an active and engaged network of businesses of every size, throughout the county that are excelling in their fields at home and abroad. Listening to both the speakers and the attendees, there was a very real ethos of mutual support and collaboration evident in the room.  The newly developed Powerhouse programme will add to this through its suite of activities and events tailored to the needs of female entrepreneurs, executives and professionals.”

More information and booking details will shortly be available for upcoming Powerhouse events on all of the partners websites and on Powerhouse socials.