A total of 87 women entrepreneurs have been selected for the 16th cycle of Going for Growth.
Entering its 16th cycle, the 2024 class of Going for Growth – some 87 female entrepreneurs – already have annual sales of €97m.
These businesses currently employ 961 people, over 500 of these full-time, and have very ambitious plans for their future growth.
“The objective of Going for Growth is to encourage female entrepreneurs to become more ambitious; to support them to achieve their growth aspirations; and to realise the full potential of their businesses, on Irish and export markets”
The programme, supported by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG, brings together female entrepreneurs for monthly peer-to-peer roundtable discussions facilitated by Lead Entrepreneurs who are successful businesswomen.
More women entrepreneurs are going for it
Originally 60 places were available but the intake for 2024 is oversubscribed at 87 participants, indicating the growing number of women entrepreneurs in Ireland.
The participation of Lead Entrepreneurs is completely voluntary and is done in the spirit of wishing to share their business experience and insights with others.
More than 900 businesswomen have taken part in Going for Growth since its first cycle in 2008.
This year’s voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs include Anne Cusack, formerly Critical Healthcare; Chupi Sweetman-Durney, Chupi; Jeananne O’Brien, Artizan Food Co.; Leonora O’Brien, formerly Pharmapod; Louise Phelan, Phelan Energy Group; Marissa Carter, Carter Beauty; Monica Flood, formerly Olas IT; Oonagh O’Hagan, Meaghers Pharmacy Group and Tara Beattie, Prepsheets.com.
Some of the past participants include Aimee Connolly of Sculpted by Aimee; Andrea Doolan of Atlantia Clinical Trials; Derval O’Rourke of Derval.ie; Kate Scott of HoloToyz; Louella Morton of TestReach; and Vanessa Creavenof Spotlight Oral Care. (Details of these and others are in the end notes)
“The objective of Going for Growth is to encourage female entrepreneurs to become more ambitious; to support them to achieve their growth aspirations; and to realise the full potential of their businesses, on Irish and export markets, throughout the lifetime of their business,” the founder of Going for Growth and its national director Paula Fitzsimons said recently.
“I am delighted that the feedback from the participants is so positive, demonstrating that they are creating additional added value in the Irish economy, growing sales, and employment.”
Main image at top: Pictured at the launch of the 16th cycle of Going for Growth was (l-r): Olivia Lynch, Partner KPMG, Niamh Ryan, Ella and Jo (participant), Andrea Doolan, Atlantia Clinical Trials (participant) and Jenny Melia, Executive Director Enterprise Ireland
