PODCAST · business
UCD Business Impact
by UCD College of Business
The ‘UCD Business Impact’ Podcast from UCD College of Business features thought leaders from the world of academia and industry discussing the most compelling issues affecting our lives from a business perspective. These conversations will offer insight, spark curiosity and challenge you to rethink how you do business in a changing world. Hosted by Emmet Oliver, financial editor and journalist; and lecturer at UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business.
Episodes
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S6 Ep13: Inside healthcare giant CVS
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...
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S6 Ep12: Building Ireland's First Luxury Group: VYKO Strategy
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…
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S6 Ep11: Energy Shock
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.
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S6 Ep10: Global Turmoil and the Greatest Oil Shock: The Future of Aviation Finance
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...
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S6 Ep9: Mastering Global Leadership: Inside the Top-Ranked CEMS Programme
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…
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S6 Ep7: Cpl CEO Lorna Conn on navigating AI transformation and the skills gap
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...
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S6 Ep6: 2025 Year in Review - From tariffs to AI bubbles
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…
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S6 Ep5: The Pivot and the Payoff: Siobhán Talbot on Strategy, Growth and Earning the Right to Grow
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...
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S6 Ep4: The Art of the Possible: AI and the Future of Work
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…
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S6 Ep3: Financing Flight: Professor Tom Conlon on decarbonising the skies
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…
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S6 Ep2: The Long Lens: Dr Emmet Oliver on the lessons to be learned from Ireland’s economic past
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.
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S6 Ep1: Leading for High Performance: Lessons from Leinster Rugby with Leo Cullen
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.
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S5 Ep10: Proving them wrong: How an Executive MBA became Eamon Fennell’s career game-changer
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…
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S5 Ep9: Bitcoin in the White House – How Crypto Currencies went Mainstream
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.
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S5 Ep8: Top Soft Skills Employers Want in 2025—and How to Showcase Them in the Age of AI
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.
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S5 Ep7: Explaining AI: Building Smarter, More Transparent Technology for Business
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...
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S5 Ep6: Morality, Bias, and the Future of AI: How Technology Shapes—and Reflects—Society
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...
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S5 Ep5: Stronger Boards, Smarter Decisions: The Power of Purpose and Cognitive Diversity
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...
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S5 Ep4: Turning Waste into Wealth: Sadhbh Wood’s Sustainable Start-up Story
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...
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S5 Ep3: From Politics and Tech Bros to Bitcoin and Airport Caps, 2024 a Year in Review
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,...
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S5 Ep2: The Customer is Always Wrong
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...
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S5 Ep1: From Greenlabeling to Greenshifting
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.
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S4 Ep12: The Mighty Quinn
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...
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S4 Ep11: Doing IT Differently
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.
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S4 Ep10: Changing the Game
Her Sport take over for International Women’s Day To mark International Women’s Day Niamh Tallon, Her Sport has taken over the UCD Business Impact Podcast to celebrate female athletes in the UCD Quinn School community and how they are changing the game in sport and business. Her Sport’s mission…
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S4 Ep9: Sustainable Growth
From reducing food waste to proactive health, MBA alumna and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Kerry Group, Catherine Keogh discusses how innovation and sustainability are driving one of Ireland’s most well-known brands to remain a global leader while staying connected to its local roots.
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S4 Ep8: Precious Lives
MBA alumna Kerry McLaverty, winner of this year’s UCD Alumni Award for the College of Business and CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland's only children's hospice discusses engaging the public in an era of permacrisis, staying visible and having a job with purpose.
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S4 Ep7: Season 4 Episode 7 – Gigging for Gold
Dr Emma McDaid dives into her research on Uber revealing the downsides of working for disruptor firms and the darker aspects of the gig economy.
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S4 Ep6: From AI chatbots to bank runs - 2023 in Review
Looking back at the biggest business stories of 2023. In conversation with Business Journalists Linda Daly and Donal O'Donovan.
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S4 Ep5: The Workplace in a Perfect Storm
UCD Smurfit School alumna and Head of Social Policy at IBEC, Dr Kara McGannon shares how the workplace reflects society’s issues and how we can all work to build better organisations.
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S4 Ep4: The Applegreen story: The art of disruption
Double UCD Business alumnus in BComm and MBA Joe Barrett discusses building the Applegreen retail empire and charting the journey from one to over 600 service stations.
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S4 Ep3: Is your company ready for ESG Reporting?
Assistant Professor Rebecca Maughan and Assistant Professor Seán O'Reilly talk about the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) along with the EU's Green Deal and Taxonomy. They give an overview of the new…
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S4 Ep2: Should Executive Education be more like Tik Tok?
New Director of UCD Smurfit Executive Development Professor Tim Wray discusses trends in executive education from bite chunk to virtual learning and designing accessible ways of learning for busy executives to refresh their skills and stay relevant in a diverse, global workforce.
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S3 Ep16: Call in the Consultants
Academic Director for the MSc in Management Consultancy Kathy O’Reilly is a leader in work-integrated learning that brings students and companies together for real-world based projects. She discusses the key benefits of hiring management consultants including the value of a fresh set of eyes to...
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S3 Ep15: AI: Hype vs Reality
Founding Director of the UCD Natural Computing Research and Applications Group Professor Mike O’Neill looks inside the machine and subjects generative AI to a reality check to determine if it is a useful business tool or a job killer.
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S3 Ep14: Irish banks blossom post Brexit
Fernando Vicario leads Bank of America Europe as CEO and is also the Country Executive for Ireland. He discusses Ireland’s bustling banking hub, as well as key priorities for the organisation including ESG and diversity and inclusion.
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S3 Ep13: The Good Leadership Revolution
Joanne Hession, UCD Quinn and Smurfit School alumna, is the founder of Entrepreneurs Academy and more recently LIFT (Leading Ireland’s Future Together) which is the country's first and most inclusive social enterprise focused on elevating the standard of leadership. She discusses her work in the...
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S3 Ep12: Job today, gone tomorrow
UCD Careers Network Manager Michael McDonnell discusses navigating today’s stormy jobs market, finding opportunities and how employers and graduates can find appeal to each other.
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S3 Ep11: Can our psychological addiction to property be cured?
Associate Professor Paul Ryan discusses Ireland’s fatal attraction to property and his current research that psychoanalyses the country's relationship with land ownership and development.
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S3 Ep10: Global food price hikes: Who’s to blame?
Season 3 Episode 10 - Global food price hikes: Who’s to blame? Professor Don Bredin | Finance and Globalisation Vice Principal for Internationalization and Global Engagement Professor Don Bredin discusses global price wars and who is stoking global food prices.
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S3 Ep9: Problem Solvers: How mathematical techniques help leaders make better decisions
Assistant Professor Annunziata Esposito Amideo, Management Information Systems, UCD Quinn School of Business explains how using operational research and mathematical modelling can result in better outcomes in real-world scenarios, including business decisions, global challenges and reacting to...
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S3 Ep8: Failure: The hospitality industry fights back Assistant Professor Orla Byrne | Entrepreneurship and Strategy
17th January 2023. Focusing on the lived experience of entrepreneurship, Dr Orla Byrne discusses why entrepreneurship is good for society and how Ireland's hospitality sector can survive tough times. She also discusses her new initiative, AtThePass.ie, which is designed to support the current…
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S3 Ep7: Is polycrisis the word of the year? Looking back at the biggest business stories of 2022
Elaine Burke and Donal O'Donovan | Business Journalists 20th December 2022. Elaine Burke, editor of Silicon Republic, and Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chairman of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, look back over the leading business stories in 2022.
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S3 Ep6: Taxing Times
Anna Scally | International Tax Partner, Head of Technology and Media, and FinTech Lead, KPMG Ireland 13th December 2022. KPMG Partner and UCD Quinn School alumna Anna Scally discusses whether Ireland can remain an FDI leader and the future of Ireland's tech cluster.
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S3 Ep5: Transforming your Organisation
15th November 2022. Deloitte Ireland CEO Harry Goddard explains how firms, including his own, are changing to meet an anxious age and reveals how to navigate a world in a state of “permacrisis”.
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S3 Ep4: Inflation- crisis or opportunity?
8th November 2022. Julie Ennis discusses how her UCD Smurfit School MBA helped in her leadership leap from Bank of Ireland to Sodexo and how staying client-focused amid surging prices is presenting new opportunities for cost mitigation and sustainability. She also discusses the company’s…
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S3 Ep3: No silver bullet: Why government needs a fresh approach to the energy crisis
25th October 2022. UCD Business Alumni Award winner for 2022 Mary Quaney talks about Mainstream’s tremendous international growth in emerging markets and how enhancing grid transmission infrastructure may see Ireland become a powerhouse in wind energy.
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S3 Ep2: Our energy future: Charting this winter and the winters ahead
With a background in mathematical and statistical modelling of energy markets, Assistant Professor Mel Devine reveals how renewables may solve this winter’s looming energy crisis and how new energy forms could hold the key to our future.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The ‘UCD Business Impact’ Podcast from UCD College of Business features thought leaders from the world of academia and industry discussing the most compelling issues affecting our lives from a business perspective.
These conversations will offer insight, spark curiosity and challenge you to rethink how you do business in a changing world.
Hosted by Emmet Oliver, financial editor and journalist; and lecturer at UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business.
HOSTED BY
UCD College of Business
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does UCD Business Impact have?
UCD Business Impact currently has 118 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is UCD Business Impact about?
The ‘UCD Business Impact’ Podcast from UCD College of Business features thought leaders from the world of academia and industry discussing the most compelling issues affecting our lives from a business perspective. These conversations will offer insight, spark curiosity and challenge you to rethink...
How often does UCD Business Impact release new episodes?
UCD Business Impact publishes regularly with 118 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to UCD Business Impact?
You can listen to UCD Business Impact on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts UCD Business Impact?
UCD Business Impact is created and hosted by UCD College of Business.
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