Smooth Scaling

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with Brenda Dooley, Founder and CEO of AXIS The Reimbursement Experts, to explore the scaling journey behind one of Ireland and the UK’s leading reimbursement strategy firms.Brenda shares how she built a highly specialised business from a clear market gap, the shift from boutique consultancy to an international scaling company, and the people, systems and strategic thinking required to support that growth. We also discuss innovation in healthcare, the future of reimbursement, AI, and why mission-led businesses can scale with both purpose and ambition.

In this episode, Marie is joined by Nancy Costello, Founder & CEO of The Belle Brush and the driving force behind Belle Hair and Invisibelle.Named Image Young Business Woman of the Year 2025, Nancy has built a standout Irish beauty brand with significant global reach - selling over 500,000 award-winning products worldwide and growing a powerful e-commerce business supported by millions of online viewers.From Galway to a global audience, Nancy shares the reality behind scaling a consumer brand - the early challenges, differentiating in a saturated market, building community at scale, and the operational discipline required to turn product demand into sustainable growth.This is a candid conversation about ambition, resilience, and what it really takes to build a modern, internationally recognised brand from the West of Ireland.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with Eoghan Finneran, co-founder of Senus, formerly FarmEye, a company that has grown from rural roots in Roscommon into a leading player in agri-tech and environmental intelligence.Senus has mapped over 3.5 million acres for soil health, building what it describes as Europe’s largest geo-tagged soil health database, and now operates internationally across 16 countries. In December 2025, the company listed on Euronext, reaching a market capitalisation of approximately €13 million.Marie and Eoghan discuss the evolution of the business, scaling environmental data into actionable insight, navigating international growth, and the realities of building a public company from the West of Ireland.

Season Two of Smooth Scaling opens by setting the scene for the year ahead.In this short episode, host Marie Donnellan outlines what scaling businesses are facing for the year ahead. Drawing on insights from the 2026 Business Outlook Report, she explores key themes including international expansion, cost and margin pressure, lean growth, AI adoption, leadership bandwidth, and talent challenges.Season 2 will feature practical, honest conversations with founders and scaling leaders, many from the SCALE by Platform94 regional community, sharing real experiences and insights from their own scaling journeys.The episode also pays tribute to the late John Purdy, an early supporter of our regional scaling community and a much-loved guest on the podcast, whose spirit of collaboration and generosity continues to shape everything we do.New episodes coming very soon. Thank you for listening, your support truly means a lot.

In this special wrap-up episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie Donnellan reflects on the biggest insights, standout stories, and hard-won lessons from Season One.From global entrepreneurs to regional innovators, our guests have shared candid truths about purpose, structure, resilience, talent, and culture, the real foundations needed to scale successfully on the international stage.Marie revisits the highlights of each conversation, draws together her five biggest takeaways, and celebrates the momentum of the regional scaling community.Whether you’ve listened to every episode or you’re just discovering the series, this finale is packed with perspective, inspiration, and practical wisdom for anyone on a scaling journey.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, we’re delighted to welcome Joe O’Donovan, our newly appointed Fractional Chief Financial Officer at Platform94 and the latest leader to join our pioneering Fractional C-Suite initiative.Joe brings over two decades of leadership in high-growth and complex environments, including 13 years as CFO and later CEO of Galway Clinic, CEO of Grace Healthcare, and advisory roles with innovative scaling companies like ByoWave. He’s a Chartered Accountant who has guided organisations through major expansion, funding cycles, and operational transformation.In this introductory episode, we explore why Joe chose to work with scaling companies in the West and Northwest; the most common financial blind spots that hold founders back; how to strengthen cashflow management and build rolling budgets; when to bring in senior financial leadership; and what it takes to prepare for investment without losing sight of day-to-day growth.If you’re a scaling business looking for strategic financial guidance, or want to understand how world-class CFO expertise can shape your scaling journey, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, we’re thrilled to welcome Sue Gannon our newly appointed Fractional Chief People Officer at Platform94 and the first leader to join our fractional C-Suite initiative.Sue brings over 25 years of senior HR leadership across global brands like Netflix, Dr. Martens, Beam Suntory, and Campbell’s, with experience spanning the US, UK, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Now, she’s channeling that expertise into supporting Ireland’s most ambitious scaling companies across the West and Northwest.In this introductory episode we explore why Sue chose to work with scaling businesses in the region; what definite a great people strategy during periods of rapid growth, common pitfalls in international expansion. how founders can structure their leadership teams for long-term success and what it really means to build a values-led, high-performance cultureIf you're a scaling company looking for strategic people support, or simply curious about how world-class HR leadership can transform your business, this is the episode for you.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, we dive into what it really takes to engage and retain great people in a fast-scaling business. As the competition for talent intensifies, culture is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic differentiator. We explore how organisations of all sizes can foster purpose, drive connection, and create standout employee experiences from day one, turning culture into your greatest competitive edge.Marie is joined by David Mackey, Co-Founder of Mbryonics; Pamela Treacy, Head of Corporate Business Acquisition at VHI; and Paul Conneally, Co-Founder of Slick+, who offer practical, honest insights on everything from psychological safety and inclusive leadership to the power of purpose, and how technology is reshaping onboarding, mentoring, and the modern workplace.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with Evelyn O’Toole, Founder and CEO of CLS (Complete Laboratory Solutions), to explore the remarkable journey of building one of Ireland’s leading scientific services companies. From humble beginnings in Connemara to becoming a national and international leader, Evelyn shares what gave her the courage to start, how she navigated key growth milestones, and the pivotal decisions that shaped CLS’s success.We dive into the complexities of scaling a business in a highly regulated sector, balancing expansion with quality and technical excellence. Evelyn opens up about how her leadership evolved, the weight of responsibility she’s carried, and the resilience required to keep going during the hardest moments. She reflects on the role of innovation and technology in CLS’s growth, the strategy behind their recent €10 million training investment, and what the future holds -including international ambitions and staying rooted in the West of Ireland.Honest, inspiring, and filled with practical wisdom, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and building something that lasts. Evelyn also shares what she’s most proud of, the advice she’d give to early-stage founders, and what the journey has taught her about herself.

In this extended episode of Smooth Scaling, we dive deep into scaling your business into the UK market with insights from leading experts on the ground. Join us as we explore routes to market, funding supports, sector opportunities, and regional advantages across the UK.Guests include Patrick McMahon (Enterprise Ireland UK), La Tess Bartlett (West Midlands Growth Company), Joseph Beaden and Alex Jones Casey (MIDAS Manchester), John O'Loughlin (Welsh Government), and Mark John (Tramshed Tech).Whether you're eyeing expansion or already trading in the UK, this episode is packed with practical advice, regional insights, and real-world experience to help you succeed.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, we dive into the reality of securing US investment as an Irish business. To help us navigate the complexity of this journey, we're joined by the brilliant Máire P Walsh, Venture Partner at AiiM partners in Silicon Valley, a proud Mayo woman, and a true champion of Irish entrepreneurship.We explore the real hurdles Irish companies face when trying to raise US investment, whether you can secure investment from Ireland, what US investors are actually looking for in Irish and European startups, common mistakes Irish founders make when entering the US market, the current US investor mindset amid global volatility and how Irish companies can respond along with practical, no-nonsense advice to increase your chances of success.

Over 85% of our scaling business called out ‘Talent Acquisition & Retention’ as a critical challenge and key hurdle to growth. Scaling companies find themselves competing with larger organisations and multinationals. So how can SMEs differentiate themselves and win the best people?In this episode of Smooth Scaling, we dive into practical strategies that scaling businesses can use to attract top talent. From company culture, career progression, and employer branding to flexibility, ESOPs, and what candidates are really looking for today, we break down the key ways businesses can differentiate themselves in a competitive hiring market.We’re joined by two fantastic guests:- Brian Keville – Founder & Managing Director of MKO, Ireland’s leading planning and environmental consultancy. An alumni of Platform94, Brian has scaled to over 220 employees sharing first-hand insights on how MKO has successfully grown its team to where it is today.- Michelle Murphy – Director at Collins McNicholas, one of Ireland’s top talent and recruitment firms. Michelle brings expert insights into shifting candidate behaviour, what today’s job seekers really want, and how SMEs can strengthen their hiring approach.If you’re leading a scaling business and looking for real-world hiring advice, this episode is packed with insights to help you win the talent war.

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with John Concannon, Founder & CEO of JFC Group.From humble farm beginnings in Tuam, Co. Galway, JFC Group has grown to become a global leader in innovative solutions for the construction, agri-equine, material handling, and marine industries. Today JFC group operates across multiple continents with 14 international locations, employing over 650 people and delivering forward-thinking solutions worldwide.In this episode John reflects on 37 years, sharing invaluable insights on the highs and lows of international scaling, with plenty of fun along the way!

In this episode of Smooth Scaling, host Marie Donnellan sits down with John Purdy, Founder & Chairman of tech giant Ergo, to explore what it really takes to scale a business internationally. With over 30 years of experience building one of Ireland’s most successful technology companies, John shares his invaluable insights on international expansion, overcoming scaling challenges, and the critical structures needed for sustainable global growth. From navigating new markets to adapting to different business cultures, John offers practical advice for scaling leaders looking to take their companies to the next level. Whether you're an entrepreneur preparing for international expansion or a business leader refining your scaling strategy, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways.

Welcome to the very first episode of Smooth Scaling. In this debut, we dive into the high-level findings of our 2025 Business Leaders Survey, uncovering key trends and insights shaping the scaling journey. Plus, we sit down with three great members of our SCALE by Platform94 community: John Clancy of Galvia AI, Matt Lawless of Clubforce, and David Ryan of Flynn O'Driscoll. They share their unique perspectives on the survey results and what they mean for scaling businesses in 2025.