Straight Line Path

Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes is a professional investor and has previously founded companies in the architecture and fintech space. Her journey begins in Beirut to now building multi-generational wealth, showcasing how resilience and mindset drive financial freedom and legacy creation. In this episode, Stephanie joins the Straight Line Path to share her unique investing approach, emphasising internal mastery and strategic long-term holdings. Discover how understanding your personality and biases can transform your financial journey, and how to know which type of investing style suits you best: passive, selective, and active engagement.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with serial entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders.Episode #16 - Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes

Brendan Newe is the Managing Director of Venture Business Network, one of Ireland's leading B2B networking organisations. He's been in the world of business networking since the early 2000s, starting with BNI, building a career around helping businesses grow through the power of connection.In this episode, Brendan joins the Straight Line Path podcast to break down what networking actually is, and more importantly, what it isn't. We get into why most people approach networking with the wrong mindset, why attitude and follow-through matter far more than just showing up, and why something so critical to business success is never taught in school. Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with business leaders, networkers and sales and marketing experts.Episode #15 - Brendan Newe

Will Sparks is the founder of Sparks Wealth, an Ireland based financial planning firm. He began his career in finance before launching the business in 2019, and since then has built it around helping individuals and families take a smarter, more long-term approach to managing their money.In this episode, Will joins the Straight Line Path podcast to break down what actually matters when it comes to building wealth. We go deep on how to think about risk, why most investors get it wrong during uncertain times, and why preparation always beats prediction. We also explore Ireland’s financial landscape, the role of financial planners today, and the habits that separate long-term winners from everyone else.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with founders, industry experts and business leaders.Episode #14 - Will Sparks

Bobby Healy, is the founder of Manna Aero, a drone delivery company and one of the highest value startups in Ireland today, raising over €100 million to date. Bobby is also the founder of Meili and was a major stakeholder in Cartrawler, both B2B travel tech companies.Curiosity led us away on this one as Bobby joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share everything about Manna Aero; His thoughts on the future of delivery, how Amazon is in trouble and how crazy people are when it comes to getting food delivered.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with founders, industry experts and innovative leaders.Episode #13 - Bobby Healy

John Canniffe, is the Co-founder of Exeo Advisors and ExitEngine and fellow podcaster who helps entrepreneurs grow and sell their business joins the Straight Line Path podcast.In this episode John reveals why everyone needs an exit strategy, what’s actually important for buyers and his top tips for owners to maximise the value of their business when the time comes to sell.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with founders, industry experts and thought leaders.Episode #12 - John Canniffe

Tim Healy, the Managing Director of Couverture Desserts and GainLine Capital Investment, joins the Straight Line Path podcast to reveal the core skills that drive success in the food industry.In this episode Tim shares raw insights from over 15 years in food and retail, managing margins in a fickle industry, scaling production without losing flexibility and navigating the unique challenges of airline logistics vs supermarket shelf space.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with serial entrepreneurs, industry experts and retail innovators.Episode #11 - Tim Healy

Pierce Dargan, the CEO and founder of Equine MediRecord, councillor for Fine Gael and entrepreneur mentor joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share his insights on how to give your startup the best chance at success.In this episode Pierce shares his journey as a young entrepreneur, building an 8 figure business straight out of college. He explains how to navigate and make real use of grants and accelerator programmes, and offers an honest look into politics in Ireland.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to speak with great people influencing society, young entrepreneurs and politics alike.Episode #10 - Pierce Dargan

Kingsley Aikins, founder of The Networking Institute & The Diaspora Institute, joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share how to become a better networker in 2026, why hard work alone isn’t enough and why your success depends on other people.In this episode we chat about the different types of networks we have, how everyone has a personal brand, why hanging around with likeminded people is not always productive and much more…Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to learn from the people shaping careers, leadership and the world of influence.Episode #9 - Kingsley Aikins

David Jelly, the founder of peer to peer lending platform, Property Bridges joins the Straight Line Path podcast to talk about the current housing crisis, Irish investing culture and the rise of alternative investments. We also dive into the current stock market valuation, tax policies that are preventing people from building wealth and how long term thinking is often missing from property discussions. Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to learn from the people shaping how investing, property development and the economy.Episode #8 - David Jelly

Donna O’Leary joins the Straight Line Path Podcast, where we talk about the mistakes businesses make, what happens when tools are banned in the workplace, and why untrained teams can introduce more risk than the technology itself.We also talk about how individuals and young professionals can use AI responsibly and effectively, and why developing the right habits matters more than chasing the newest tools.Donna has experience in commercial litigation and regulatory work and now helps organisations build clarity around how these tools should be used and where problems typically arise.Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to learn from the people shaping how technology, work and leadership evolve.Episode #7 - Donna O’Leary

Michael Kearney joins the Straight Line Path Podcast to share how discipline, teamwork and strong personal standards have shaped his career in franchising and professional sport.He brought the Snap Printing franchise from Australia to Ireland in 1984 and grew it to 20+ locations, served as Irish Rugby Team Manager for five years, was a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 and now mentors Irish rugby players and entrepreneurs alike.In this episode, we explore what franchising looks like from the inside, how to assess the right opportunities, and why surrounding yourself with the right people can accelerate your path. Mick discusses leadership, consistency, networks and the habits that create long-term opportunity in any industry.Join the conversation and subscribe now to stay updated on future episodes as we continue to explore the ideas, experience, and people shaping business and personal growth.

John Collins, the founder of Yogen, has a rich history in the tech industry, having worked with giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Snapchat. His diverse experience spans across Silicon Valley, Germany, and the U.S., where he has been a pivotal advisor in the startup ecosystem.Exploring the future of hiring, in this episode, we delve into John's latest venture, Yogen, and its revolutionary approach to transforming the hiring process. We discuss the challenges of balancing the lean startup model, the importance of networking and how Yogen aims to de-risk and streamline hiring for companies of all sizes.Join the conversation and subscribe now to stay updated on future episodes and learn more about the innovations shaping our world.

In our fourth episode, we sit down with Pat Lynch, a serial entrepreneur, author, and CEO with a diverse business background.Pat shares his journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, reflecting on what it takes to start and scale a business without prior industry experience. Drawing on his decades of experience across leadership and startups, he discusses the importance of sales and marketing, the value of mentorship, and how these elements shape successful founders.We also explore his experiences breaking industry monopolies, his thoughts on Ireland’s evolving business environment, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on balancing business with personal life.Join us for an inspiring and practical conversation with one of Ireland’s most experienced and self-made entrepreneurs.

In our third episode, we sit down with Marty Meany, founder of GanderPluck, to discuss the future of content and what it takes for businesses to stay visible in 2025.With over a decade of experience in SEO, digital strategy and content creation, Marty shares how brands can leverage daily content opportunities, overcome the fear of imperfection, and build genuine connections with their audience. Drawing from his journey as both a creator and entrepreneur, he reveals why consistency beats perfection. We also explore Marty’s broader entrepreneurial path, navigating the “valley of despair", balancing multiple ventures (Goosed.ie & Dublin Craft Beer Tours), passion's role in entrepreneurship and the lessons learned from years in Ireland’s tech and creative scenes. Join us for an honest and insightful conversation on mastering visibility, creativity, and momentum in the digital age.

In our second episode, we sit down with Andreea Wade, a former AI founder turned early-stage investor with Delta Partners VC in Dublin. Andreea’s career is anything but conventional, spanning journalism, music festival management, AI startups, and mentoring, before making the leap into venture capital. Drawing on her product and startup expertise, she now invests in the next wave of founders.In our conversation, Andreea shares her journey of building an AI-first company, the challenges of scaling, and why execution often matters more than the initial idea. We explore the traits she sees in successful founders, the role of AI in recruitment, and her perspective on the Irish startup ecosystem.Join us for an insightful conversation with someone who has lived both sides of the table, Founder & Investor.

In our pilot episode, we sit down with Daragh Jordan, an Irish tech entrepreneur dedicated to helping busy people reclaim valuable time through innovative technology. Daragh is the CEO & Co-Founder of Magnate, a central messaging hub that brings Gmail, Slack, Outlook and more into one place.Featured in The Times UK, Irish Independent, and Silicon Republic, and named to Ireland’s 30 Under 30, Daragh shares his journey as a second-time founder. He discusses the inspiration behind starting Magnate, the lessons learned from building his first venture, Grafton Digital, and the challenges of marketing in a competitive SaaS landscape. Along the way, he reflects on the advantages of being a repeat entrepreneur, the importance of personal branding and LinkedIn for B2B sales, and the role of mentorship in breaking through business ceilings. Join us for all of the above and much more...