Backing Horses & Planting Flowers: Building Ireland's First Women-Led Angel Syndicate

Join host Louise as she sits down with Mary McKenna MBE, an exited technology founder, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who describes herself as a "critical friend and backer of horses."

In this inspiring conversation, Mary shares her journey through three distinct career phases, from finance director to startup founder to her current portfolio of investments and mentorship roles.

Guest Bio

Mary McKenna MBE is an entrepreneur, innovator, thought leader, advisor, and angel investor based in Northern Ireland. She is the co-founder of Awaken Hub, Ireland's first social enterprise for women founders, and Awaken Angels, Ireland's first and only women-led angel syndicate. Mary received her MBE for services to digital technology, education, and innovation.

Key Topics Discussed

Career Journey

• Three phases: corporate employee, startup founder, angel investor/mentor
• Co-founding and selling Learning Pool
• Transitioning from wage slave to entrepreneurial freedom

Current Roles & Impact

• Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Oxford and Ulster University
• Investment committee member at Coin Invest Capital (Lithuania)
• Mentoring hundreds of founders annually
• Building Awaken Hub and Awaken Angels

Women in Tech & Startups

• 
  
• Challenges women face in raising early-stage financing
• The importance of flexible accelerator programs for working mothers
• Building Ireland's first women-led angel syndicate
• Supporting women founders across the island of Ireland

Networking & Visibility

• 
  
• The "100 People" exercise for maintaining your network
• Building a network of value, not just utility
• Why networking is a long-term investment
• The importance of being in credit with your network

Startup CEO Challenges

• 
  
• The two hardest jobs: attracting talent and raising investment
• Why visibility matters for recruitment
• The mindset differences between corporate and startup culture
• Speaking engagements and building your profile

Key Quotes

"I call myself a critical friend and backer of horses"

"Planting a thousand flowers and seeing which of them grow"

"Networks are about we, we, we - not me, me, me"

"Every opportunity in business is attached to a person"

"I always like to be in credit with my network"

Resources Mentioned

• Awaken Hub - Social enterprise supporting women founders across Ireland
• Awaken Angels - Ireland's first women-led angel syndicate
• Learning Pool - E-learning company co-founded by Mary
• Coin Invest Capital - Lithuanian sovereign investment fund

Connect with Mary

• LinkedIn: Mary McKenna
• Blue Sky: @MaryMcKenna

About the Host

Louise is a LinkedIn expert and author of "Raise Your Visibility on LinkedIn" who helps professionals and businesses build their online presence and networks of value.

Episode Highlights

• [00:02:00] Mary's six-word introduction
• [00:04:00] The three phases of Mary's career
• [00:09:00] Starting Awaken Hub during COVID
• [00:14:00] The two hardest jobs for startup CEOs
• [00:21:00] Networking and people collecting
• [00:28:00] The "100 People" exercise

Tags

#WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #Startups #Networking #Visibility #WomenFounders #NorthernIreland #Leadership #Mentorship

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