UCD Business Impact

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 shares how the massive risk of strategically pivoting Glanbia away from purely food production into global nutrition, supplements and health paid off. She discusses her passion for company culture, the relentless pace of change and what it truly takes to “earn the right to grow” in today’s dynamic global market.

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 with customers. But, she explains how technology alone isn’t enough; people, skills, and change management matter more than ever.

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 recent research, featured in Science, one of the world’s leading academic journals, explores how new financial models can drive deep decarbonisation in aviation.

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.

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.

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 and how the MBA gave him the tools to transition into a strategic, business-focused role.  Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, returning to education later in life, or simply seeking growth, Eamon’s story proves that it’s never too late — and you don’t need to have all the answers to begin.

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.

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.

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 AI, and the growing challenge of trusting machine-generated decisions in business. Join us as we discuss the balance between AI’s immense power and understanding real-world applications with insights from a computer scientist in a business school.

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 conditioning, and human psychology shape our trust in emerging tech. As regulation looms on the horizon, we ask: How can we design technology to foster fairness rather than reinforce bias? And what lessons can we learn to ensure AI serves society equitably?