In our Spring issue ‘Women in Business’ feature we chatted to six business women about their accomplishments, and advice for young entrepreneurs. Here is a snippet from our conversation with business leaders and experts Sharon Connellan & Aoibhín Garrihy of BEO Wellness. For the full interview with them, and other leading Irish business women, pick up our current Spring issue on shelves now.
What has been the most empowering aspect of running your own business?
To have survived the past two years during the pandemic has been incredibly empowering! It was the best thing that could have happened to our business. We learned the hard way that business is about survival. You fall, you learn, and you get back up stronger – that’s what being in business is all about. We are learning every day that yesterday’s answer is often out of date. We continue to monitor, review and adapt.
Is there a particular woman in your life that inspires you?
When we think of inspirational women, we don’t think immediately about those who have achieved success in a leadership role, as great as these women often are. We instead think of the women who have taught us about respect, compassion, honesty and humility – and without knowing it these are the women that make such an incredible difference to our lives.
What would you say to women who are hoping to pursue a career in business?
Mind your acorn! If you have a dream, your own gem of an idea, mind it and pursue it without others opinions until you can make up your own mind about it.
What do you believe is the key to staying motivated as a business owner?
Motivation plays a huge role in business. It can be easy to run out of ideas or steam and sometimes things just don’t work out the way you want them too. You need to be able to pick yourself up again and get back on track. Having a clear strategy, purpose, and vision helps.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?
Starting a business is challenging but if you can dream it, you can do it! Go with your gut, believe in your own ability and listen to yourself. Find a mentor, network and surround yourself with the right team. If you have people to bounce ideas off of you’re probably going to make more informed decisions.
You can read the full interview in our Spring issue.
@beowellness.ie
