Boardroom Insights with Dr. Alan O'Neill

In this first episode of 2026, Alan explores why the start of the year is the most important moment to pause, reflect, and plan… not through resolutions, but through deliberatestrategy and honest organisational introspection. Drawing on a real case study from his consulting work with a mid-size beverage distributor, Alan walks through the journey from firefighting to strategic planning, and ultimately tothe critical (and often neglected) work of execution.Execution requires people, and people need context, ownership, and belief. Strategy may begin in the boardroom, but it succeeds (or fails) with those who deliver it.If you’re a CEO, board member, or senior leader entering 2026 with ambitious plans, this episode is a timely reminder that the year won’t be won on spreadsheets alone, it will bewon through clarity, inclusion, planning, and hearts and minds.

In this episode of Boardroom Insights, I sit down with Jason Atkinson, Managing Director at Russam, to explore the fast-evolving world of interim and fractional leadership.Jason brings decades of experience from the UK’s first interim management provider, founded in 1982, now a global group supporting organisations around the world. Our conversation unpacks why interim leadership has become a strategic imperative for boards navigating transformation, disruption, and rapid change.One standout insight from Jason: interim leaders don’t simply fill gaps, they unlock organisational capacity, coach teams, and accelerate critical projects that might otherwise stall.Whether you’re a CEO, board member, investor, or leader driving transformation, this episode offers practical insights into how interim and fractional talent can become agenuinestrategic differentiator.Jason, thank you for a rich and insightful conversation.

In this episode of Boardroom Insights, Alan O’Neill speaks with Barry Shevlin, Owner & Managing Director of Global Home Improvements, a Dublin-based family businesscelebrating 45 years serving Irish homeowners.Barry shares how Global built a premium reputation by staying fiercely focused on customer experience, manufacturing to specification, and backing their work with astandout and amazing 20-year, no-quibble guarantee. The conversation explores triple glazing, energy efficiency, the reality behind “premium” quality, and how a customer-centric culture is reinforced through simple systems and everyday language.Barry also previews Global’s next chapter: a new solar offering designed for the rising demand in home energy solutions, while keeping control of workmanship and customerexperience. Topics include: customer-centric culture, premium positioning, consultative selling, leadership, manufacturing vs outsourcing, guarantees, sustainability and energy efficiency, referrals, marketing channels, and scaling into new categories.

In this solo episode of Boardroom Insights, Alan O’Neill builds on his recent conversation with Jason Atkinson (MD of Russam) to offer a clear, practical guide to the fast-growing world of interim and fractional leadership.Alan unpacks two crucial perspectives:1️⃣ For BoardsA structured decision-making framework to determine whether you need an interim, a fractional leader, or a permanent hire. Alan explores:• How to diagnose the real problem• When speed and impact matter most• How to scope interim assignments properly• The hidden risks boards often miss• Why interims can be more cost-effective than they look2️⃣ For Aspiring Interim/Fractional LeadersAlan shares candid advice for executives considering a portfolio career:• The mindset and resilience required• How to define your “professional product”• Why you must operate as a serious small business• The demands, trade-offs, and rewards of this lifestyle• How to build a strong personal brand and pipelineWhether you're a board member trying to maintain momentum, or a leader rethinking the next chapter of your career, this episode brings clarity, structure, and grounded insight to an increasingly important talent solution.

(Reflections on my recent conversation with René Carayol, MBE)Last week on Boardroom Insights, René Carayol, MBE shared some powerful insights about leadership, the kind that stay with you for a long time. In today’s solo episode, I revisited three of his themes and linked them to what I see every day inside boardrooms across Ireland, the UK, and the UAE.