Building the World's Largest Betting Company with Stewart Kenny, Co-Founder of Paddy Power
Former Paddy Power co-founder Stewart Kenny shares a brutally honest account of how he built — and then left — the world’s biggest betting company.From his father’s influence and early fascination with risk to the creation of Paddy Power’s fearless marketing, Stewart speaks candidly about success, addiction, ethics, and why he ultimately left the industry he helped define.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– How Paddy Power became a cultural phenomenon– The marketing mindset that reshaped betting in Ireland– What Stewart learned about leadership, ego, and risk– His reflections on ADHD and entrepreneurship– Why he left the gambling industry — and what he’d change todayWhether you’re a business builder or just fascinated by the psychology of success, this episode offers one of the most disarmingly honest conversations we’ve ever had.
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An MBO, Scaling through Acquisition and Managing Risk with Niall Jones (AIR Group)
Niall Jones, co-owner of Anglo Irish Refrigeration, joins host Conor Kearney to share his journey from redundancy to running a €30M+ business. In this episode, Niall gets candid about the personal risks of buying a company, the adrenaline of nonstop growth, and how culture—not spreadsheets—has become his most powerful business tool. If you’re interested in acquisitions, scaling SMEs, or what it really takes to grow a service-heavy business, this is an essential listen.
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From Magician to CEO: How Ciaran McCormack Built a €300M Business (Select Tech Group & DID Electrical)
What can a magician teach us about leadership, resilience, and growth?In this episode of Business Builders Podcast, Ciaran McCormack shares how his early lessons in crowd control and stage presence became the foundations for running one of Ireland and the UK’s most successful retail groups. From balloon animals to Apple, to steering a company through examinership and rebirth, this is a story about creativity, grit, and believing in possibility — even when everything’s on the line.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– How a magician’s stagecraft became the foundation for leadership and communication– What Ciaran learned moving from film school to Apple to the boardroom– Why naivety can be a strength when stepping into your first CEO role– How he led a company through examinership and came out stronger– What it takes to scale from £17M to £210M without losing culture or driveWhether you’re building a business, leading a team, or redefining what success means, this episode is packed with grounded, human insight on confidence, growth, and resilience.🎙️ Host: Conor Kearney👇 Listen & SubscribeSpotify | Apple | Amazon | Google Podcasts
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From Scientist To Building A Multimillion-Euro Enterprise. Sean Mac Fhearraigh (Assay Genie)
Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.In Series 10, Episode #94, I interview Sean Mac Fhearraigh, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Assay Genie. Sean shares his journey from academic cancer researcher to successful entrepreneur. We delve into the challenges of transitioning from science to business, raising funds, and growing Assay Genie into a multimillion-euro enterprise. The conversation spans topics like the importance of credibility in the scientific market, the impact of AI on science, and personal sacrifices made along the way.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH SEAN:LinkedInAssay GenieDiscover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.In Series 10, Episode #93, I interview Laura Dillon, head of Waterland Private Equity. She elaborates on Waterland's investment strategy, focusing on mature companies with high growth potential, and highlights the importance of aligned values and ambition in partnerships. Laura also shares her diverse career trajectory from McKinsey to an MBA at Harvard, running a family-owned business, and returning to private equity. She emphasises the significance of hard work, learning from real-world experiences, and the impact of maintaining a balanced personal and professional life. The conversation delves into how private equity can help businesses scale, manage risks, and achieve significant growth through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH LAURA:LinkedInWaterlandDiscover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.
I created Business Builders as a weekly interview series to have honest conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors about their journeys; their successes, setbacks, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As a growing business builder myself, I want to learn directly from my guests and share those insights with you. My goal is to provide listeners with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and real inspiration to help you on your own path to building and growing a business.
Ireland