Real Business Conversations with Kinore

Most founders stay stuck in survival mode because they confuse passion with strategy. True growth requires moving past the initial excitement and implementing the tight operational discipline that keeps a business alive.
This conversation examines the difficult transition from survival to scaling a manufacturing business in a hyper-competitive market. The dialogue highlights the strategic necessity of supply chain control and the power of focusing on core competencies. Joining the conversation is Stephen Bell, Managing Director of Bell Lane Coffee.
Stephen brings deep expertise in navigating regulated manufacturing markets, building direct-trade relationships, and successfully steering a business through the difficult teenage growth phase that every scaling company faces.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Operational discipline as the primary driver of business longevity.
The danger of dilution: focusing on core competencies to win.
Building resilient supply chains to control costs.
Managing the teenage years of a business without heavy debt.
The role of financial literacy and cash flow management in scaling.
GUEST DETAILS
Stephen Bell is the Managing Director of Bell Lane Coffee. He has successfully transitioned from a technical expert into a CEO, scaling his roasting business through a direct-trade model and avoiding the pitfalls of retail expansion. Stephen is an expert in navigating regulated manufacturing markets and maintaining operational discipline.
Company Website - www.belllane.ie
Social Media:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-bell-85265538/
ABOUT KINORE
Kinore is an award winning and innovative online Chartered Accountancy service that takes away the worry and headache of running your own finance and related business services functions. 
https://kinore.com/ 
ABOUT YOUR HOST
The host of this podcast is Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder of Kinore, an award-winning online accountancy and business services firm based in Ireland. 
Lasissa’s journey is notable, starting in hospitality before transitioning to accounting, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 
Driven by a vision to challenge traditional accountancy and leverage technology, Larissa founded Kinore in 2015, establishing Ireland's first online, remote-first Finance and Business Services company. 
Under her leadership, Kinore has received numerous accolades, and Larissa herself has been recognised with awards like 'Accountant of the Year'.
QUOTES 
Passion gets a business started, but tight operational discipline is what actually keeps it alive. - Stephen Bell
You have to fail to succeed, and you understand that. - Stephen Bell
When you're spending your own money, you learn very quickly. - Stephen Bell
KEYWORDS: 
#BellLaneCoffee #SpecialtyCoffee #BCorpCertification #DirectTrade #WholesaleCoffee

Managing a dispersed workforce often leads to unexpected regulatory friction and compliance risks. Business owners frequently struggle to maintain legal standards when hiring talent across multiple international jurisdictions.
We explore how to bridge these gaps through robust infrastructure and smart employment strategies. This episode breaks down the complexities of international payroll, tax obligations, and the role of the employer of record.
We are joined by Dee Coakley, CEO of Boundless. With deep operational expertise and a history of scaling high-growth tech companies, Dee shares the realities of building an award-winning platform that transforms how organizations manage remote international teams.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Origin story of Boundless and global expansion.
Legal obligations of hiring remote international workers.
Why Irish payroll fails for international employees.
How to select a co-founder with complementary skills.
Strategic benefits of the Boundless and Payoneer acquisition.
GUEST DETAILS
Dee Coakley is the co-founder and CEO of Boundless, an Irish-founded tech platform that enables companies to hire and manage international talent. 
A seasoned operational leader and former COO, Dee brings vast experience in finance, legal, and HR systems to the global workforce space. Under her leadership, Boundless successfully scaled to 32 countries and was acquired by the global financial technology giant, Payoneer.

Company Website - www.boundlesshq.com
Social Media:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deecoakley/
ABOUT KINORE - AWARD WINNING ONLINE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Kinore is an award winning and innovative online Chartered Accountancy service that takes away the worry and headache of running your own finance and related business services functions. Kinore’s services include:
Accountancy Services
Annual Compliance & Year-End
Online Bookkeeping Services
VAT Returns
Payroll Services
Management Accounting
Xero Conversion & Training
Company Secretarial Services
Company Formation Ireland
Company Secretarial
Virtual Office
Bond for Non-EEA resident Directors
Registration Of Beneficial Ownership
https://kinore.com/ 
ABOUT YOUR HOST
The host of this podcast is Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder of Kinore, an award-winning online accountancy and business services firm based in Ireland. 
Lasissa’s journey is notable, starting in hospitality before transitioning to accounting, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 
Driven by a vision to challenge traditional accountancy and leverage technology, Larissa founded Kinore in 2015, establishing Ireland's first online, remote-first Finance and Business Services company. 
Under her leadership, Kinore has received numerous accolades, and Larissa herself has been recognised with awards like 'Accountant of the Year'.
QUOTES 
The individual is an employee in the country they live in, they're entitled to the rights of the country that they live in. -  Dee Coakley
I really enjoy working with people. I had no desire to be the dictator at the top of the organisation, where mine was the only voice that mattered. - Dee Coakley
We act as the legal employer on our customers' behalf in the country where their workers are based, and that then allows us to process payroll on their behalf, pay the workers, pay the local tax authorities, pay local benefits providers on their behalf. - Dee Coakley
Keywords: #EmployerOfRecord #GlobalCompliance #InternationalHiring #PayrollManagement #BusinessScaling #RemoteWorkforce

Most entrepreneurs are great at building a company but struggle to master public perception and get their unique story heard. In a world flooded with AI-generated content and diminishing returns from traditional advertising, mastering reputation management is no longer a luxury but a core business requirement.
The solution lies in creating earned media opportunities, pivoting from old SEO methods to generative engine optimisation, and understanding what makes a story cut through the noise. Discover the powerful yet simple strategies small businesses can use to build visibility and ultimately grow their customer base.
Host Larissa Feeney welcomes media heavyweight Garrett Harte, founder of Harte Media. Garrett served as the first employee and Editor in Chief at Newstalk for 15 years, helping turn a local startup into a national powerhouse. He now consults for business leaders on mastering storytelling and reputation management.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Guiding principle to beat the competition.
Three unexpected pieces of business advice.
AI is fundamentally changing SEO advertising.
Focus on the desired media headline.
Why business owners avoid doing press releases.
GUEST DETAILS
Garrett Harte is a highly respected media strategist and the founder of Harte Media, a Dublin-based consultancy specialising in strategic communications and reputation management. 
With a career spanning over two decades in the Irish media landscape, Garrett is best known for his 15-year tenure at Newstalk, where he served as Editor-in-Chief and was the station's very first employee. Under his leadership, Newstalk transitioned from a local Dublin station to a major national broadcaster. 
Today, he uses his deep "insider" knowledge of the newsroom to help business leaders craft compelling stories and navigate high-stakes public relations.
Company Website - www.hartemedia.ie
Social Media: www.linkedin.com/in/garrettharte
ABOUT KINORE - AWARD WINNING ONLINE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Kinore is an award winning and innovative online Chartered Accountancy service that takes away the worry and headache of running your own finance and related business services functions. Kinore’s services include:
Accountancy Services
Annual Compliance & Year-End
Online Bookkeeping Services
VAT Returns
Payroll Services
Management Accounting
Xero Conversion & Training
Company Secretarial Services
Company Formation Ireland
Company Secretarial
Virtual Office
Bond for Non-EEA resident Directors
Registration Of Beneficial Ownership
https://kinore.com/ 
ABOUT YOUR HOST
The host of this podcast is Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder of Kinore, an award-winning online accountancy and business services firm based in Ireland. 
Lasissa’s journey is notable, starting in hospitality before transitioning to accounting, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 
Driven by a vision to challenge traditional accountancy and leverage technology, Larissa founded Kinore in 2015, establishing Ireland's first online, remote-first Finance and Business Services company. 
Under her leadership, Kinore has received numerous accolades, and Larissa herself has been recognised with awards like 'Accountant of the Year'.
QUOTES 
You need to find ways to tell your story in that independent third party media, because reputation isn't about what you say about yourself, it's what other people say about you. - Garrett Harte 
The idea you have today, Garrett, for your business, it'll be different in 12 months' time, so don't fall in love with it. -  Garrett Harte 
What's the one headline that you would like to see on the front page of Donegal Daily, the front page of Donegal Democrat, the front page of the business post. What would that headline be? - Garrett Harte
Keywords: #EarnedMedia #ReputationManagement #BusinessGrowth #StartupLessons #DigitalStrategy

The leap from a great product idea to a sustainable, self-funded, international business is a massive hurdle for entrepreneurs. 
Scaling a brand while maintaining obsessive quality control and a digital-first approach requires discipline, intentional strategy, and a high tolerance for risk. This episode dives into the uncompromising philosophy of building a household name without external investment.
Larissa Feeney sits down with Suzie O’Neill, the visionary Founder and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics, an Irish-owned, multi-award-winning beauty brand. Suzie shares her journey from a technical expert to a CEO leading over 30 employees, detailing her masterclass in identifying market gaps and prioritising long-term integrity over rapid mass-market growth.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Leaving a secure job for necessity
Bootstrapping business to avoid debt
Why quality control beats launches
Intentional DTC model for luxury
Leader evolution: from tornado to CEO
GUEST DETAILS
Suzie O’Neill is the Founder and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics, an Irish-owned, multi-award-winning brand. A professional makeup artist by trade, she successfully scaled her business without external investment into a team of over 30 employees. 
Her business is built on a foundation of customer-centric innovation, brand integrity, and a meticulous direct-to-consumer strategy.
Connect with Suzie:
Company Website - www.ayu.ie
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzie-o-neill-ayu/
ABOUT KINORE - AWARD WINNING ONLINE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Kinore is an award winning and innovative online Chartered Accountancy service that takes away the worry and headache of running your own finance and related business services functions. Kinore’s services include:
Accountancy Services
Annual Compliance & Year-End
Online Bookkeeping Services
VAT Returns
Payroll Services
Management Accounting
Xero Conversion & Training
Company Secretarial Services
Company Formation Ireland
Company Secretarial
Virtual Office
Bond for Non-EEA resident Directors
Registration Of Beneficial Ownership
https://kinore.com/ 
ABOUT YOUR HOST
The host of this podcast is Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder of Kinore, an award-winning online accountancy and business services firm based in Ireland. 
Lasissa’s journey is notable, starting in hospitality before transitioning to accounting, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 
Driven by a vision to challenge traditional accountancy and leverage technology, Larissa founded Kinore in 2015, establishing Ireland's first online, remote-first Finance and Business Services company. 
Under her leadership, Kinore has received numerous accolades, and Larissa herself has been recognised with awards like 'Accountant of the Year'.
QUOTES 
You don't always have to have all the fancy stuff to begin with. - Suzie O'Neill
I just didn't have a choice otherwise, like, things had to work, or else I was going back to work. - Suzie O'Neill
You're in business now, every day there's going to be a bump on the road, and you just have to learn how to ride them. - Suzie O'Neill
Keywords: #BusinessFinance #ScalingUp #DTCStrategy #FounderStory #LeadershipTips

Bringing life-saving medical innovation to a regulated market is fraught with complexity, risk, and massive commercial barriers. The challenge is balancing technical perfection with the difficult business realities of scaling, fundraising, and exit planning.
This episode unpacks the journey of turning personal purpose into a profitable, high-impact medical technology business. 
We discuss the crucial differences between medical knowledge and commercial acumen, the importance of building trust, and securing investment in a slow-moving sector.
Larissa Feeney welcomes Brian Bailey, the CEO of Harmony Hybrid. Brian is a 25-year veteran of the medical technology sector who has successfully built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses in this demanding industry.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Commercial acumen harder than medical knowledge
Build respect by knowing limits
Prepare documents to minimise due diligence
Creating products to avoid child heart surgery
Need patience, perseverance, and right people
GUEST DETAILS
Brian Bailey is the CEO of Harmony Hybrid. He has over 25 years of experience in cardiology device distribution and sales in Ireland. Brian is an expert in commercial strategy and navigating regulated markets, having successfully sold his family business, Bailey Medical Limited, and his subsequent distribution company, Medilex Limited
Connect with Brian:
Company Website - https://harmonyhybrid.com
ABOUT KINORE - AWARD WINNING ONLINE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Kinore is an award winning and innovative online Chartered Accountancy service that takes away the worry and headache of running your own finance and related business services functions. Kinore’s services include:
Accountancy Services
Annual Compliance & Year-End
Online Bookkeeping Services
VAT Returns
Payroll Services
Management Accounting
Xero Conversion & Training
Company Secretarial Services
Company Formation Ireland
Company Secretarial
Virtual Office
Bond for Non-EEA resident Directors
Registration Of Beneficial Ownership
https://kinore.com/ 
ABOUT YOUR HOST
The host of this podcast is Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder of Kinore, an award-winning online accountancy and business services firm based in Ireland. 
Lasissa’s journey is notable, starting in hospitality before transitioning to accounting, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 
Driven by a vision to challenge traditional accountancy and leverage technology, Larissa founded Kinore in 2015, establishing Ireland's first online, remote-first Finance and Business Services company. 
Under her leadership, Kinore has received numerous accolades, and Larissa herself has been recognised with awards like 'Accountant of the Year'.