Join our next networking event: ‘Bright Sparks’: Learning from the next generation

With every generation comes a new set of ambitions, coupled with ways to reach them. On the evening of Thursday, August 24 we’ll meet a trio of young businesswomen of considerable achievement and learn how they are doing things, their way, to achieve phenomenal results.

Join us as we hear from beauty entrepreneur and social media native Aine Kennedy, creator of The Smooth Stick and founder of The Smooth Company, groundbreaking product developers Ailbhe and Izzy Keane who are the founders of the bright, distractive Izzy Wheels, and Ciara Byrne, an Irish woman in the international media world as VP of New Business Innovation with Condé Nast. Each will tell their story and their unique learnings in conversation with IMAGE contributing editor Melanie Morris.

Our panel of speakers have each taken a distinct route to success, and each has made a considerable impact in their field within a short space of time. Our Business Club event is where they’ll share their ‘secret sauce’. Discover how the next generation of Irish women in business are approaching their work, how they face challenges, how they stay on top of their game, what tools have proved as invaluable, and how they prepare for a lifetime in the fast lane ahead.

As always, the evening will include Malfy and Fever-Tree cocktails on arrival, opportunities to network with your fellow IMAGE Business Club members, a luxury gift bag for each attendee and the chance to win a fabulous prize. 

As the year progresses and the seasons change, join us for this chance to power up into a proactive, end-of-year mindset with plenty to inspire from our inspiring guest speakers.

This event is exclusive to Business Club members only. For your chance to access these six live events per year in The Westbury you can join the club for €200 ex.VAT. Already a member? Claim your complimentary ticket here.

Considering your first Business Club event? Take a look back at ‘The Entrepreneurial Mindset‘ to see what you have been missing!

Schedule

6pm – 7pm: Network over Malfy & Fever-Tree cocktails and canapés
7pm – 8.30pm: An information panel discussion with our experts
8.30pm – 9pm: Meet the speakers and network further over more Malfy & Fever-Tree cocktails

Gifts and Prizes

Each attendee will receive a gift bag from Holos Skincare which includes their Super Natural Activity Pre and Probiotic Spritz, designed to boost the skin’s immunity by introducing prebiotics to feed the skin microbiome, alongside probiotics (microorganisms or good bacteria). This helps protect the skin against environmental pathogens that may cause imbalance or irritation in the skin. 

Holos is handmade in Co Wexford. Products provide vitality for your skin, your wellbeing and your world through harmonising, nature, science and consciousness. Combining all that is good about natural skincare (pure botanical oils, butters and extracts) with all that is good about cosmeceutical skincare (scientifically proven plant actives), Holos bridges the gap between the two while also remaining committed to being vegan, cruelty-free and ethically produced.

Win a prize

Plus, each attendee will be in with the chance to win a fabulous prize – a €300 Nicki Hoyne voucher.

Nicki Hoyne was founded in October 2020. It is a slow-fashion footwear and handbag brand designed in Ireland and handmade in Spain. “I want people to celebrate and cherish fashion, not consume it and throw it away. My designs are fun, unique, high quality and built on a foundation of sustainability. I hope to one day become a fully sustainable brand.” 

Winning “Best New Brand” at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2023, the collection was also nominated for Footwear Designer Of the Year and “One To Watch” at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023. It has shipped to 18 countries and has been stocked internationally in London, New York and LA, and it is currently popping up for the third year at Brown Thomas CREATE 2023.

Nicki was nominated in the IMAGE Businesswoman of The Year Awards 2022 and 2023, won the Irish Design Institutes Rising Star 2021 and was runner-up in the DCCI, Irish Business Design Challenge – Micro Business Category.

When and Where

When: Thursday, August 24 at 6pm

Where: The Westbury, Balfe Street, Dublin 2

Tickets

This event is exclusive to IMAGE Business Club members only. Each attendee will receive COMPLIMENTARY access, Malfy & Fever-Tree cocktails, delicious canapés, a gorgeous gift and the chance to win a fabulous prize.

Business Club members claim your complimentary ticket here. Not an IMAGE Business Club member? Join the club for €200 ex.VAT to claim your complimentary ticket!

Tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis and are limited.

Meet the speakers

Aine Kennedy, Founder, The Smooth Company

Aine Kennedy founded her small business, The Smooth Company, in February 2022 after she spent eight years working in the beauty industry and earning her degree in entrepreneurship from Maynooth University. She saw a gap in the market for a hair hero who could control flyaways and baby hairs with ease. Aine successfully developed a unique hair-taming wand that would not leave your hair hard or greasy. Since launching, the Smooth Stick™ is now globally trademarked and globally recognized with customers in over 44 countries around the world. The Smooth Stick™ has not only become a fan favourite but has also become an internet sensation, with over 72 million views on TikTok.

Aine Kennedy was named as one of the Sunday Independent 30 under 30 Irish businesspeople to watch. She is also the winner of the Emerging New Business Award by the Small Firms Association and was shortlisted for the IMAGE PwC Young Businesswoman of the Year Award and winner of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Irish Woman Of the Year Awards 2023. 

Ciara Byrne, Vice President of New Business Innovation, Condé Nast

Ciara Byrne is the Vice President of New Business Innovation at Condé Nast. She is responsible for launching international businesses for Condé Nast brands, such as Vogue and GQ, around the world. Using a design thinking lead framework her team develops businesses from conception through to implementation across direct-to-consumer and B2B models. Ciara develops the Condé Nast global strategy for emerging technologies, from blockchain technology to AI and GenAI. 

Ciara sits on the board of the British Fashion Council as a non-executive director responsible for digital innovation and also on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council. Before joining Condé Nast, Ciara spent five years at Google in Dublin and London. She earned an International Bachelor of Arts degree at University College Dublin in English and philosophy and secured a position to study philosophy at the Sorbonne IV Paris. She attended UCD Michael Smurfit Business School where she completed a Master’s in management. Ciara also completed a degree in piano performance at the London College of Music.

Ailbhe and Izzy Keane, Founders, of Izzy Wheels

Izzy Wheels create designer wheel covers for wheelchairs. The brand was inspired by Ailbhe’s younger sister, Izzy, who was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from her waist down. Izzy has always regarded her wheelchair as a symbol of freedom but never felt that it expressed her bubbly personality. Together the sisters designed a range of removable wheel covers that matched Izzy’s colourful style. 

They grew their business from their kitchen table in Galway into a global brand shipping to over 60 countries and collaborations with 100 world-famous artists and major brands including Disney, Marvel, Barbie, Star Wars, and Hello Kitty. This has culminated in over 20 national awards, a BBC documentary, a place on the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 list, and most importantly, it has provided an outlet for expression and individuality to wheelchair users all over the world.

Tickets

This event is exclusive to IMAGE Business Club members only. Each attendee will receive COMPLIMENTARY access, Malfy & Fever-Tree cocktails, delicious canapés, a gorgeous gift and the chance to win a fabulous prize.

Business Club members claim your complimentary ticket here. Not an IMAGE Business Club member? Join the club for €200 ex.VAT to claim your complimentary ticket!

Tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis and are limited.