30th December 2014
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The award-winning entrepreneurship initiative “Cork innovates” which
has previously been recognised by the European Commission as a model
for driving entrepreneurship, promoted the work of Irish
entrepreneurs, particularly, women in business, in New York recently.
Cork County Mayor, Cllr Alan Coleman, the ‘positive economist’ and
2014 inBusiness inCork Showcase Moderator, Susan Hayes, and IDME
founder, Dee O’Leary accompanied Siobhan Finn, Executive Director of
Cork innovates. The group met with a number of relevant Irish American
Organisation leaders, influencers and stakeholders, during the visit.
“Irish firms currently employ approximately 120,000 people across all
50 US states, collectively US companies have US $204b in foreign
direct investment in Ireland. The US market is one of Ireland’s most
important economic relationships,” said Siobhan Finn, Executive
Director, Cork innovates.
“This trip was about building on the existing relationships which
exist and promoting the Cork entrepreneurial spirit through alignment
with organisations that focus on entrepreneurship support and
engagement,” she added.
As part of the trip, the group attended the Leading Women
Entrepreneurs Annual Awards Event in New Jersey where former Cork
innovates bursary winner, Dee O’Leary of IDME was named as Global
Leading Women Entrepreneur Recipient.
“The annual Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs Event (LWE) 2014
hosted an audience of 400 plus of New Jersey’s business leaders,
professionals and entrepreneurs on December 4. Together the LWE
finalists are generating millions, employing thousands and supporting
hundreds of non-profits. This year it was especially inspiring to
honour our Global LWE Recipient, Dee O’Leary, the founder of IDME.
This award reflects the global power of women entrepreneurs and
demonstrates how LWE and the state of New Jersey are at the centre of
connecting leaders globally,” said Linda Wellbrock, Leading Women
Entrepreneurs (LWE).
Dee O’Leary was selected to travel to the USA in July 2014 following
her successful pitch to a panel of US delegates at the Thought
Leadership Session led by Cork innovates in Cork.
“I was delighted to have been selected for this once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. My experience in the USA has been invaluable. I have made
contacts with a number of people from organisations including New York
Digital Irish and the IIBN that will no doubt help my business expand
into the US market, all of which was possible as a result of the
ongoing commitment of Cork innovates to the Cork entrepreneurial
community,” said Dee O’Leary, Founder, IDME.
Cork innovates is funded by Cork City Council and Cork County Council
and hosted by Cork Chamber.
