Going for Growth is the brain child of Paula Fitzsimons who put it forward in response to an initiative on women and entrepreneurship proposed by the NDP Gender Equality Unit in the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
“The idea came from recognition that while more women are being encouraged to start new businesses, there is a need to move beyond just starting into growing. My mission in Going for Growth is to support women entrepreneurs to achieve their growth ambitions and to get more women entrepreneurs into a growth frame of mind.”
The Going for Growth initiative is funded by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG. Their continual support goes far beyond financial contribution and is very gratefully acknowledged.
Paula Fitzsimons
Paula is the founder and managing director of Fitzsimons Consulting, which specialises in areas related to entrepreneurship and growth. Currently the National Director of Going for Growth, Paula can be contacted at paula@goingforgrowth.com
A recognised expert on entrepreneurship, Paula Fitzsimons has been the national coordinator for GEM for Ireland since 2000. The annual GEM report is recognised as giving a unique insight into early stage entrepreneurial activity in Ireland. Paula is a former President of the consortium of GEM national teams, and a former Director of GERA, the governing body for the Global Entrepreneurship Research Association.
Having been an expert facilitator to the Small Business Forum on entrepreneurship and growth, Paula subsequently advised Forfás and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the development of a national entrepreneurship policy and was involved in the writing of Towards the Development of an Entrepreneurship Policy. Both emphasised the importance of optimising the number of start-up businesses and, in particular, on maximising the number of start-ups aspiring to and achieving high growth. In this regards, the latent potential of women entrepreneurs was recognised.
Equally at home, among policy makers, development agencies, academics, and entrepreneurs, Paula is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic champion of entrepreneurship. Her advice is frequently sought in areas associated with entrepreneurship and growth. A regular speaker at national and international conferences.
For more information on Going for Growth please contact:
Paula Fitzsimons,
Director, Going for Growth
Email: paula@goingforgrowth.com
Tel: 01 8450770
