Aimee Nolan Hygienix
Going for Growth has been a really valuable experience for me. Our Lead Entrepreneur, Jeananne O’Brien, created a space where everyone felt comfortable sharing the ups and downs of business, and her advice was always clear and to the point, yet delivered with real empathy and understanding. The programme pushes you to set clear goals and stay accountable for achieving them. Best of all, I’ve come away with a group of like-minded business women I know I can always look to for support, and who I’ll always support in return.
Aisling McGann SiSú
Going for Growth was the group I didn’t know I needed. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, you assume everyone else has it figured out. But working through topics as a group, across different industries, you quickly realise others share the same challenges, that you’re stronger in areas than you thought, and that nobody has all the answers. The community aspect was invaluable. I’d highly recommend it to any female entrepreneur.
Aisling Ryan SnooZip
Going for Growth has been one of the most valuable experiences of my entrepreneurial journey. The programme gave me practical advice, accountability, confidence and a network of incredible women who genuinely want to see each other succeed. Through the round table sessions and the guidance of our Lead Entrepreneur, Jeananne, I made significant changes to my business, including streamlining my product range, expanding my team and becoming more confident in my decision-making. The discussions were always honest, relevant and action-focused, and I left every session with ideas I could immediately implement. What surprised me most was the strength of the relationships that were built. I have made friends for life, gained a trusted support network and learned so much from the experiences of the other entrepreneurs in my group. I cannot recommend Going for Growth highly enough. It has had a lasting impact on both me and my business, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it.
Alison McGrath My First Steps
Going for Growth is an amazing process to dig deeper into your strategy and get real clarity and focus on your next steps while surrounded by an amazing peer group of supportive, high energy and successful entrepreneurs! Highly recommend!
Danielle Garner Wildflower
Going for Growth has been a real complete 360 for my mind and my self belief. Getting to be surrounded by ambitious successful women who are striving for great in their field opened my eyes to what potential we all have. I am so grateful to be selected to be a part of this and cannot recommend it enough for women really wanted to understand the ins and outs of successful business management.
Davina Walsh Lily & Wild
I truly enjoyed my Going for Growth experience. In fact, the six months went by far too quickly. It was an inspiring, energising and very worthwhile programme. I met fantastic people and found huge value not only in the guidance and experience of the Lead Entrepreneurs, but also in the conversations, honesty and support from the other business owners around my own round table and across the wider group. One of the most valuable parts of the experience was hearing about such a wide range of businesses and the different people behind them. Every session left me feeling enthused, encouraged, supported and motivated. I often came away thinking, “Why can’t I?”, which is a powerful mindset shift for any business owner. Going for Growth is a fabulous opportunity, and I am very grateful to have been part of it. I am already singing its praises and would highly recommend it to any female entrepreneur who wants to be challenged, encouraged and surrounded by people who genuinely understand the journey of growing a business.
Elaine Fitzsimons The Matcha Bar
The Going for Growth programme has been one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had as a founder. Building a business can often feel isolating, but being surrounded by ambitious women who genuinely understand the challenges of building and scaling a company has been incredibly valuable and motivating. The peer learning, honest conversations, and guidance from experienced Lead Entrepreneurs have given me greater clarity and confidence in the decisions I’m making for The Matcha Bar. Every session left me with practical insights and action items that I could immediately apply to my business, while also encouraging me to think much bigger about what’s possible, and giving me the confidence to go for those bigger things. I’d highly recommend Going for Growth to any female entrepreneur who is serious about growing her business. It’s an inspiring community that challenges you, supports you, and reminds you that you don’t have to build something ambitious alone. Thinking bigger and shooting for the stars completely becomes normalised in Going For Growth.
Elaine OBrien The Travel Shop.ie & The Cruise Shop.ie
I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in the 18th cycle of Going for Growth. The programme was fantastic. The group I was allocated and the Lead Entrepreneur were so diverse in their businesses that I learned a massive amount from each of the ladies. The topics we covered allowed me to really dig deep into my business and focus on aspects of my business that I had either never really looked at or had dropped the ball on. I found the whole experience to be very eye opening. I’ve ended the cycle with a clear plan on where I want to take my business and how I can achieve that plan. I would encourage any women in business to apply for Going for Growth, it is invaluable as a business owner.
Fiona Ryan Colata
Going for Growth has been one of the most impactful professional development experiences of my career. From the very first session, our Lead Anne Cusack set the tone, bringing expertise, warmth, and an exceptional ability to challenge your thinking while making you feel genuinely supported every step of the way. Her feedback on messaging and pitch refinement alone was worth its weight in gold, helping me communicate the value of Colata with far greater clarity and confidence. The peer support within the group has been something truly special. Being surrounded by a community of driven, open, and generous women each navigating their own leadership challenges created a safe space for honest conversation and real growth. The connections I have made through this programme are ones I will carry forward long into the future. The programme also stayed relevant and forward-thinking right to the very last session, with practical exploration of how AI tools and Agents can support audience identification and content development immediately applicable and genuinely exciting. If you are a woman in leadership who is ready to think bigger, communicate better, and build a network of peers who will champion your journey, I cannot recommend Going for Growth highly enough. It delivers on every level.
Frances Keane Personally Speaking
The Going for Growth programme gave me the time, structure and support to step back from the day-to-day running of my business and focus on what it would take to scale. Over six months, I gained greater clarity on my goals, developed a practical roadmap for growth and, importantly, built confidence in my own ability to achieve it. What made the experience particularly valuable was the opportunity to work alongside a group of talented female entrepreneurs. Sharing experiences, challenges and successes created a level of support, encouragement and accountability that is difficult to find elsewhere. The sense of connection and community was invaluable and remains one of the greatest benefits of the programme.
Gillian Laffan Laffan and Laffan
I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with the group, we got into a different element of the business each month and this gave us the opportunity to add the structure and processes needed to run a successful business. The topics were relevant and we benefited from the accountability in the group. I would highly recommend anyone that wants to build a stronger, more successful business, with a wonderful network included, to apply for Going for Growth.
Hannah Joyce Flexera
Going for Growth is an excellent resource for any female founder in Ireland. The wealth of knowledge of the Lead Entrepreneurs plus the generosity of the network with sharing and openness makes for a great learning environment that is more collaborative than competitive. I highly recommend.
Katelyn Allegra The KateTin Food Photography Studio
I joined Going for Growth hoping to gain clarity on how to grow my business in Ireland, and I left with far more than that. The programme challenged my thinking, held me accountable, and connected me with a group of incredibly generous and experienced women who openly shared their successes and struggles. Jeananne’s direct, practical approach helped me cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. I now have a much clearer vision for my business, a roadmap for growth, and the confidence to pursue it.
Katherine Demmel SG Education
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of Going for Growth. The opportunity to learn from an experienced Lead Entrepreneur and a group of like-minded business owners was invaluable. The advice was practical, the discussions were honest, and it was reassuring to hear how others had tackled similar challenges. I left the programme with new ideas, greater confidence and a clearer focus on the next stage of growth for my business.
Kerrie Sweeney The Public House
As business owners, we’re often so busy keeping everything moving that we rarely get the opportunity to step back, reflect and learn alongside people who truly understand the realities of running a business. Going for Growth gave me that space and so much more. The programme challenged my thinking, gave me fresh perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing my business and helped me become a better leader. But what surprised me most was the power of the peer group. I met an incredible group of women who were generous with their experiences, honest about their challenges and genuinely invested in helping each other succeed. They have all become friends and I know the support network we’ve built will last long after the programme has ended. Our Lead Entrepreneur, Jeananne, was exceptional. She struck the perfect balance between support and challenge, creating an environment where we could be open, ambitious and vulnerable in equal measure. Every session left me with practical actions, new ideas and renewed energy. Paula Fitzsimons and the entire Going for Growth team have created something truly special. I would recommend Going for Growth to any business owner without hesitation. The insights, confidence, friendships and support I’ve gained have been invaluable and the impact on both me and my business will be felt for years to come.
Laura Bourke Aspire Recruitment
Going for Growth is an excellent programme for business owners serious about growing their enterprise. It’s an up leveller for business owners and those who have a bigger business goal in mind. I highly recommend it to any ambitious business owner.
Laura Byrne The Sweater Shop
Amazing few months learning about other incredible women’s businesses and learning from Susan Spence. Definitely recommend doing this and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Lisa Kleiner Nibbed
This programme has been an invaluable experience. It provided a safe, supportive space to share the highs and lows of being a business owner alongside an incredible group of women who understood without judgement. I grew both personally and professionally, and I feel more confident in my own abilities as a result. The encouragement and feedback throughout the programme helped me overcome my initial imposter syndrome and back myself more than ever. Sincere Thanks to Paula and Tara, and all the ladies behind the Going for Growth programme!
Lorraine McGowan So Hockey/Ed Sports/So Schools
Going for Growth has given me an invaluable opportunity to have an insight into how my Lead Entrepreneur and peers approached problems in their own businesses and how I might apply/adapt their methods. It gave me a sense of community in business which was very beneficial as being a sole owner it’s hard to find people who appreciate your problems or opportunities! Overall, a very positive and helpful experience and I definitely gained a lot of knowledge and confidence from being a participant.
Louise McDonnell Sell On Social
Going for Growth has been a transformational experience for me and my business. It gave me the space to step out of the day-to-day detail, work on the business and focus on where I want to take it. I have come away with a clear vision and mission, defined three-year goals and a focused 90-day plan. The strategic guidance from our Lead Entrepreneur, Oonagh O’Hagan, combined with the honest conversations and shared experiences within the group, gave me greater clarity, confidence and focus. The programme also kept me accountable and encouraged me to think more ambitiously about the next stage of growth.
Lucy Kenefick Obodo
The Going for Growth programme has been incredibly valuable for me and my business. It gave me greater clarity around strategy and growth, while the peer support and shared experiences provided practical insights and fresh perspectives. The accountability helped keep me focused and moving forward, but perhaps most importantly, it reminded me that I am doing a good job. As business owners, it’s easy to doubt ourselves and focus on what still needs to be done, so having that encouragement and support from others on a similar journey was invaluable. Thank you!
Martha Kearns StoryLab
I was so honoured to have been chosen to participate in Going for Growth. Over the six months, the insights I gained from the peers on my round table as well as from our Lead, Tara Beattie, has been invaluable. The programme allowed me to step out of the day-to-day running of the business to examine truthfully and identify what was needed to help grow the business. I was then able to put a long-term plan for the business in place and to do so with the help and experience of six other successful and inspirational business women.
Milena Woznica GRIP Software Solutions
Going for Growth gave me the opportunity to meet an incredible group of women entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences, successes and challenges. The insights and inspiration from both the Lead Entrepreneur and the other women in my group were invaluable. I am leaving the programme with new ideas, greater confidence and a wonderful network of supportive women that I know I will continue to learn from long after the programme has ended.
Nancy Costello The Belle Brush
Literally life-changing, both professionally and personally, and a programme you will come out of with friends for life.
Roisin Leacy Eikon Beauty
Going for Growth has been an incredibly valuable experience. As a business owner with over 20 years of experience, I found the programme provided a unique opportunity to step back from the day-to-day running of my businesses and focus on strategic growth. The combination of peer learning, accountability, and the guidance of an experienced Lead Entrepreneur created an environment where honest conversations and practical problem-solving could thrive. The insights gained from fellow participants, who were all facing different growth challenges, were just as valuable as the formal programme content. I left each session with new ideas, greater clarity, and renewed confidence in my plans for the future. I would highly recommend Going for Growth to any ambitious business owner looking to scale their business, expand their thinking, and benefit from the support of a strong network of like-minded entrepreneurs.
Ruth O Dwyer EPCS
Going for Growth has had a real impact on both me and my business. The accountability alone was worth its weight in gold. As a founder, it is easy to spend too much time thinking about the next step, but the programme kept me focused on taking action and maintaining momentum. The opportunity to learn from Anne and from other women who were a few steps ahead of me in their business journeys was invaluable. Hearing how they approached challenges, made decisions and navigated growth gave me perspectives I simply would not have gained working in isolation. I finished the programme with greater confidence, clearer priorities and a stronger business than when I started. I am incredibly grateful to have been selected and would highly recommend Going for Growth to any female entrepreneur who is serious about growing her business.
Valerie Osborne Elysium Skincare Clinic
Six months, countless conversations, plenty of laughs, a few uncomfortable questions, lots of learning, and one very grateful business owner. Thank you to Jeananne O’Brien for leading our roundtable with such wisdom, honesty and encouragement, and thank you to Paula Fitzsimons, Clodagh Sleator and Orla Mooney for creating something so special. To the incredible women around my table — thank you for sharing your experiences so openly. You have inspired me more than you know. If Going for Growth is on your radar, apply. You won’t regret it.
Wendy Slattery Kaidron
The Going for Growth programme was incredibly valuable for me as a founder. The combination of experienced Lead Entrepreneurs and a supportive peer group gave me both practical guidance and real accountability. It helped me sharpen my strategy, focus on what really drives growth, and build more confidence in my decision-making.