Tag: IMI

IMI launches 2025 National Leadership Conference to help Irish leaders drive growth and lead change

The Irish Management Institute (IMI) today announced the launch of the 2025 National Leadership Conference (NLC), taking place on Thursday, October 2nd at IMI’s Sandyford campus, which will bring together Ireland’s top business leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading organisations in an era of heightened volatility and disruption.

This year’s NLC will focus on helping leaders move from insight to impact, develop key capabilities to navigate uncertainty, and position their organisations for long-term success. Former Editor-in-chief of the Economist, Bill Emmott, is to address the 2025 Irish Management Institute (IMI) National Leadership Conference on the critical role of leadership in driving transformation in an era of heightened volatility and disruption.

As the AI transformation accelerates, speakers will offer insights on how decision makers can successfully harness the power of the technology in their business; developing an organisational culture of innovation that embraces change; and cultivating and leading high-performance teams.

Keynote speakers at the event include Dómhnal Slattery, former CEO of Avolon, and Enda O’Coineen, Group CEO of the Business Post Group. Other speakers at the conference include Jennifer Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Alice Mansergh, CEO at Tourism Ireland, Joe Heneghan, CEO at Revolut Europe, and Emma Redmond, General Counsel & Head of OpenAI Ireland.

Commenting on the event launch, Shane O’Sullivan, CEO of the IMI, said: “Irish business leaders are navigating a highly complex environment, shaped by global volatility, a tightening domestic economy, and the accelerating pace of technological change. In this climate, it’s all too easy to become consumed by immediate pressures and lose sight of the bigger picture. But long-term success depends on leaders keeping their focus on future growth, building the capabilities to adapt, and seizing opportunities even in uncertain times.

“At IMI, we see that many leaders already have the insights— the real challenge lies in turning those insights into tangible impact. The National Leadership Conference is an important forum bringing together Ireland’s leadership community that can help to forge the capabilities for current and future success. IMI research shows that while most leaders are aware of the key challenges facing their organisation, many are finding it difficult to identify and put in place the capabilities and strategies to overcome these obstacles and drive growth.

“With an impressive line-up of national and international industry leaders, this year’s conference will give Ireland’s decision makers the tools to sharpen their capabilities, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and unlock future growth.”

For more information and to register for the National Leadership Conference, visit: https://www.imi.ie/events/national-leadership-conference-nlc-2/

Irish leaders concerned about retention of top talent & are not prioritising AI strategy, IMI Leadership Barometer reveals

The IMI (Irish Management Institute), a centre of excellence for business education, today published new research revealing that AI is not currently a strategic priority among most business leaders in Ireland.

The ‘IMI Leadership Barometer’ surveyed senior business leaders in Ireland from private, public and semi-state organisations across a wide range of sectors including technology, food/agriculture, utilities, banking, finance, professional services, legal, healthcare, logistics, construction and others. The research provides key insights into the attitudes and priorities of senior decision makers as they navigate a shifting business environment and the rise of disruptive new technologies.

Findings show that only 30% of business leaders currently consider AI a strategic priority. Many organisations are still in an experimentation phase with the technology, with 40% of leaders stating that they are testing the technology in areas of their business. A further 30% of decision makers reported struggling to keep pace with rapid advancements in the technology, reflecting a clear need for upskilling and education in the technology among business decision makers.

With businesses continuing to face the impact of a tight labour market, attracting and retaining highly skilled talent is set to continue as a top concern for decision makers, according to the findings of the Barometer. 36% of leaders state that retaining top talent is set to become more difficult over the coming months. More than half of business leaders (54%) believe that retaining talent will remain challenging in the next 12 months.

Despite these challenges, business leaders in Ireland are generally confident about their capacity to navigate change. Findings reveal that 84% of senior leaders are reasonably confident about their capacity to achieve core business objectives over the next 12 months. Only 4% of decision makers state their organisation is fully prepared to overcome obstacles and unlock business growth over the months ahead.

Leadership and management capabilities are the top business priority for senior decision makers, indicating clear awareness among leaders of the importance of strengthening skills in this rapidly evolving landscape. Future workforce skills/ways of working and technology from a business perspective make up the top three most important areas on leaders’ business agenda for the coming months.

The new research is released as the IMI announces the agenda for its 2024 National Leadership Conference. First held over 70 years ago, the NLC 2024 will bring together senior business leaders from across Ireland for a series of discussions focused on enhancing leadership skills and positioning their organisation for future success.

Speakers at the event include Deputy Simon Coveney, former Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland; Ann Kelleher, foundry technology development General Manager at Intel Corporation; Bernard Gloster, CEO of Health Service Executive; Siobhan Talbot, the former CEO of Glanbia; Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland; and Christopher Hartwell, Head of the International Management Institute & Professor of International Business Policy at ZHAW School of Management and Law. The 2024 edition of the NLC will be held on October 3rd at IMI’s Sandyford campus, with additional speakers due to be announced in the coming weeks.

Commenting on the release of the research, Shane O’Sullivan, CEO of the IMI, said: “Senior leaders across Ireland continue to navigate a fast-evolving business environment from a tight labour market to rapid advances in technology and heightened global competition. The IMI Leadership Barometer provides an important insight into the key challenges and opportunities facing leaders in Ireland in this environment and the actions they’re taking to prepare their business for future success.

“It’s clear from the findings of the Barometer that many leaders are still at an early phase of engagement with AI technology. Despite growing levels of experimentation with the technology, our research shows most decision makers have yet to form clear AI strategies. Enhancing leaders’ AI skills and capabilities will be crucial to fully harnessing the potential of the technology and understanding how it can support their business objectives. As these capabilities grow, we expect AI to accelerate up the business agenda.

“With economic indicators suggesting a competitive labour market is set to continue over the next 12 months, our research reveals significant concerns among decision makers regarding attracting and retaining top talent. Given these challenges, it is crucial that leaders evolve their talent management strategies to meet the evolving needs of their workforce from new ways of working to upskilling programmes and employee compensation.

“I’m also pleased to announce the agenda for this year’s National Leadership Conference, which will provide important insights for business leaders as they navigate the challenges highlighted in our research. By taking on board the advice of our expert speakers, decision makers can enhance their leadership skills and better seize new opportunities for future business growth and success.”

Irish leaders largely unprepared for AI future & uncertain about economic future, IMI reveals

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Neale Richmond TD joined the Irish Management Institute today (IMI) at its National Leadership Conference, on the same day it unveiled new research revealing a skills shortage among senior business leaders preparing for Ireland’s AI-enabled future.

The ‘IMI Leadership Barometer’, launched at the National Leadership Conference, surveyed senior business leaders across Ireland from September to October 2023. The research provides key insights into the attitudes and priorities of senior decision makers as they navigate a rapidly evolving business environment and the emergence of disruptive new technologies.

First held over 70 years ago, the National Leadership Conference brings together senior business leaders from across Ireland to explore how leaders can learn, innovate and lead in a rapidly changing environment. Keynote speakers at the event include Bruce Daisley, a former VP EMEA at Twitter and international consultant on workplace culture, Deborah Threadgold, General Manager at IBM Ireland, and Ronan O’Gara, Head Coach at La Rochelle.

The researched unveiled at the conference show that leaders are unsure about the trajectory of the economy. 47% of business leaders are uncertain whether the economy will grow in the next 12 months. With inflationary pressures still strong and costs increasing, a further 36% of leaders believe the economy is likely to contract in the next year.

Digital transformation was another key area with only 1 in 4 business leaders feeling they have the right skills and capabilities to harness the potential of AI within their organisation. The main barrier to navigating an AI future was found to be uncertainty (39%), indicating a pervasive lack of knowledge in the business community regarding the potential applications and impact of this technology.

Lack of capabilities to drive change (36%) was also identified as a major obstacle, with leaders believing their workforce lacks critical skills to enable digital transformation. Such findings reflect the growing importance for leaders in upskilling and reskilling every level of their organisation – from the leadership level down – in order to harness the power of innovation.

Although senior leaders are prioritising innovation, conflicting priorities (41%) and organisational culture (27%) were found to be critical innovation challenges. However, the importance of strong leadership in overcoming these barriers and fostering a culture of innovation is clear: 48% of survey respondents stated that strong leaders who foster and champion innovation is critical for innovation success.

Looking ahead, the majority of leaders felt overcoming skills and talent shortages (59%) to be the key factor for future business success – a persistent challenge in an exceptionally tight labour market. Leading digital transformation (27%) was also deemed critical for future success unsurprisingly, with leaders keen to harness the potential productivity boom created by AI and other emerging technologies. Only 9% of business leaders consider advancing the ESG agenda to be critical for future success.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Neale Richmond TD commented: “Business leaders across Ireland have proven their resilience in navigating challenges over the past years, from the emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic, to skills shortages and rising costs. As the business environment continues to evolve, it is crucial that firms and workers are well equipped to embrace the opportunities presented by new technologies such as AI.

“Today’s gathering of business leaders across Ireland at the National Leadership Conference provides an opportunity to explore how leaders can successfully harness the opportunities presented by new technologies and use them to empower their organisations for the future. This includes re-training and up-skilling workers to ensure they are capable of using these new technologies. By working closely together, government and business can enhance the competitiveness of Irish businesses and develop a thriving, resilient and future-proof enterprise economy.”

Shane O’Sullivan, interim CEO of the IMI, said: “The IMI Leadership Barometer provides an important insight into how senior leaders are responding to emerging technologies and a changing economic environment.

“With ongoing advances in AI and disruptive digital technologies, the fact that only 25% of business leaders feel they have the necessary skills in place to support these changes is of significant concern. Top-down leadership is critical for driving this fundamental transformation of how we work. Otherwise, we cannot harness the powerful productivity gains of AI and other digital technologies. Business leaders must consider a lifelong learning approach to equip themselves with the right skills, capabilities and knowledge.

“It is reassuring to see almost half of senior leaders in Ireland recognise the importance of their role in driving a thriving culture of innovation within their organisation. Leaders must develop a culture of innovation by acting as role models in the development of ideas, while fostering collaboration and creativity between different teams and departments throughout their organisation.

“Celebrating 70 years since its first edition, the National Leadership Conference provides important insights for business leaders across the themes of Learn, Innovate, Lead. By implementing the guidance shared by our expert speakers and research findings, senior leaders can enhance their leadership skills and set their organisation on the path to success in the year ahead.”

IMI National Leadership Conference to spotlight role of leadership in harnessing potential of AI and driving innovation

The Irish Management Institute (IMI) has today launched the National Leadership Conference 2023 with former Twitter EMEA boss, Bruce Daisley, and former Irish Rugby Captain and Head Coach at La Rochelle, Ronan O’Gara, among the keynote speakers to take the stage at the 70th annual conference.

With AI fundamentally reshaping the nature of work and business, speakers will offer insights on how senior leaders can effectively incorporate AI in their business strategy and harness its powerful productivity gains. Bruce Daisley and Deborah Threadgold, General Manager at IBM Ireland will be among those to speak about how leaders can navigate the disruption caused by AI and the rapid pace of innovation.

Former Irish Rugby Captain and Head Coach at La Rochelle, Ronan O’Gara, is to address the 2023 IMI National Leadership Conference on the critical role of leadership in driving organisational high-performance.

The National Leadership Conference will be held on Thursday, October 12 at IMI’s Sandyford campus. First held 70 years ago, the 2023 event will focus on the themes of Learn, Innovate, and Lead in the context of a dynamic business environment and how business leaders can maintain competitiveness and position their organisation for continued growth and success.

The event will also feature contributions from David McRedmond, CEO of An Post and Fiona Gallagher, CEO of Wells Fargo Bank International.

Commenting on the event launch, Shane O’Sullivan, interim CEO of the IMI, said: “While economic growth in Ireland remains strong, business leaders today are faced with a growing set of challenges including rising costs and an exceptionally tight labour market. With the challenges associated with rising costs and an economy at full employment, and the opportunities presented by AI and new ways of thinking, leaders can play a pivotal role in transforming their organisation for the better. The National Leadership Conference is an important forum for CEOs and business leaders from every sector to listen, learn and share experiences of how best to navigate change and position their organisation for success.

“Celebrating 70 years since its first edition, we’re proud to build on the distinguished history of IMI’s flagship conference to deliver an impressive speaker line-up of domestic and international business leaders for the 2023 conference. Our speakers will share pivotal insights in the areas of Executive Learning, Leadership, and Innovation and the practical steps business leaders can take to drive continued growth and success in their organisations.”

Ronan O’Gara, Head Coach at La Rochelle, commented: “I’m delighted to join industry pioneers across Ireland to share my leadership insights at this year’s National Leadership Conference. The National Leadership Conference is an important platform to share key learnings and practical advice that can support leaders to better position their organisations for success. Across every workplace, new technologies and innovation are changing the nature of work. From sport to business, strong leadership will be critical in ensuring that organisations harness the benefits of this transformation and continue to drive high performance.”

Established in 1952, IMI focuses on enhancing the practice of leadership in Ireland and is a centre of excellence for management education.  In partnership with UCC, IMI supports Irish-based organisations across all industry sectors in developing their management and leadership talent. 

For more info visit  IMI 

Irish Management Institute (IMI) launches new programme of experiences to empower senior leaders to embed change

Irish Management Institute (IMI), in partnership with University College Cork (UCC), has launched a first-of-its-kind programme of experiences, aimed at developing the capabilities of senior leaders including Chief Executives, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers and heads of organisations within the private and public sectors. The Senior Executive Experience (SEE) will allow participants to forge new ways of thinking around leadership, strategy, decision-making and negotiation.

New research published by the IMI has shown that senior executives are facing ever-increasing workloads there is limited opportunity for organisational leaders to invest time in continuous learning. 83% of senior business leaders in Ireland state their organisation needs a transformational change.

Yet, in the era of increased digitisation, growing requirements to integrate ESG and sustainability targets, economic uncertainty and geopolitical factors, the need to bring new thinking and new skills to the decision-making table of companies and public sector bodies has never been greater.

SEE has been developed specifically to meet the emerging skills needs of today’s leaders while also recognising the limited time that is available to spend on learning. The programme, delivered by a team of national and internationally renowned lecturers and experts, including Associate Dean at Ashridge Executive Education Dr Kerrie Fleming and best-selling author Bernard Marr, offers immersive learning together with peer-coaching with successful executives to equip participants with new tools and insights.

Commenting on the launch, Shane O’Sullivan, Interim CEO, IMI said: “The world class faculty on this programme will challenge and disrupt the way senior leaders think and will help to equip them with new tools and insights to shape the future of their organisations. Most importantly the course will provide the time and space to reframe how participants think about the issues they are confronted with, all while making relevant connections with industry peers.”

SEE is comprised of five separate learning tracks, which include: ‘Leading and Managing’, ‘Strategic Decision-Making and Risk Management’ and ‘Digital Transformation’. Participants can choose the area that best aligns with their interests and objectives or select different experiences from multiple tracks.

Upon completion, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Leadership Excellence, and become members of the IMI Senior Executive Alumni group, granting access to exclusive events with guest speakers, networking opportunities with other senior leaders and quarterly insights updates.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “When we surveyed business leaders recently, the vast majority said that their organisations needed a major transformational change. With the challenges associated with the recent global pandemic and economic uncertainty, and the opportunities presented by new technologies and ways of thinking, leaders really need to get away from the desk, be challenged to think differently and learn from others so that they can work towards embedding real change in their own organisations. To help, we have developed this unique programme of events and experiences, including networking and problem solving with like-minded senior executives.”

Dr. Kriti Jain, Associate Professor at IE Business School in Spain said: “Leaders need to continually acquire new ideas and learn new things to be able to make an impact in a digitally-enabled, knowledge economy. SEE offers senior executives alternatives to full-time study and excessive time commitments, with short and flexible experiences that deliver relevant skills, based on a selection of competency foundations.”

Starting dates for the programme are scheduled for May and September. To learn more about the modules, rates and lecturers, visit: https://www.imi.ie/product/senior-executive-experience/