Previous Session: April 9th

Mick Brougham from Enterprise Ireland was our guest speaker on April 9th.

Mick spoke about design thinking which is an approach that uses the designer’s sensibility and methods for problem solving to meet people’s needs in a technologically feasible and commercially viable way.

Design thinking is human-centered innovation and was pioneered by IDEO (a global design and innovation firm) who use the methodology to do everything from stimulate customer savings at Bank of America to revamp nursing shifts at Kaiser Permanente.

Over the past 30 years, the firm has tackled the challenge of delivering a needle-free vaccine for Intercell, building a better Pringle for Procter & Gamble, revitalising the bicycling experience for Shimano, and rethinking airport-security checkpoints for the TSA. It has racked up more than 1,000 patents since 1978 and won 346 design awards since 1991, more than any other firm. IDEO has become the go-to firm for both American and foreign companies looking to cure their innovation anemia

Mick also talked about Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint and how this approach is necessary to make an effective pitch. This rule is applicable for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc. Formerly an Apple Fellow, Guy is now a venture capitalist and founded the angel matchmaking investor service called Garage Technology Ventures.

Mick Brougham is a graduate of NUIGalway with a PhD in Biochemistry. He has worked in Enterprise Ireland and its progenitor organisations since 1991.

Over the last number of years Mick has been working on the development of Enterprise Ireland’s approach to helping startup entrepreneurs. In this he works closely with the Third level system in terms of the provision of such training programmes and Enterprise Ireland supports the entrepreneur through the provision of the CORD grant.

Next WIN Session - March 26th.

The guest presenters for the next WIN session will be Pat Bennett (WIN) and Pat Regan (WIN). They will show a DVD that applies the principles of "LEAN" to the process of making Toast in the kitchen and will answer any questions afterwards. Lean Manufacturing is "A systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste through continuous improvement by flowing the product at the demand of the customer.” It is a business practice characterised by the endless pursuit of waste elimination. A manufacturer that is lean uses the minimum amount of materials, money, machines, space etc to get the job done on time and efficiently.


Pat Bennett provides consultancy services specialising in Continuous Improvement through the application of Lean Systems and World Class Manufacturing. Specialties include: Lean Systems and Technology; Project Management; World Class Manufacturing and Quality & Environmental Management Systems. He is a lead auditor with ISO Certification Body and GMP and Clean Room Systems/Controls.

Pat Regan has twenty years experience of working in an Irish SME in both manufacturing and distribution environments. He has been involved in all processes and at all levels along the supply chain and has held the roles Team Leader, Supervisor, Production Manager, Distribution Manager, Lean-coordinator, and Operations Manager. Pat has a Masters in Strategic Management (Lean Systems) and specialises in lean manufacturing which is looking at more efficient and effective ways of doing business.

How WIN has helped me...

Through the leadership and committment of Caroline McDonagh, CEO of WIN - The West of Ireland Network has been very useful to me for a number of reasons.

Firstly, through the network, I got some research work in January 2010 with Lionra. The work was interesting and staff at Lionra would consider hiring me again in the event of similar work coming up in the future.
Secondly, meeting other professionals from a variety of backgrounds gives me access to advice and information.
Thirdly, giving an elevator pitch and more recently a presentation enables me to practice my presentation skills and focus on how best to present myself in a limited amount of time.

Joe Gannon

Turloughmore Hurling Club

Person wanted to work with young people in the following areas: Skills of Hurling, Fitness and Training, and Diet and Nutrition.


This person must be eligible for a Community Employment Scheme.

For further details contact 087-7831687

The importance of “Selling”.

There are many things you can do without in business, but you cannot do without sales. Therefore, selling is probably the most important part of any business. People with selling skills are always in strong demand. Whether we realise it or not, we are all involved in sales, every day. Solicitors, accountants, graphic designers or I.T. experts, we are all selling either our skills or ourselves, to customers or employers.
For people who are considering their options in the current market:
- You may wish to consider a career in sales.

- Technical salespeople can be very successful, but very hard to find.

- You may be asked to manage a sales team.

- A knowledge of sales will help you increase your business revenues.
On Friday 12th March, Paul will give a short presentation covering the following points: - - Sales versus Marketing.

- Are good salespeople born or made.

- The sales process.

- Aspects of sales management.

Paul has over 20 years experience in; solution sales, retail sales, sales management, and account management, in a variety of market sectors.

To register for a place at this session please contact: Caroline McDonagh at: mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com

With the help from WIN, a number of our members have lined up work or interviews through networking efforts and also through increased confidence and self esteem. Here is some feedback from one member who recently found work....

I can easily say 2 things that greatly helped me get the position that I now occupy.


1. The WIN networking sessions that I have attended have been hugely beneficial to me, as it kept a positive spin on potential career opportunities and prospects.
2. What really impacted on me was the training which identified, focused on and developed my personal and professional skills.

So I would like to say thank you to Ms McDonagh for the continued hard work & effort that she put into the sessions.

Kind Regards,
Aidan Flood"

Colman Collins is our guest speaker for our next session on February 12th. He is the owner and director of one of Galways best known and highly regarded recruitment consultancies. They have extensive experience in the professional, executive, manufacturing, high-tech, and commercial sectors.


Collins McNicholas was established in 1990 and has since become Ireland’s leading Recruitment and Training organisation. They have five offices across Ireland – Galway (Head Office), Dublin, Cork, Sligo and Athlone (Co Westmeath).

They focus on quality and not quantity, and using a consultative approach, they advise jobseekers on the best career opportunities available in the market.

They were the first Recruitment and HR Consultancy Company in Ireland to receive the ISO 9002 accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to providing the best service to candidates and clients.

On the day Colman will talk informally, and answer any questions members may have on the job market and the realities of recruitment. Some of the topics Colmans hopes to address are:

-Job finding strategies,

-An insight into employment trends and growth sectors

-Creating C.V. impact.

-Advice for generalists, non-qualified, or people from a non-growth sector.

-Giving people an insight into the mechanics and realities of the recruitment sector

-What businesses need and are actually looking for.