By dotLAB Radio
Disruption is forcing companies to change and has ultimately redefined leadership. What does it mean to be a leader in this type of environment?
In this episode, Margaret Sweeney explains the evolution of leadership and the various challenges that leaders face including adaptability, achieving a work-life balance, as well as navigating and working with change. As a leader, it is important to make decisions with future generations in mind and focus on long-term sustainable business and employee engagement, rather than profit.
Margaret Sweeney has led large and influential organisations across a very diverse range of industries and sectors. She is currently the CEO and Board Director of Irish Residential Properties REIT plc., listed on Euronext Dublin Stock Exchange with assets under management of €1.4 billion. She sits on the boards of companies across an even more diverse range of industries and sectors including the Advisory Board for DCU Business School and the Board of Dalata Hotel Group plc, Ireland’s largest hotel operator. In addition to her many achievements, Margaret is a recipient of the Bank of Ireland Gold Sovereign for her contribution to advancing women in leadership. In this episode of dotLAB Radio, Margaret covers the following areas:
- Qualities of a great leader in an age of disruption and the evolution of leadership skills
- How the model of 9 to 5 is outdated with organisations responding to flexible working hours
- How to adapt to employee needs while meeting deadlines and achieving goals
- The importance of diversity in all aspects of business
- The rising wave of young people wanting to travel and experience the world
- Risk of ‘analysis paralysis’ is bigger than ever
- The changing nature of the relationship between the ‘landlord’ and ‘tenant’
Margaret Sweeney is CEO and Board Director of Irish Residential Properties REIT plc., listed on Euronext Dublin Stock Exchange with assets under management of €1.4 billion. She is Chair of the Advisory Board for DCU Business School and an Adjunct Professor. She serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Dalata Hotel Group plc, Ireland’s largest hotel operator, and is a Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She is Chairman of Irish Institutional Property and a member of the Board of The Dublin Neurological Institute (a charitable body). She has amassed over 20 years’ worth of leadership experience within senior management positions including as CEO of daa plc (Dublin Airport Authority), CEO and Board Director of Postbank Ireland Limited and Director of Audit and Advisory services at KPMG. She has extensive Board experience and was a member of the Governing Authority of DCU for 15 years to 2015. She was a member of the Boards of Dusseldorf and Hamburg Airports in Germany and Birmingham Airport in the UK as well as Teagasc and Solas. She has also served on the Boards of HSBC Institutional Trust Services Ireland and Fire Financial Services (one of the first Fintech companies in Ireland). Margaret is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors, UK. Margaret was awarded the National University of Ireland Galway Alumni Award for Business Public Policy and Law in 2009 and was President of Dublin Chamber of Commerce in 2008/9. Margaret is passionate about promoting and supporting women in leadership, taking part in the ‘DCU Women in Leadership Lecture Series’, holding positions such as the founding Chair of Women for Election and is currently President of International Women’s Forum Ireland. She is a recipient of the Bank of Ireland Gold Sovereign for her contribution to advancing women in leadership.