Profiles of Trailblazing Business Leaders: Ranging from Digital Education, Dancing with the Stars, Pharmaceuticals, to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
In the heart of Sandymount, Dublin, Shinawil, a 26-year-old film and television production company, stands as a testament to resilience and innovation. With an office in Belfast, Shinawil is committed to diversity, both in its business operations and the stories it tells, producing non-fiction entertainment television shows like Popstars, You're A Star, The Apprentice, MasterChef, The Voice of Ireland, Home of the Year, and Dancing with the Stars.
Meanwhile, in Wexford town, Chevron College, a QQI accredited e-learning provider, is making waves in the education sector. With over 250 lecturers and 135 staff, the college provides further and higher education programmes to over 15,000 students annually. The turning point for Chevron College came when it decided to become an online education provider.
The journey of Chevron College was not without its challenges. The most difficult period was after the economic crash, when Karl Fitzpatrick, the college's president and CEO, invested his life savings to acquire the college from examinership. Today, the college's future growth plans include extending its current suite of programmes in the UK market and acquiring higher education providers in Ireland and the UK.
On the other side of the spectrum, Nutriband, a pharmaceutical company founded by Gareth Sheridan in Dublin in 2012, has a unique business model. Listed on the OTC Markets, Nutriband uses stock to purchase companies and technologies instead of cash. The lightbulb moment for starting Nutriband was a thesis idea about delivering medications through patches. Nutriband's lead product is Aversa, an abuse-deterrent transdermal technology designed to prevent the abuse, diversion, misuse, and accidental exposure of opioids. Nutriband's greatest business achievement to date is qualifying to list on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.
The growth of Shinawil and Chevron College has been funded through various means. Shinawil's recent growth has been financed through internal company resources, with support from Enterprise Ireland in the post-Covid period. Chevron College's growth will be funded through a combination of sources, including the company's financial reserves, debt finance from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, and investment through the Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme.
In addition, Grid Finance, the first financial services B-Corp in Ireland, is dedicated to building the financial health and resilience of SMEs. Grid Finance offers working capital finance, leasing, and insights to help SMEs grow their business and plans to invest €60 million into 1,000 businesses in Ireland this year.
As Ireland's education and pharmaceutical sectors continue to evolve, Shinawil, Chevron College, and Nutriband are leading the charge, demonstrating the power of innovation, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
