Inspiring Presentations For DCS Enterprise Week

Our 1st guest speaker to launch business week was past pupil Paddy Hanrahan. Paddy sat his Leaving Cert in DCS in 2008 and brought us through his adventures since he qualified as a chartered accountant, working in practice, then industry and now in the CSO in Mahon. His message to our students was to be flexible and not to fixate on one path or course to achieve your career. There are many ways to reach your final destination!

Next up was past pupil from the LC class of 2003, Ian O’Regan and colleague Auriol Kelly from Business Banking PTSB who reminded our students that the banking sector is the engine of the economy. When Ian took the students through the criteria PTSB used to assess applications for credit he was reminded of his Business Studies here in DCS where he was first introduced to a SWOT analysis that is now a part of his daily working life!

This morning our PE teacher and entrepreneur David Lowney gave the junior business students some very sound advice. Mr Lowney introduced our students to the New Zealand concept of “Kaizen”, creating good cultural values by empowering employees to experiment with ideas. As a result, Mr Lowney has no problem finding staff for his drive thru coffee business.

Later this morning another past pupil, John Noonan, from the LC class of 1979 fascinated our business students with marketing stories from his career in Flahavan’s. John came armed with boxes of Flahavan’s flapjacks and prizes so he had no problem captivating the students. His parting words were a reminder that, “opportunity comes to pass, not to stay…..”

We are indebted to all our guest speakers for taking the time to visit us this week. There’s still more to look forward to in the days ahead!