Inishowen woman behind first All-Island women founders summit

Donegal-based innovation adviser and tech entrepreneur, Mary McKenna, says Ireland’s first all-island summit for women who founded their own business opens next Monday.

McKenna is chairperson of Awaken Hub, the organisers of the ‘SheVentures’ event, which will pull together over 200 women founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and their supporters in Ireland.

The summit offers “unparalleled access to inspiring Irish and international women leaders, including some who have never spoken at an Irish event before,” she says.

Speakers include Silicon Valley’s Ann Hiatt who worked directly for Amazon’s Jeff Bezos; Lorna Conn, CEO of Cpl, and entrepreneurs’ champion; and Samantha Barry, Global Editorial Director for the Americas at Glamour magazine. Donegal’s Trish Hegarty of Inis Communications is lined up to run a Master Class on PR at the event too, which takes place in Lusty Beg, Fermanagh on 20th-21st May.

McKenna, who lives in Greencastle, is encouraging women from Donegal to attend.

“SheVentures offers an opportunity to hang-out with your tribe of women founders and investors in a friendly and informal setting for a couple of days. But get yourself investor-ready,” she advises. “You might even bag an angel investor or two!”

The summit is being held in the breathtaking and cosy location of Lusty Beg Island, Fermanagh. Sponsored cabins on the premises will offer Master Classes and discussions on challenging themes like Investment, Sustainability, US Market Entry, Sales, Storytelling and Marketing, and Commercialisation. McKenna says these are an ideal chance to learn from experts at first hand.

“She Ventures is not just about offering great speakers. It’s about giving participants access to these speakers and experts for informal chats and discussions throughout the two days. It’s also about extending women founders’ networks of key players, contacts, and investors as they grow their business.”

The summit is being supported and sponsored by the Shared Island Initiative. Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was delighted that the Shared Island Civic Society Fund has been able to support the work of Awaken Hub and the SheVentures summit. “The Shared Island Civic Society Fund aims to promote practical cooperation and interaction in civic society on this island and the SheVentures summit is a stellar example of the Fund supporting people to come together and make real connections.”