As the appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Open Doors Initiative, I am responsible for overseeing this enterprise while running my own business. Our collective is made up of more than 130 participating entities, inclusive of corporates and non-profit organisations. We partner with the government with the aim of helping all individuals who are marginalised and face bigger obstacles, providing them with opportunities in education, employment, and business setup.
The origins of our impact could be traced back to 2018, during which we’ve managed to aid nearly 100,000 individuals at different points of their careers. The aid we provide, directly or indirectly, comes in the forms of training, internships, mentoring, and research, as well as creating additional resources that instil confidence in these individuals.
The initiative took inspiration from Diageo’s Learning for Life training programme that concentrated on hospitality skills with the objective of assisting refugees in securing employment. The initiative was reinforced by the then Equality Minister David Stanton TD’s urge to mobilise more corporate entities to aid marginalised individuals in a systematic, concentrated, and meaningful manner.
Diageo’s leadership team – namely Liam Reid and Oliver Loomes – played a key role in launching Open Doors. They gave me the liberty to cultivate it during my tenure and eventually transition it into a standalone entity. To maintain the stability and progress of our work, Diageo continues to provide core financial support, along with contributions from 14 corporate entities and the then Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar.
My educational background includes a degree in Communications from DCU – a comprehensive course that equipped me with a solid foundation – followed by a Master of Arts in Political Communication and a diploma in Public Relations.
Operating my own business presents an array of rewards. The foremost being the autonomy to conceive an idea and see it through its development process and growth. There’s a distinct absence of dread often associated with other jobs, as my work is meaningful and purposeful, and positively impacts people’s lives. Each day unravels novelty and offers the chance for new concepts, encounters with diverse individuals, and the opportunity to share our common vision to effect change.
However, an inescapable flipside exists, and that is the omnipresent uncertainty and the enduring learning curve, where everyday presents a new challenge waiting to be tackled.
In the words of Peter McGuire, it is beneficial to establish a solid foundation of experience before setting up your own venture. The significance of networking and having a trusted circle for guidance and support is immeasurable in the starting phase. A fundamental comprehension of business operations, including formulating a board and facilitating effective supervision, is crucial to ensure a smooth launch.
McGuire firmly encourages graduates to refine their passions. Regardless of one’s current occupation or academic pursuit, there’s great importance in nudging your involvement towards your desired field, whether through professional engagements, volunteering, or other extracurricular endeavours. Strive to amass as much knowledge as possible and aim to become a specialist in your preferred sector. McGuire himself found volunteering a highly beneficial experience.