The Leaders' Room

Hosted by Silicon Republic

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Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-IE

About the show

Good leadership can often be hard to define, but we all know it when we see it. In 'The Leaders' Room', Ann O'Dea (CEO of Silicon Republic) speaks with leaders from iconic companies about their leadership styles, how they assemble and lead their teams, and how they think new technologies will transform their organisations in coming years. Presented in partnership with IDA Ireland.

Listen to episodes

35 recent

April 30, 2026Episode 925 min

Scorekeeper or Team Player, with Sean Gayer (Boston Scientific)

For the final episode of the season, Ann spoke with Sean Gayer, VP of Operations, EMEA Manufacturing at Boston Scientific about his journey from finance into med tech leadership, and about leading teams who already have a very clear mission bringing them together. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

April 16, 2026Episode 830 min

Ireland’s Digital Airport, with Peter Lantry (Equinix)

Our growing digital infrastructure requires energy, so how can data centre operators lead the way in making that infrastructure more sustainable?In this episode, Ann speaks with Peter Lantry, Managing Director of Equinix Ireland, about leadership, and working towards a more sustainable model for the data industry. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

March 19, 2026Episode 79 min

Season 4 Recap: Leadership, AI, and Talent

As we work on the final episodes of season 4, we thought we’d share a recap of some of the themes that popped out for us so far this season. Featuring: Martin Cotter (Analog Devices), Graham Abell (Workday), David Silke (Centripetal), Thomas Parsons (Tenable), Rathnait Long (MACOM Technology Solutions), Cathy Kearney (Apple), and Kristina Raspe (Apple). Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Music by ⁠⁠⁠Chris Zabriskie⁠⁠⁠, under ⁠⁠⁠CC BY 3.0⁠⁠⁠ Attribution 3.0 Unported, no modifications.

March 5, 2026Episode 621 min

Building Belonging, with Cathy Kearney and Kristina Raspe (Apple)

Can the built environment empower teams to be creative and collaborative. Can design build a sense of belonging? We ventured out of the studio for this episode to find out. For this episode of The Leaders’ Room, Ann travelled to Apple's European headquarters in Cork, and sat down with Cathy Kearney, Apple’s VP of European Operations, and Kristina Raspe, the company’s VP of Places, to chat about how their evolving campus reflects the iconic company’s commitment to Ireland. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

February 19, 2026Episode 519 min

Engineering Excellence, with Rathnait Long (MACOM Technology Solutions)

How does an engineer approach leadership, in a sector both leading and responding to rapid technological advancement?In this episode, Ann is joined by Rathnait Long, Distinguished Fellow of Technology at MACOM Technology Solutions, about her career and identity as an engineer, and about her approach to leadership that promotes innovation. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

February 5, 2026Episode 424 min

Embracing Unconventional Talent, with Thomas Parsons (Tenable)

Cybersecurity has really never been more critical, and we may need some unconventional talent if we are to protect ourselves from some of the biggest cyber threats out there. In this episode, Ann is joined by Thomas Parsons, Head of Tenable in Ireland, to chat about his work in today’s cybersecurity sector, and about what might be coming down the line. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

January 22, 2026Episode 324 min

Ecosystems of Intelligence, with David Silke (Centripetal)

We often talk about global companies coming to Ireland for the business friendly environment and strong talent base, but what about our creativity and culture? Ann is joined by David Silke, Managing Director for Europe and APAC at Centripetal, a major intelligence-driven cybersecurity company with a base in Galway. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

January 8, 2026Episode 220 min

Scaling with Purpose, with Graham Abell (Workday)

Season four of The Leaders’ Room continues with a conversation about leadership and growth. Ann is joined by Graham Abell from Workday, a company that has had a base in Ireland since 2008 and provides cloud-based software that helps organisations manage their people, finances, and operations. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

December 11, 2025Episode 116 min

Opportunity and Ambition, with Martin Cotter (Analog Devices)

We’re back for a fourth season, as we continue to explore leadership across the innovation industries during times of rapid change. To get us started, Ann is joined by Martin Cotter from Analog Devices to chat about leadership at a time of ‘connected everything’, and why Ireland is home to so much incredible innovation. Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

October 3, 2025Episode 826 min

Leading with Humility, with Aaron J. Webster (PayPal)

Think like a founder, remove obstacles, amplify the impact of others, and lead with humility – just some of the advice from Aaron J. Webster for our final episode of the season. Aaron is Global Chief Risk Officer at PayPal, a company that transformed the way we do business online. He joined Ann in the studio to chat about how the world’s first digital payment platform is approaching this new era of AI, and how risk management is helping shape their strategy.Watch the video of the interview here⁠.About the series:What makes a good leader? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon Republic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IDA Ireland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, presents a series of conversations with leaders at the helm of iconic multinationals in the areas of technology, engineering, life sciences and fintech to get invaluable insights on leadership, on emerging technologies and on the future for their sectors. Presented by Ann O'Dea, and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun & Maurice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.