UCD Business Impact

S6 Ep13: Inside healthcare giant CVS

10 June 2026 - BComm alumnus Larry McGrath shares his journey from a career in investment analysis to moving to one of the companies he assessed, where he could see science and innovation in real time and have a positive impact on people’s lives. A fascination with healthcare led Larry to steer investor relations at CVS Health, which includes a portfolio that ranges from stores to health insurance to in-home healthcare delivery.He reveals how turning strategic insights into numbers and strong communication skills can transform an industry facing infinite demand, and outlines the skills today’s business students need to lead the future of healthcare finance.With nearly one-fifth of the US economy in healthcare, Larry discusses if, and how, the industry can keep growing.

S6 Ep12: Building Ireland's First Luxury Group: VYKO Strategy

Ashley McDonnell | CEO of VYKO, Ireland’s First Luxury Group4 June 2026 - What does it take to scale Irish heritage into a global luxury powerhouse?UCD CEMS Masters in Management alumna Ashley McDonnell built an elite career with LVMH, Dior and Puig before returning home to found VYKO, Ireland’s first luxury group. In this conversation, she breaks down how she is applying international brand strategy to elevate local design, bridge the gap between emotional desirability and commercial viability, and capture the global luxury traveller market.Listen now to discover how Ireland is redefining its position in the premium global marketplace.

S6 Ep11: Energy Shock

Why did the world’s most sophisticated risk managers miss the warning signs of a multi-billion dollar commodity shock? Professor of Finance, Valerio Poti joins us to dissect the abrupt end of market calm following the escalation in the Middle East.

S6 Ep10: Global Turmoil and the Greatest Oil Shock: The Future of Aviation Finance

Is the aviation industry prepared for potentially the greatest oil shock in history? As jet fuel costs soar amid geopolitical conflict, former GECAS CEO Norm Liu joins us to analyze the resilience of aircraft leasing. We explore why regional risk assessment and airline consolidation are now critical survival strategies. Beyond the hangar, Liu discusses the urgent energy demands of AI and why he is interested in the energy transition, in particular nuclear, as an option as the next frontier for infrastructure finance. For students and professionals alike, this is a masterclass in navigating a global economy in flux.Listen now for a definitive look at the future of flight and finance.

S6 Ep9: Mastering Global Leadership: Inside the Top-Ranked CEMS Programme

In this episode, we step into the world of the elite global business programme, the CEMS Master in International Management at UCD Smurfit School. As Ireland’s only member of this prestigious 33-school global alliance, the programme is consistently top-ranked by the Financial Times. Each year, the multilingual cohort of 15+ nationalities takes a deep dive into modules around global leadership, strategy, and management consulting. From intensive international exchanges to a powerful alumni network, the programme transforms high-achieving students into fluent, future-ready leaders. Tune in to see how CEMS opens doors to opportunities that simply don't exist anywhere else.

S6 Ep8: Season 6 Episode 8 – Cracking Cartels: Competition Economics and Market Regulation

S6 Ep7: Cpl CEO Lorna Conn on navigating AI transformation and the skills gap

How can leaders navigate the tension between AI automation and developing core critical human skills? In our latest episode, Lorna Conn, CEO of Cpl, explores the evolution of the global labour market. Managing a workforce of 14,000, Lorna argues that while AI fluency is non-negotiable, the future belongs to those who master "deep human skills"—creativity, compassionate leadership, and critical oversight. Discover why lifelong learning is the ultimate competitive advantage in a tech-enabled world and how forward-thinking companies are upskilling for the AI era.

S6 Ep6: 2025 Year in Review - From tariffs to AI bubbles

Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chair of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, and Kathleen Gallagher, journalist with the Business Post and winner of the Women in Business Journalism Award Category at the 2025 UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, look back over the stories that hit the headlines.

S6 Ep5: The Pivot and the Payoff: Siobhán Talbot on Strategy, Growth and Earning the Right to Grow

UCD BComm alumna Siobhán Talbot is one of Ireland's most accomplished and widely respected business leaders. Join us as she discusses her remarkable career journey, which she describes as a "baptism of fire" from the hard graft of PwC to her rise to Group Managing Director of Glanbia. Siobhán shares how the massive risk of strategically pivoting Glanbia away from purely food production into global nutrition, supplements and health paid off. She discusses her passion for company culture, the relentless pace of change and what it truly takes to “earn the right to grow” in today’s dynamic global market.

S6 Ep4: The Art of the Possible: AI and the Future of Work

UCD BComm alumna, Fiona Carney, explores one of the biggest transformations reshaping the world of work, AI. A leader at Microsoft, she draws on her expertise to explain how AI is enhancing productivity, enabling higher-value work, accelerating innovation, and transforming how companies engage with customers. But, she explains how technology alone isn’t enough; people, skills, and change management matter more than ever.