Remarks at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Gala Awards Ceremony
25th October 2012
Dia dhíbh go léir. Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh ar an ócáid speisialta agus tábhactach seo agus muid ag cheiliúradh spioraid na bhfionncraíochta agus ag bronnadh gradaim ar tograí éagsúla.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to be here on this special evening. I wish to thank Ernst and Young for their invitation and to commend them for their continued long-term support of this Award Programme.
These Awards give deserved recognition to the entrepreneurial efforts of men and women across the island whose commitment, drive and hard work continue to play a central role in our future economic advancement. It gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate in a very public way the depth of the entrepreneurial talent that is developing and flourishing in our country.
I know that the 24 finalists tonight have already been on an exciting journey this year, one that has taken them from Haiti to Silicon Valley. The group travelled to Haiti to see the work undertaken by an Irish charity set up in 2007 following an Entrepreneur of the Year CEO retreat. And their visit to this year’s CEO retreat brought them to Silicon Valley, the cradle of technological developments.
Real and creative entrepreneurship is vital for Irish economic recovery and growth. A successful entrepreneurial society built on creativity and excellence can generate a range of strategic, economic, social and personal benefits which are so important as we look to ways to create employment, restart growth, and build an economy on a sustainable, ethical foundation. It is people like those finalists who are here tonight, who are willing to innovate, take chances and dream the big dreams, who will help to lead our economy to recovery.
I have spoken before of how the capacity to change our world still exists. We can choose to be active citizens, defining our future and that of others. For our children, there is a growing understanding of the need to bring ever more creativity into our classrooms, to teach students more of ‘how’ to think rather than ‘what’ to think, to encourage them to be the arrow, and not the target. After all, when old assumptions and certainties are challenged, students have taken their first steps in a journey of hope.
Some recent research has suggested that entrepreneurs can split into three types; Darwinians who focus on establishing strong and profitable firms, and strive for success, Communitarians who are enthusiastic about their innovation and wish to share it with the wider community, and those typed as Missionaries who believe their businesses can help change society. We need all three combined in our innovative citizens.
So I say to all the finalists, whether you are trying to build the strongest company ever, or help your community, or change society, or for the high-achievers to achieve all three, we support you as our team! I sincerely congratulate all of the 2012 finalists for your achievement this far, and wish you all personal and business success for the future.