Exploring Job versus Journey: IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme Information Evening

25 April 2014

How many times have we been told how important it is to “get a decent job”, or on the flip side “trust your instincts”? These are the statements facing graduates these days, as it comes closer to the time to make a decision on the next step of their career journey, and yet so many struggle to decide if they should take a job or make a job!

The IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme Information Evening on Tuesday 6th May is the ideal opportunity for anyone interested in starting a business to find out more about options available; learn about the nine month business incubation programme at UCC aimed at nurturing, developing and strengthening entrepreneurial potential; and hear from a number of past participants who now run successful businesses. Guests will meet the programme’s experienced business mentors and workshop facilitators; and network with business people and industry partners connected with IGNITE.

The open event, which takes place in UCC’s Western Gateway Building from 6.30pm, will include an interactive panel discussion, chaired by Newstalk’s Jonathan Healy, with past participants Dr Sinead Doherty, founder of AnaBio Technologies and winner of Cork Chamber of Commerce ‘Emerging Company of the Year 2014’; Stephanie Lynch, founder of OnTheQT; and Brendan Finucane, founder of Vconnecta. Each will share their stories, answer questions and discuss what influenced their decision to start their own business, and the challenges that they faced getting their business off the ground and overcoming them. Looking back now, they will discuss if there is anything they would have done differently, their plans for the next 12 to 18 months, and share advice with those considering starting a business.

Pat Lynch, Director of Compliance & Risks, member of the IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme Advisory Board, and father of fellow panellist, Stephanie, will also be on hand to share his valuable experiences, both from the point of view of a serial entrepreneur, and as the parent of a daughter who is following in his footsteps and has ventured into the world of entrepreneurship.

Speaking about the correlation between entrepreneurial spirit and family background, Stephanie Lynch says “I was influenced from a very young age growing up in an entrepreneurial household. I was encouraged to think outside the box and not to be afraid to pursue my ideas and dreams. Seeing my father run his own business gave me another view on my career and made me think of taking my future into my own hands."

Encouragingly, not having a direct family background in entrepreneurship isn’t an inhibiting factor when it comes to entrepreneurship, and  Brendan Finucane’s story, which he will share on May 6th, is a good example, showing there is a ‘new breed’ of entrepreneurs in the making, paving their own way in the world of business.

The IGNITE Information Evening will also provide guests with an opportunity to find out how the programme’s current start-ups are getting on as they prepare to exit the programme this summer.

Eamon Curtin, IGNITE Programme Director, says “Fortune favours the brave, and this is certainly evident in the speakers we have lined up for the Information Evening on May 6th. We’re encouraging anyone interested in starting their own business, members of the local business community, and families of upcoming and recent graduates, to come along and learn about the opportunities out there when it comes to choosing a job or an entrepreneurial journey. On almost a daily basis I meet students interested in learning more about how to start their own business and we are seeing significant interest in the next IGNITE programme, commencing this autumn.”

The IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme is currently recruiting for the next intake of budding entrepreneurs, and more information on this and the upcoming Information Evening is available at http://ignite.ucc.ie.