Career Details

MARCH 2006 – PRESENT (A)

EMPLOYER: Technological University Dublin (formerly Dublin Institute of Technology)
POSITION: Director of the Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship
The target groups for IME include the following communities: Disabled, Ethnic, Gay, Over 50s, and Travellers. To achieve the ambition of ‘making a significant difference to Ireland’s economic and social fabric’, my role is to lead the following activities:

  • Delivering training programmes and workshops for target groups
  • Securing funding for relevant activities
  • Undertaking primary and secondary research relevant to the target groups
  • Devising suitable education and training materials
  • Developing case studies of all media types appropriate for the target groups
  • Presenting papers at conferences
  • Writing articles for academic journals and business publications
  • Presenting policy reports to engender social and economic change
  • Hosting seminars and conferences on related topics
  • Creating website materials for the target groups
  • Designing books and manuals appropriate for the target groups.
SEPTEMBER 1991 – PRESENT (B)

EMPLOYER: Technological University Dublin (formerly Dublin Institute of Technology)
POSITION: Professor of Entrepreneurship (formerly Lecturer and Research Fellow)
The position of Research Fellow is to act as a lead researcher and the key driver of a research area. My work is focused on the area of entrepreneurship and my goals are to:

  • Build an entrepreneurship research community in accordance with the faculty research strategy
  • Conduct and publish high-quality research
  • Generate substantial amounts of research funding
  • Foster industry relationships relevant to the research activities
  • Develop appropriate training programmes for a variety of stakeholders
  • Contribute significantly to the professional community
SEPTEMBER 2000 – AUGUST 2001 (A)

EMPLOYER: Foundation for SME Development at the University of Durham
POSITION: Visiting Research Scholar
My work primarily encompassed research, writing, lecturing, and networking. This comprised of:

  • Research activity that challenged the current intellectualisation of particular issues and searched for new avenues in expanding the frontiers of entrepreneurship thinking.
  • Undertook a Research Audit for the organisation, and wrote a report from which the Research Strategy was developed.
  • Co-authored conference papers and articles based on the research activity.
  • Currently creating a new textbook that confronts conventional perceptions and presents entrepreneurship as behavioural, rather than as being primarily an act of venture creation.
  • Incorporated into the writings a wide variety of contextual and cultural backgrounds through case studies, demonstrating that entrepreneurial practice is more widely prevalent than generally acknowledged.
  • Lecturing activity that was primarily based around staff seminars that I provided on a range of topics, and guest lectures on the MA in Entrepreneurship program.
  • Networking which involved the generation and maintenance of mutually beneficial relationships with external organisations.
SEPTEMBER 1996 – JUNE 1997

EMPLOYER:  Babson College, Wellesley, MA (U.S.A.)
POSITION: Senior Research Officer (Secondment)
As Visiting Research Scholar I contributed to the Babson College ethos of expanding the boundaries of research and knowledge on entrepreneurship issues. My work primarily comprised of: 

  • Undertaking research activity centred on fast-growth firms and entrepreneurial teams.
  • Co-authoring conference articles with Professor Bill Bygrave. ·
  • Lecturing ‘New Venture Creation’ to MBA students. ·
  • Participating as a staff member in the development of the organisation. ·
  • Auditing the Doctoral Program at Harvard Business School. ·
  • Making a significant number of contacts within the American entrepreneurship academic field. ·
  • Developing a deeper understanding of the American education system.
APRIL 1986 – AUGUST 1991

EMPLOYER: London Borough of Redbridge, Ilford, Essex
POSITION: Senior Research Officer (Secondment)
Due to the Social Security Act 1986, dramatic changes in Housing Benefits were due to occur from 1st April 1988. My responsibilities included planning the section’s development, introducing a new computerised system (as substitute for the manual system), and deciding on numerous policy issues. The planning needed to meet the needs of a sudden massive increase in recipients of Housing Benefit, and training of staff to be claimant orientated. It required interpreting primary legislation, liaising with other departments and agencies, and leading various project groups.

JUNE 1985 – MARCH 1986

EMPLOYER: Marketing International, Cork
POSITION: Director
I was instrumental in establishing this market research / consultancy agency. My work encompassed assessing client briefs, preparing proposals, undertaking market research and analysis, and presenting final reports. I undertook many of the day-to-day tasks of running a small business, including the design of promotional material.

SEPTEMBER 1984 – MAY 1985

EMPLOYER: F.H. Thompson & Son Ltd., Cork.
POSITION: Marketing Executive
This company was a large bakery and confectionery concern. My assignments included developing a range of Long-Life cakes and later researching the market for frozen pastry. This work gave me invaluable experience into consumer research and the problems facing an FMCG company.