E226 That Great Business ShowUCD Smurfit Business School, 'Podcast of the Year'Jim Campion, the man who didn't pivot, but who made a fortune (allegedly) by selling his eponymous insurance business to UK insurance consolidator PIB.Jim served a very, very short time in the Civil Service, but then got into the insurance business - a business from which he has never pivoted. He now has 22 offices across the State. His first expansionary step was in buying Phil Hogan's (later EU Commissioner) insurance brokerage. And he wants to do more, buying as many smaller insurance brokers' offices as possible. He has 525 people working for him and and he's hiring another ten a month. He does get cheesed off though when people he hires don't turn up for work from Day One. He says 'if you want bodies go to the morgue', he's very interesting about retaining staff.Then there was a cyber hack that shut down his business. Very serious. Interestingly, this experience made him think of selling.Hire in a heartbeat? Brian CodyShemaine Doyle, founder Brave Marketing, who went to Dubai for two years and came back after eleven years - bringing with her a husband and two young kids. She was once big in marketing with Aryzta but she got the itch...the itch to set up on her own. Despite being very senior in business she still felt she needed networking. So she joined the Back for Business programme - for returning emigres who want to get back into business.Shemaine explains how her small consultancy punches above their weight - even making camel milk (yes, it's a thing) popular.Her hires in a heartbeat (plural) are mum, Joyce Doyle, Dragon's Den Steve Bartlett and singing star, Pink.Find all episodes at www.ThatGreatBusinessShow.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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