#14 | Gary McIldowney | The Slim's Healthy Kitchen Story- Business, Food & Family

#21 | Ciara Daly | I Thought Success Would Feel Different

A few weeks ago, Ciara and I bumped into each other in a corridor for the first time.A few weeks later, we’re sitting down for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Founder & Family.From the outside, Ciara had achieved many of the things we’re told should bring fulfilment. The business was growing, the goals were being achieved and life looked successful by most people’s standards.Yet something felt missing.In this episode, we explore the reality of ambition, why the next milestone rarely delivers what we expect, and how family, wellness and being present can matter more than another achievement, pay rise or title.It’s a conversation about success, fulfilment, motherhood, identity and learning to enjoy the life you’re building while you’re still building it.A special thank you to Ballygowan B-Active, our Founding Partner, for supporting these conversations. Founder & Family CollectiveConversations with founders, leaders and creators building meaningful businesses without losing sight of what matters most. Follow / connect: Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective Find Ciara : Instagram: @ciaradalyoffical @happyfestni Youtube:  ⁨@Ciaradalymakeup⁩  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCNCc86XQN8J99z4OdZUFvog]

#20 | Jenna Hill | The Business Shortcut Nobody Talks About

What if the best business to start... already exists?In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur Jenna Hill to explore a path that most aspiring founders never seriously consider: acquiring an existing business instead of building one from the ground up.We discuss why buying a business can sometimes be a faster, less risky route into entrepreneurship, how to identify the right opportunities, what makes a business worth acquiring, and the mindset required to take ownership and lead it forward.But this conversation goes far beyond balance sheets and business deals.Jenna shares her perspective on building a life that creates freedom rather than consuming it, setting boundaries, protecting family time, and defining success on your own terms.Whether you're thinking about launching a business, growing an existing one, or simply trying to create more space for the people who matter most, there's plenty in this conversation for you.In this episode:Buying a business vs starting from scratchHow to spot acquisition opportunitiesThe risks and rewards of business ownershipCreating freedom through entrepreneurshipBuilding boundaries around workFamily, ambition and modern successWhat Jenna hopes her children remember about this season of lifeIf you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who'd get value from the conversation.Founder & Family CollectiveConversations with founders, leaders and creators building meaningful businesses without losing sight of what matters most. Follow / connect: Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective Find Jenna : Instagram: @jennahilloffical

#19 | Laura Smyth | Designing Brands, Business & Balance

This week I sit down with Laura Smyth from White Noise for a conversation around business, branding, family and stepping into something you never fully planned for. Laura talks about taking over the family business from her dad, balancing leadership with motherhood, and how the world of branding and design is rapidly evolving in the age of AI. We also get into control, growth, learning to let go as a founder, and the reality of building something meaningful while still protecting flexibility and family life. A thoughtful conversation on legacy, ambition and adapting in a modern world that keeps moving fast. If you enjoy conversations around entrepreneurship, creativity, family and high agency living, make sure to subscribe and follow along. Follow / connect: Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective Find Whitenoise : Instagram: @wearewhitenoise Website: https://whitenoisestudios.com/

#18 | Sandra & Scott- Oasis Travel | The Next Generation

This week on Founder & Family, I’m joined by Sandra Corkin and Scott McCabe of Oasis Travel one of Northern Ireland’s most recognised family businesses. What started over 40 years ago as a passion for travel has grown into a multi-award-winning brand with eight offices, a team of 60, and customers who’ve travelled with them for decades. But this episode goes far beyond holidays and destinations. We talk about the reality of building a long-term business as a family, the pressure of stepping into leadership, how the travel industry has evolved through uncertainty, and what it takes to modernise a legacy brand without losing what made it special in the first place. We also get into: * Working with family without damaging relationships * Letting go of control * Navigating uncertainty in travel * Leadership across generations * Standards, reputation and customer trust * The emotional side of succession in business * Why people still value human connection in an increasingly digital world A really honest conversation about business, resilience, and what it means to build something that lasts. Follow / connect: Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective Find Oasis Travel : Instagram: @oasistravelni Website: https://www.oasis-travel.co.uk

#17 | Erinn- Ivy & Gold | Building Business around Life

This week I sat down with Erinn, founder of Ivy & Gold a bespoke jewellery brand she’s built from the ground up while raising two kids. We got into the reality of building a business when your time is pulled in every direction… where boundaries actually matter, and how easy it is to chase a version of “success” that doesn’t fit your life. What stood out most was her clarity family first, business fits around that, not the other way round. A perspective I think more of us are trying to figure out in real time. Follow / connect: Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective Find Ivy & Gold: Instagram: @ivyandgolduk Website: https://www.ivygold.co.uk