New tech CEO mastermind groups to spring up around Ireland

22 Mar 2013

Donagh Kiernan, CEO of Tenego Partnering

Business development services company Tenego is establishing DeliberateCEO groups around Ireland to bring CEOs of tech companies together to discuss common issues and problems.

The first DeliberateCEO group was held in Dublin last month and applications are being received for one in Cork that will take place on 15 April.

According to the CEO of Tenego, Donagh Kiernan, new groups are planned for Limerick, Galway, Belfast and other locations.

CEOs who attend the mastermind groups typically lead growing tech companies with revenues ranging from €200,000 per annum to €2.5m per annum.

“The idea is to bring the CEOs together to help them help each other,” Kiernan explained. “All would share the same objective of accelerating the growth of their business.”

Kiernan said that in most cases the role of CEO stands apart from other members of businesses and the individual often has to wrestle with issues like cash flow and payroll on their own.

“In many early stage businesses there is the issue of the loneliness of the CEO. Many issues with getting the business off the ground they often have to keep to themselves.

“The idea behind the DeliberateCEO groups is to give them a forum to speak plainly and get constructive, blunt feedback from other CEOs.

“Some of the people could have 20 or more years of experience but often they get caught up in their own bubble and unless they have people they can bounce ideas or issues off things can go off in the wrong direction.”

Over the last 22 years Kiernan has developed, sold and delivered high-calibre software solutions to many well-known national and international organisations in various industry sectors and international markets.

In 1994, he established Vistech Software. Vistech sub-contracted software development services to the software industry and, over the next seven years, became one of the rising stars of Ireland’s technology boom, featuring in Deloitte & Touché Ireland’s Technology FAST 50 for three consecutive years in 2000, 2001 and 2002. After that he became an investor, director and CEO of Campbell Informatics, building and selling engineering data management software into international life science manufacturers.

Kiernan said the DeliberateCEO events will typically have at least eight CEOs and will take place every month on the first Monday between 5pm and 9pm. The events will focus on issues like goal-setting and team effectiveness.

“All meetings will be confidential with participating CEOs all signing confidentiality agreements,” Kiernan said.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com