In the final episode of The Leaders’ Room season two, we spoke to Medtronic Ireland’s country leader, Robert O’Brien

The Leaders’ Room podcast features interviews with the country managers of some of Ireland’s leading sci-tech multinationals. It was created in partnership with IDA Ireland.

The eighth and final episode of season two features Robert O’Brien, country leader of Medtronic Ireland and its vice-president of HR for global manufacturing.

He spoke about the different types of leaders that exist and the qualities they bring.

“I’ve seen very visionary leaders, super strong in terms of defining strategy, putting teams together, resourcing and process around getting there,” he said. “Very, very important for turnaround scenarios, you know, where the markets are flat or even negative. How can you really dynamically change that to being very much the opposite of that situation?”

Other leaders he has come across are those who are more in the charismatic space with a lot of confidence. “People follow them by their demeanour. But it’s backed up by what they’ve done. It’s not just confidence for the sake of confidence, there’s something with it. But they have that effusive way of selling the story, of bringing the person along with them.”

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Words by Jenny Darmody