Margaret is a highly qualified trainer and coach having 20 years’ experience in training, and is a food sector business owner, with her own business in food and drink production. Additionally, she has a 20-year career working in market research with Millward Brown.
As a food producer (lamb, apple juice and sweetcorn) combined with her 20 years in Market Research, Margaret brings significant experience to food start up training in terms of ‘real time’ knowledge; expertise in the start-up phase; and the pitfalls from first-hand experiences.
Margaret’s own sales and marketing techniques are also shared and discussed which gives great ‘buy-in’ to those taking part.
Margaret has had to be innovative with marketing and has had to think “outside the farm gate”. Margaret’s ‘Farm to Fork’ PR campaign saw the lamb business transition from 100% factory to 100% direct to customer yielding significant increased profitability.
Kilmullen Farm: As Co-Owner I have transformed the business over the last eleven years. I have reinvigorated our livery and lamb business – which are the two key businesses on the farm – and we are delighted that our lamb is now provided 100% direct to the consumer, along with sweetcorn (when in season). We have also introduced a bottled apple juice from apples grown in our family orchard which is stocked in 14 artisan food shops in Leinster including Cavistons, Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy and Druids Glen Resort Hotel to name a few.
Margaret joined the Entrepreneurs Academy as an Associate to work alongside an exciting and innovative team developing food programs and other business programs that are relevant to her skills and experience. She has trained on ‘Start your own business’ courses, designed and delivered courses on sales, marketing, market research, idea generation and enjoyed being the facilitator on ‘The Leader Within’ as part of the AIB Masterclasses. More recently she has shared her knowledge with the Teagasc team.
Margaret has a broad educational background, having qualified with a teaching qualification from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (LGSM Licentiate); as well as receiving an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching, Training and Mentoring; Coaching Models of Practice; and Train the Trainer qualifications, all at Distinction level. Authority of Professional Coaching and Mentoring.