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Emily Reen New Frontiers KerryWhere are you from and how did you get here?

Raised in Tralee, Co. Kerry, I graduated from GMIT with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Catering Management followed by a Diploma in Digital Online Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute and Cork College of Commerce. Continuing my professional development, I took part in LEO programmes such as the Accelerate Management Development Programme and LEAN Programme.

I have spent the last 16 years working in Dublin, Limerick and Cork across the hospitality, corporate travel and international educational industries, specialising in business development. For the last four years, I have worked in international education, most recently as Director of Sales, Business Development and Student Recruitment for international programs, for a private education company specialising in the Erasmus+ Framework.

What is it about business and start-ups that so interests you?

I am a problem solver by nature. I am passionate about helping businesses and new entrepreneurs in identifying their needs and helping them to come up with the best solutions for success. Whether it is their core work processes, innovation of their idea and/or bringing their product/service to market. Creating an inclusive environment for budding entrepreneurs to develop their skillset is what we do and mentoring and supporting young businesses to be strategically focused on their future goals is what the programme is all about.

When did you become a New Frontiers PM and what inspired you to become one?

I began my journey with New Frontiers in January 2021. My background working in many different industries has helped to build my knowledge base over a wide range of topics, transfer of skill sets and managing and building a business. All necessary skills when entrepreneurs reach out to us when seeking help on their journey. This was a key part of what drew me to entrepreneurship development and why I wanted to join the team.

What do you feel are the qualities you bring to the role?

I enjoy working with promoters to focus on their strategic goals whilst also thinking outside the box when it comes to innovative new ways of developing sustainable work practices. I have a proven track record in business development, development of high-performance teams, product and service innovation development, international partnership development and expanding a company’s infrastructure into multiple office locations in Ireland and abroad.