Marc O'Dwyer

Founder Big Red Book and Big Red Cloud, Former Chairman ISME

"I recently completed the Leading High-Performance Organisations programme and it exceeded all my expectations. The programme offered a powerful blend of academic insight and elite sports performance principles. Our Programme Director, John O'Gorman, was outstanding in how he showed the parallels between business and high-performance sport. The sessions with Leinster were first-class, showing us the inner workings of how they operate. I really enjoyed networking with other participants, a group of high-performing professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds, who created an environment of mutual learning and growth. This course is a must for anyone leading teams in dynamic or performance-driven environments. It’s not just about leadership — it’s about unlocking potential at every level. Highly recommended"

Jason Smyth MBE

Strategy Manager, Paralympics Ireland & Former Irish Paralympian

"Elite sport is often seen as the gold standard of high performance and this programme brought that world into a leadership context brilliantly. The Leading High Performance Teams course blended leadership principles with the realities of elite sport, making it both practical and insightful. Access to Leinster Rugby’s behind the scenes culture added rare depth and credibility, showing exactly what high performance looks like in action. It challenged my thinking, equipped me with tools I can use and added a valuable new layer to how I lead. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to stretch their thinking on leadership and high performance."

Jenny Murphy

Key Client Growth Strategist, Google & Former Female Leinster & Ireland Rugby Player

"The Leading High-Performance Organisations programme was an incredibly insightful and enjoyable experience. The unique partnership with Leinster Rugby brought the concepts of high-performance to life, expertly bridging the gap between elite sport and the business world. I particularly valued the practical tools and actionable strategies shared throughout the three days. These aren't just theoretical insights; they're genuinely applicable frameworks that can be used to enhance team effectiveness and design systems for success within my own organisation. The opportunity to network and learn from a diverse group of high-calibre professionals from various industries also made the programme exceptionally rewarding."

Conor McGowan Smyth

CEO, Brava Solutions & Founder, Galoras

"I found the Leading High-Performance Organisations programme to be nothing short of transformative. It masterfully bridged the worlds of elite sport and executive leadership. John O’Gorman, our Programme Director, was exceptional in drawing out the mindsets, systems, and cultural practices that drive sustained high performance - and showing how they apply directly to business. The behind the scenes access to Leinster Rugby and the time spent with Leo Cullen and his team brought it all to life. For anyone committed to building empowered, high output teams - whether in the boardroom or beyond - this course is a powerful catalyst for growth."

James Tracy

Property Development, Investor & Former Leinster & Ireland Rugby Player

"As someone who spent years inside the Leinster Rugby environment, I’ve seen what true high performance looks like. This programme not only gave participants a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Leinster operates — it translated that high-performance culture into real, actionable lessons for business leaders. What stood out was the structure Smurfit brought to the leadership principles that are relevant in both worlds. It connected elite sport to strategy, people, and performance in a business context. For any leader looking to raise standards, build culture, and execute under pressure, this course is for you."

Peter Mc Kenna

Vice President, Operations, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals

"The Leading High-Performance Organisations course seamlessly combines academic insights with real-world expertise from elite sport, leadership, and high-performance environments. Each facilitator from Smurfit and Leinster created a dynamic and engaging learning environment that pushed me to reflect on my leadership style, decision-making under pressure, and how I build trust and resilience within teams. The practical frameworks and strategies I’ve taken away from the course have already enhanced how I lead, and I feel more confident in my ability to drive performance in high-stakes situations. I would recommend this programme to any leader looking to elevate their impact and build a high-performance culture."

Shane Carey

EMEA Business Programme Lead, Google

"The UCD Smurfit Executive Development 'Leading High Performance Organisations' programme was an excellent learning experience. It provided me with practical tools that I have since applied across multiple teams, significantly improving their performance, effectiveness, communication, design and alignment. The highly interactive class environment was a huge plus, offering invaluable peer-to-peer learning opportunities from leaders across diverse business sectors and sporting teams."