UCD Business Impact Podcast

Season 5 Episode 8 – Top Soft Skills Employers Want in 2025—and How to Showcase Them in the Age of AI

Louise Campbell | Senior Manager of Smurfit Careers Network

15th April 2025 - In a rapidly changing job market, the traditional CV just doesn’t cut it anymore. In this episode, Louise Campbell shares essential insights on the evolving recruitment landscape—and what graduates need to know to stand out.

With hiring trends shifting towards soft skills, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration, Louise explores how graduates can thrive by showcasing emotional intelligence, communication abilities, and critical thinking—especially in high-pressure interview simulations and real-time assessments.

We also dive into how AI, gamification, and data-driven decision-making are transforming recruitment processes, and why employers now value skills-based profiles over traditional résumés. If you're preparing to enter the workforce or planning your next career move, this is a must-listen episode packed with actionable tips for succeeding in a competitive and tech-driven job market.

 

 

Season 5 Episode 7 – Explaining AI: Building Smarter, More Transparent Technology for Business

Assistant Professor Miguel Nicolau | Business Analytics and Computer Science

25th March 2025 - How can biologically inspired computing shape the future of AI in business? In this episode, we explore how nature’s principles help evolve better technological solutions, the role of explainable AI, and the growing challenge of trusting machine-generated decisions in business.

Join us as we discuss the balance between AI’s immense power and understanding real-world applications with insights from a computer scientist in a business school.

 

Season 5 Episode 6 – Morality, Bias, and the Future of AI: How Technology Shapes - and Reflects - Society

Associate Professor Marius Claudy | Marketing and Psychology

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Marius Claudy, Associate Professor of Marketing, to explore the profound ways morality influences our relationship with technology. He discusses the ethical dilemmas of algorithmic bias and unpacks the nuances of how political views, social conditioning, and human psychology shape our trust in emerging tech. As regulation looms on the horizon, we ask: How can we design technology to foster fairness rather than reinforce bias? And what lessons can we learn to ensure AI serves society equitably?

In addition, he also explains how UCD’s new MSc in Management (Online) embraces AI-driven innovation to enhance learning. From generating synthetic datasets to transforming lecture materials, AI fosters self-directed learning and prepares students for the evolving business landscape. This programme equips future leaders to adapt and drive change in education and industry.

 

 

Season 5 Episode 5 – Stronger Boards, Smarter Decisions: The Power of Purpose and Cognitive Diversity

Dr Margaret Cullen | Programme Director of Diploma in Corporate Governance 

Governance expert Dr Margaret Cullen explores the biggest challenges facing corporate boards and shares actionable solutions to navigate uncertainty. She highlights the power of a clear corporate purpose in fostering collaboration between the board, CEO, and executive team and explains why cognitive diversity is key to driving success. 

Plus, she shares a vital warning for boards to always monitor the external environment to stay ahead of change.

Tune in for expert insights on future-proofing leadership and maximising board effectiveness. Learn more about UCD Smurfit Executive Development's Diploma in Corporate Governance here.

 

 

Season 5 Episode 4 – Turning Waste into Wealth: Sadhbh Wood’s Sustainable Start-up Story

Sadhbh Wood | CEO of Bean Around, UCD Quinn School alumna

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with UCD Quinn School alumna Sadhbh Wood, a trailblazing entrepreneur who turned recycled coffee grounds into a thriving skincare business. Hear how she became the first Irish finalist in the International Hult Prize, the world’s largest social entrepreneurship competition for students.
Sadhbh shares her start-up story, the challenges of building a sustainable brand, and her ambitious plans to take her company global.
Plus, we chat with UCD’s Hult Prize Committee to uncover how students can enter this year’s competition and turn their innovative ideas into real-world impact.

 

Season 5 Episode 3 – From Politics and Tech Bros to Bitcoin and Airport Caps, 2024 a Year in Review

Donal O'Donovan and Catherine Sanz | Business Journalists

Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chairman of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, and Catherine Sanz, journalist with the Business Post and winner of the Women in Business Journalism Award Category at the 2024 UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, look back over the leading business stories of 2024.

 

Season 5 Episode 2 – The Customer is Always Wrong

Assistant Professor Anshu Suri | Marketing and Consumer Behaviour

Dr Anshu Suri digs deep into the heart of consumer behaviour from why customers are more tolerant of brands supporting green initiatives, the real reasons people take to social media to list company complaints and why big firms neglect their customers. Listen to this fascinating conversation covering current consumer behaviour and where we’re headed in the future.

 

Season 5 Episode 1 – From Greenlabelling to Greenshifting: A Comprehensive Guide

Assistant Professor Fabiola Schneider | Climate Emergency and Sustainable Transitions

Greenlabeling, greenlighting and greenshifting. What does it all mean? Dr Fabiola Schneider offers a comprehensive guide on emerging jobs, UCD’s new course, sustainable investments and how businesses can navigate new regulations and work towards true green credentials.

 

Season 4 Episode 12 – The Mighty Quinn

Lochlann Quinn | Global Business Leader and Philanthropist

Founding donor of UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business and BComm alumnus, Lochlann Quinn, joined us for this special episode as part of UCD Culture and Engagement Week. Across a high-impact leadership and philanthropic career, Lochlann developed and guided many businesses, serving as Chairman of AIB, ESB, National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the director and driving force behind the global leading business Glen Dimplex. He discusses his career, higher education and the bright future for the economy.

 

Season 4 Episode 11 – Doing IT Differently

Professor Joe Peppard | Academic Director of UCD Smurfit Executive Development

Expert in digital transformation Professor Joe Peppard reveals why technology competitiveness is a necessity and why digital transformation is less about digital and more about transformation. 

 

Season 4 Episode 10 – Changing the Game

Her Sport take over for International Women’s Day

Niamh Tallon interviews Hannah McLoughlin, Eve McMahon, Chloe Mustaki and Alice O’Callaghan | UCD Quinn School Alumna and Elite Athletes.

To mark International Women’s Day, Her Sport has taken over the UCD Business Impact Podcast to celebrate female athletes in the UCD Quinn School community and how they are changing the game in sport and business. Her Sport’s mission is to use sport to empower, educate and inspire so that girls and women can achieve their full potential.

Niamh Tallon, BComm 2015 and MSc Digital Marketing 2017 Alumna and founder of HerSport.ie, hosts a conversation around the connections between sport and business leadership with:

• Hannah McLoughlin, BSc Economics & Finance 2023 Alumna, Davy Capital Markets Graduate Programme and Olympic Hockey Player 2021;
• Eve McMahon, BComm International Stage 2 (Spanish) current student, Women's Single Handed Sailing U21 World Champion 2023 and qualifier for Paris 2024 Olympics;
• Chloe Mustaki, BCIT 2018 (French) and CEMS 2019 Alumna, Professional Football player for Bristol City (WST) and Ireland World Cup Squad 2023;
• Alice O’Callaghan, BComm 2014 Alumna, former Development Manager with Six Nations Rugby and Coach of the Wanderers Women's Rugby, and currently on the  Executive and Management Committees of UCD RFC. 

 

Season 4 Episode 9 – Sustainable Growth

Catherine Keogh | Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Kerry Group

From reducing food waste to proactive health, MBA alumna Catherine Keogh discusses how innovation and sustainability are driving one of Ireland’s most well-known brands, Kerry Group, to remain a global leader while staying connected to its local roots. 

 

Season 4 Episode 8 – Precious Lives

Kerry McLaverty | CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland's only children's hospice

MBA alumna Kerry McLaverty, winner of this year’s UCD Alumni Award for the College of Business, discusses engaging the public in an era of permacrisis, staying visible and having a job with purpose. 

 

Season 4 Episode 7 – Gigging for Gold

Assistant Professor Emma McDaid | Gig Economy

Dr Emma McDaid dives into her research on Uber revealing the downsides of working for disruptor firms and the darker aspects of the gig economy. 

 

Season 4 Episode 6 – From AI chatbots to bank runs - 2023 in Review

Linda Daly and Donal O'Donovan | Business Journalists

Linda Daly, journalist with the Sunday Times Ireland and winner of the Business Interview of the Year Category at the 2023 UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, and Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor at the Irish Independent and Chairman of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, look back over the leading business stories in 2023.

 

Season 4 Episode 5 – The Workplace in a Perfect Storm

Dr Kara McGann | Head of Social Policy, IBEC

UCD Smurfit School alumna Dr Kara McGann shares how the workplace reflects society’s issues and how we can all work to build better organisations. 

 

Season 4 Episode 4 – The Applegreen story: The art of disruption

Joe Barrett | CEO of Applegreen

Double UCD Business alumnus in BComm and MBA Joe Barrett discusses building the Applegreen retail empire and charting the journey from one to over 600 service stations. 

 

 

Season 4 Episode 3 – Is your company ready for ESG Reporting?

Assistant Professor Rebecca Maughan and Assistant Professor Seán O'Reilly

Assistant Professor Rebecca Maughan and Assistant Professor Seán O'Reilly talk about the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) along with the EU's Green Deal and Taxonomy. 

They give an overview of the new regulations and standards and discuss the challenges and benefits for businesses, stakeholders and the accounting and audit profession. They also examine greenwashing and the risks of noncompliance for companies as we move towards a net-zero future.

 

 

Season 4 Episode 2 – Should Executive Education be more like TikTok?

Professor Tim Wray

New Director of UCD Smurfit Executive Development Professor Tim Wray discusses trends in executive education from bite chunk to virtual learning and designing accessible ways of learning for busy executives to refresh their skills and stay relevant in a diverse, global workforce.

 

 

Season 4 Episode 1 – Business Education in the 21st Century

Professor Federica Pazzaglia

New Director of UCD Smurfit School Professor Federica Pazzaglia discusses how research with real world impact will drive the future of business education.