As we celebrate St. Brigid’s Day, a day honouring one of Ireland’s most recognised female figures known for her wisdom, leadership, and compassion, it’s fitting to shine a light on the women leading Guaranteed Irish today. At the helm of this organisation are three dynamic leaders: CEO Brid O’Connell, Head of PR and Marketing Sinead Mitchell, and Head of Operations and Sustainability Clemence Jamet. These women are driving Guaranteed Irish’s mission of supporting local businesses, fostering sustainability, and advocating for community-driven impact.
Bríd O'Connell - Inspiring Leadership through her team for businesses and communities across the country.
As the CEO of Guaranteed Irish, Bríd O’Connell leads with laser like vision and a deep sense of purpose. Reflecting on her leadership journey, Bríd highlights the parallels between St. Brigid’s values and her own approach to championing Irish businesses.
“St. Brigid embodied strength, a sense of purpose., and a deep commitment to helping her community through collaboration. At Guaranteed Irish, these values drive everything we do,” Bríd shares.
Since taking the reins, Bríd has overseen transformative initiatives, including the repositioning of Guaranteed Irish amongst Irish consumers and businesses as the National symbol of Trust in Business. By opening the licence so that ‘all businesses based in Ireland who support Jobs, Communities and Provenance in a sustainable manner’ can apply, it ensures we reward those businesses who ‘give back’ and operate in the most diverse and inclusive fashion. This behaviour ensures Irelands reputation positions us as a great destination in which to invest and to collaborate on making life here all together better. Like her name sake, Bríd believes we need to make room for everyone at the table. She is delighted to see the revival of the regard and respect for Saint Brigid, it mirrors the revival and renewed respect for Guaranteed Irish.
Bríd’s advice to aspiring female leaders? “Stop asking for permission- bring energy and positivity to work everyday. But most of all, be kind.”
Sinéad Mitchell - Crafting the Voice of Guaranteed Irish
How Guaranteed Irish connects with its audience.
For Sinéad Mitchell Head of PR and Communications, The story of St. Brigid reminds her of the power of storytelling and communicating the ‘Why’ of the Guaranteed Irish. Affecting positive change in our communities through local businesses is behind the National symbol of trust in doing business in Ireland.
“PR & Marketing efforts work best when storytelling, and we have 2,300 wonderful members to be able to talk about! These companies do so much for their communities, they create quality jobs and keep regional towns alive. We use our social media, radio, print and digital platforms for good. At Guaranteed Irish, we amplify the stories of Irish businesses that are the lifeblood of our economy,” Sinead says.
From creating campaigns like The Guarantee of Guaranteed Irish, Get the G Under the Tree, or to launching a bespoke Stamp with An Post, to championing local brands through our podcast, or on Tik Tok Shop, Sinead’s work ensures that the organisation’s message resonates to different audiences in a credible way.
Sinead's career advice: nurture your working relationships, they follow you throughout your career in one way or another. Find a mentor and check in regularly. Be confident but kind, this will come back in spades as you progress
Clémence Jamet – Leading the Sustainability Charge
For Clémence Jamet, Head of Operations and Sustainability, St. Brigid’s connection to nature is a powerful reminder of Guaranteed Irish’s commitment to sustainability and affecting positive change in the community.
“Sustainability is at the heart of St. Brigid’s story, and it’s central to our mission at Guaranteed Irish,” Clémence explains.
Through initiatives like the Guaranteed Irish Forest and creation of our Sustainability Roadmap with KPMG, Clémence has positioned Guaranteed Irish as a leader in sustainability. Her dedication to creating long-term impact extends beyond operations, inspiring members to adopt greener practices.
As St. Brigid’s Day reminds us of the importance of leadership, community, and resilience, the women at Guaranteed Irish exemplify these values in action. Brid, Sinead, and Clémence are not just leaders but change makers, ensuring that the organisation continues to drive progress for Irish businesses, the economy, and the environment.
This St. Brigid’s Day, Guaranteed Irish invites you to celebrate the achievements of Irish women in leadership and the positive impact they create. Discover more about our work and the incredible Irish businesses we support.
