Cork event to shine a light on the power of connection and community in supporting women

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026 - 13:12

Network Ireland Cork, the Local Enterprise Office Cork City and the Local Enterprise Officer South Cork will host a special event on Wednesday to mark Local Enterprise Week.

As part of the special collaborative event, Marie Gleeson, former Naval Captain and Managing Director of NavMar Leadership, will share the story of her journey from military leadership to entrepreneurship, offering insights on resilience, adaptability, and leading with confidence in times of change.

Drawing on her unique and distinguished career, Marie will explore key themes including decision-making under pressure, building resilient teams, and the critical role of collaboration in achieving sustainable success.

Her experience and perspective promise to resonate strongly with women in business at every stage of their professional journey.

The event, which takes place at St Peter’s Cork, will be hosted by MC Louise Kane Buckley, Founder of Loula Natural.

Speaking ahead of the event, Network Cork President Diane Higgins said, “Leadership is built over time from experience, resilience and courage. Marie has these in spades and we are looking forward to hearing how she has built her leadership and transferred these insights into building her business. This event is a collaboration with LEO Cork city and LEO South Cork and we are proud to be a part of enterprise week in a beautiful venue in Cork city.”

Organisers said the collaborative event will shine a light on the power of connection, community, and shared experience in supporting women in business and leadership.

Ita Madden, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, emphasised the importance of supporting women in business. “LEO Cork City is delighted to work with Network Cork and LEO South Cork on this upcoming event focusing on leadership as part of Local Enterprise Week 2026. Supporting women in business is an important part of what we do, and this collaboration gives us another opportunity to help local entrepreneurs build their skills and confidence to help them grow their business.”

In addition to invaluable leadership insights, the event aims to offer a meaningful opportunity to connect with like-minded women, gain fresh perspectives, and celebrate what can be achieved when we work better together.