Mairead Mackle: The Entrepreneur Pairing Empathy With Leadership

 Mairead Mackle was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, proudly sponsored by Boots at this years Irish Tatler Women of the Year Awards.

CEO and founder of Homecare Independent Living, founder of Evolve Women, as well as the innovative 'iCare Digital', this is one businesswoman who, to put it mildly, knows what it is to multi-task!

She set up family-based business Homecare Independent Living in Armagh with husband Gerald in 1995 and after over two decades in business, the company – which has over 1200 employees in Ireland alone – has gone from strength to strength. It provides a range of integrated services, including health and social care, housing, and support. 

4

Passion and drive

She is passionate about business ventures which offer help aid and support, particularly to women. After founding iCare in 2010 (a progressive solution focused on improving the delivery of social care for the future), she set up EVOLVE, whose aim is to inspire and support strong female leadership across the community. She is also a founding partner of LIFT Ireland, which focuses on character and value-based leadership for future generations. 

She said previously that a book called The Emyth by Michael Gerber (given to her by her husband 20 years ago) has shaped her views on business.

 Gerber says in the book: ‘If a business isn’t giving you more life, it's taking your life away and if it doesn’t give you more freedom it isn’t a business at all, it's only a job!’ And its always been through that lens that I look on my business.

4

Giving back to her community

And despite the demands of running multiple businesses and projects, Mairead has made it her priority to also fulfil her passion for philanthropy, giving back to her community, clearly evident in the number of charities and mentoring initiatives she is involved with.

On top of all this, Mairead is also a loving mother to seven children – clearly, she knows a lot more about a work/life balance than most! 

She has received numerous accolades for her inspiring work: she was a finalist in Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award and recently received a National Special Recognition Award for her commitment to family business and impact on the local community.

4

WATCH: 

Mairead Mackle shares her business wisdom and what it means to win big at the Irish Tatler's women of the year awards 2019. 

READ: A Glamorous Overview Of Irish Tatler's Women Of The Year Awards

READ MORE: Meet The Irish Tatler Women the Year Award Winners For 2019