1. Describe your business in two paragraphs
Pathway Consulting believes that having the Right Strategy + Effective Management is the best route to achieving the Clients planned results. We help clients in a variety of ways, depending on their needs. Issues might typically be, a need to improve profitability, to develop a plan for business growth, improve work processes or resolve a thorny issue that is slowing or preventing progress.

We draw on our many years of experience in a variety of business sectors and use up-to-date strategy and management tools as well as coaching, to support our clients in finding the best solution to their issue.

We work with individuals and teams, usually in SME’s across a wide variety of business sectors, including Telecoms, technology, tourism, marketing, hospitality and retail.

2. What are your company’s Unique Selling Points ?
We are based in both Dublin and Lisbon and as a consequence of participating very actively on the board of the Ireland Portugal Business Network we are uniquely placed to know the business environment in both markets and to have a huge and diverse range of connections in both markets as a result, which is incredibly beneficial to our clients and has also helped us grow our own business. 

3. What achievement / success stories are you most proud of ?
I think anytime you get feedback from a client letting you know that you have helped them and that they are grateful is an incredible success story.  Starting the Ireland Portugal Business Network is also an achievement we are very proud of – we have run great events, the membership is growing everyday and the network is becoming a very valuable resource for businesses looking to Portugal or to Ireland for opportunities and assistance.

4. What are your business challenges in the 2/3 years to come ?
The consulting business is very much a personal business – people have to allow you into the private details of their company and their thinking for it to work properly.  The challenge is to keep the personal touch, to create in the client that feeling of confidence in your work together and a focus on their own solutions, in the face of an onslaught of information overwhelm advising them of quick fixes and “tips for success”.  Success takes clear thought, effort and time.  

5. What do you think makes Portugal / Ireland and attractive destination to conduct your business ?
The Irish and the Portuguese people and economies share many similar traits – there is an openness to new ideas and innovation which makes it very attractive to any company like us that works with small businesses and start-ups.

6. What sectors do you think will thrive in Portugal and Ireland in the coming years?
Without a doubt the tech sector in both economies is going to continue to grow enormously over the next few years.  Technology will be used to service and drive innovation in all of the major sectoral industries of both countries, but particularly in the areas of Tourism, healthcare and agriculture. 

Tourism will continue to perform strongly with increased air connections to all destinations and there is huge scope to develop attractions and niche products or services such as health tourism in both markets, which have access to wild, unspoilt coastlines, incredible inland scenery and thriving modern cities for those who want to escape to a different environment.

Without doubt, with growing global populations, agriculture will continue to develop and be an important part of both economies and advances in technology will drive efficiencies and innovations meaning we will be able produce food and other agricultural products more sustainably, using less water and creating less waste.

7. What do you think is the best business advice you have ever received?
Advice is a funny thing – it is only of interest if it is given in the right context, you trust the person giving it and it fits with your viewpoint. I think if you are giving advice, give it freely and accept that your advise can take it or leave it ….  

8. How do you think the IPBN can help you achieve your objectives and what do you expect of your IPBN membership?
Having started the IPBN we are obviously very biased supporters of the network – in our experience, it has allowed us to connect to a vast number of people, all of whom are interesting and have great stories to tell, including people we might not normally get to meet, such as Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, Commissioner Carlos Moedas, the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and many, many other business leaders. 

We have watched our members make great connections and grow towards achieving their aims, we have been at the forefront of growing trade between Ireland and Portugal and we will continue to do so and of course we have made friends and met clients through the network.  

9. Favourite destination in Portugal 
Guincho Beach in Cascais, which we like to describe as the West of Ireland, only with sunshine!  

10. Favourite destination in Ireland
West Clare – incredible scenery, fabulous food, amazing beaches – not much sunshine sadly…