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US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III launches female entrepreneurship programme with Ulster University

Connect to Success builds global bridges and empowers women entrepreneurs via access to mentorship from some of the world’s top multinational corporations

 

At a special event in Belfast last night, Joe Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, announced that applications are now open for Connect to Success (C2S) a programme powered and implemented by Ulster University. This initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs, bolster the regional economy, and advance gender equality in Northern Ireland.

C2S sets itself apart from other women’s entrepreneurial programmes in Northern Ireland by offering selected WOBs unparalleled access to global corporations and their international networks, a comprehensive team-based mentoring approach, and a targeted focus on women-owned businesses (WOBs) in the scale-up phase.

C2S pairs 10-15 WOBS with teams of executives from some of the world’s top multinational corporations. These mentoring teams will provide expert guidance to help shape and implement the long-term business and leadership strategies of the participating WOBs. The year-long mentoring program is scheduled to commence in January 2025.

C2S's mentoring champions include industry giants such as Aflac, AIG, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Google, Irish Life Group, Kainos, KPMG, PwC, Seagate, and Stripe, Inc. Additional supporters of the C2S initiative include AwakenAngels, Catalyst, Cliste Hospitality, Endeavor Ireland, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Ormeau Labs, and Ulster Bank.

Joe Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, said:

“Empowering women in business isn't just a local effort; it's a global game-changer. Whether it’s in Belfast or in Boston, we need more women-led enterprises and more female investors. By championing women entrepreneurs, Connect To Success, Ulster University, and their partner companies are igniting economic growth, driving social progress, and paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous Northern Ireland.”

Attending the event, making keynote speeches and supporting the launch of the initiative were the First and Deputy First Ministers.

First Minister, Michelle O’Neill said:

“The Connect to Success scheme is designed to empower women entrepreneurs and equip them with the tools they need to succeed in their business ventures. Female entrepreneurs make a really valuable contribution to our economy and it is encouraging to see how this initiative is supporting them. As an Executive, we recognise the importance of creating an environment where women are encouraged, supported, and valued equally in their careers.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:

“The launch of the Connect to Success programme in Northern Ireland will provide women in business here with the tools for success.

“It is fantastic to see so many leading global companies involved and I have no doubt the initiative will equip those involved with the skills, training and support they need to realise their full potential and make a real difference.”

Kim Sawyer, Executive Director of Connect to Success, said:

“This initiative goes beyond business growth; it's about empowering women, fostering cross-community collaboration, and breaking down barriers that have traditionally limited women’s access to capital, markets, and networking. By connecting women entrepreneurs with mentors from some of the world's most successful companies, we aim to equip them with the skills, connections, and confidence needed to elevate their businesses and pay forward the opportunities they've received.

“Moreover, the program offers C2S mentors from global corporations a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial mindset of SMEs, enriching their understanding of agility, innovation, and risk-taking. This experience not only sharpens their leadership abilities but also sparks creative thinking and opens doors to new partnerships and ventures.”

Ulster University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said:

“Connect to Success will play a key role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, in a specific area critical to both economic growth and gender equality - supporting female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses. At Ulster University, we are active and vocal champions of the development of female entrepreneurship and are deeply committed to helping women build and scale successful businesses. In partnership with Connect to Success, we can create a future where women-owned businesses are at the forefront of innovation, corporate success and regional economic prosperity.

“Highly rewarding and life changing experience”

New to Northern Ireland, C2SNI follows C2SPortugal, which supported over 1,100 women-owned businesses via 128 corporate mentoring teams from leading global companies, with mentoring from companies including L’Oréal, McDonalds, Microsoft and Nestlé.

Ana Margarida Matos, Corporate Mentee, C2S Portugal, said:

“For any woman who owns a business, Connect to Success combines the best of both worlds: flexibility and opportunity to run my own business with the resources and community usually found in large companies. Being a part of Connect to Success programmes, has allowed me, and my business, to grow and build a network of female entrepreneurs who want to fulfill their dreams of owning their own business.”

Esther Liska, Corporate Mentee, C2S Portugal, added:

“The Connect to Success Mentoring Programme has made all the difference into my business. I've learned from the vast experience of my mentor who has helped me to stay focused and think strategically. Highly rewarding and life changing experience.”

How to Apply

Applications open Wednesday 2 October and close Monday 21 October, with selected WOBs to be publicly announced in November 2024. More details and applicant requirements. 

About Connect 2 Success

C2S sets itself apart from other women’s entrepreneurial programs in Northern Ireland by offering selected WOBs unparalleled access to global corporations and their international networks, a comprehensive team-based mentoring approach, and a targeted focus on WOBs in the scale-up phase.

C2S is supported by global organisations that champion female entrepreneurship. Here’s what they have to say:

Antoinette Bradley, Head of Operations & ESG, Aflac Northern Ireland said:

“At Aflac Northern Ireland, being mindful of our impact on our team, community, and environment is a core part of our values, as reflected in our Community Impact strategic pillar. We actively volunteer in various philanthropic efforts, making our involvement with the Connect to Success program particularly appealing, given the gender imbalance in our industry. Our experienced mentors bring deep business knowledge and see this as a valuable reverse-mentoring opportunity, sharing insights with female leaders while gaining diverse perspectives to enrich our own organization.”

Mary McKenna, Chair AwakenHub/AwakenAngels Group added:

“AwakenHub/AwakenAngels is excited to partner with Ulster University on the Connect to Success programme, a new initiative coming to the NI ecosystem. With her international expertise and extensive network Kim Sawyer, C2S’ Founder, has been instrumental in shaping this programme, drawing on valuable lessons and leveraging insights from her previous successes in other countries. This collaboration brings a further opportunity to empower and support NI companies to foster growth, be ambitious and connect for success. Together through this partnership we are creating an environment where businesses can thrive, learn, and connect, ultimately driving positive change.”

A representative for Cliste Hospitality said:

“At Cliste Hospitality we believe in supporting local organisations and building positive partnerships. C2S’s Corporate Mentoring Program is a great way for us to partner with Northern Ireland companies and it compliments our sponsorship of Co-operation Ireland. Northern Ireland has one of the lowest proportions of female-led companies in the UK and a lower level of women-to-men entrepreneurs. In supporting CS2’s Corporate Mentoring Program we can impact this by supporting female leaders to grow and create sustainable companies. Supporting leaders cements our values of providing leadership to our team.”

A Coca-Cola representative said:

“Coca-Cola is delighted to join C2S. This programme supports our broader commitment to empower women entrepreneurs, foster economic growth, and promote a more inclusive business environment.  By sharing our industry knowledge and expertise, we hope to spur the development and success of more women-led enterprises, inspire innovation, and create valuable networking opportunities.”

Aileen Hayes, Director of Entrepreneur Experience & Operations, Endeavor Ireland added:

“Endeavor Ireland is a global network of founders, supporting high-impact entrepreneurs through an international peer network - and over the last 27 years, we have seen the transformative power mentorship can have for founders. Our aim to support women entrepreneurs and Northern Irish founders, as demonstrated through our recent Scale Up Programmes, is a shared mission with the Connect to Success program. As an all island organisation, we are excited to see the model proven in Portugal launch here, bringing the valuable perspective of multinational corporations to Northern Irish founders.”

Jennifer Liddle, Head of Mid-Market Customer Success, Google commented:

“Google is committed to developing the local start-up ecosystem on the island of Ireland. Over the last decade Google has run multiple small business engagement programs with a diverse range of small businesses and entrepreneurs, including collaborating with government agencies and with accelerators. We are thrilled to partner with Connect to Success on this exciting mentoring initiative, empowering female entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses.”

Oisin O’Shaughnessy, MD Irish Life Employer Solutions, commented:

“Irish Life is one of Ireland’s leading financial services groups, taking care of over 1.5 million customers. We help people to improve their financial, physical and mental wellbeing – helping to build better lives today and better futures.  Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of all we do and partnering with C2S’s Corporate Mentoring Program enables us to play an important role in empowering women founders and business owners to secure their futures while contributing to shaping a more diverse and inclusive business landscape. We look forward to being involved in this partnership, and believe that our leader mentors will learn from and be inspired by these women owned businesses.”

Russell Sloan, CEO, Kainos added:

“Connect to Success is an exciting new program in Northern Ireland and we are delighted to have the opportunity to be able to support local woman entrepreneurs. The Mentoring Program combines two important themes for Kainos – helping women to be successful and helping local businesses to scale based on our experience. This is a unique opportunity to help support these businesses on the next stage of their journey while challenging our people, in a mentoring capacity, to help overcome the real demands facing a scaling business.”

Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) said:

“Northern Ireland has a wealth of entrepreneurial talent, including many innovative female founders with world-class ideas, but we need more of them. Encouraging more women-led businesses and providing the right support to help them realise their ambitions is key to the region’s future economic growth. The launch of the Connect to Success programme is a welcome addition to Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurial support system, which will give entrepreneurs unparalleled access to the strategic thinking and mentorship of businesspeople who have already charted the course to international business success. We welcome its introduction and look forward to supporting the roll-out across Northern Ireland.”

Johnny Hanna, Partner in Charge at KPMG in Northern Ireland, said:

“KPMG has always championed domestic entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland and has a proven track record of commitment to diversity so our support for the Connect to Success Programme is aligned. We want to help forward thinking and ambitious female entrepreneurs, who have potential and lots of innovative ideas to accelerate their growth. We also have a genuine enthusiasm for nurturing exciting and innovative growth businesses founded by women, as evidenced by our involvement with Enterprise Ireland in Going for Growth, the award-winning programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs in the Republic of Ireland, that has seen more than 900 businesswomen participate since 2008.”

Claire Halliday GM & Co-Founder to Ormeau Labs:

“Ormeau Labs is delighted to support the Connect 2 Success program. One of the core drivers behind setting up Ormeau Labs was to ensure founders are connected to the right people, with the right advice, at the right time. By doing so, we believe this enables them to establish a strong foundation for their businesses. This aligns perfectly with Connect 2 Success’s commitment to unleashing those vital connections, especially for women founders. We're excited to play a part in fostering this growth and empowerment. is delighted to support the Connect 2 Success program. One of the core drivers behind setting up Ormeau Labs was to ensure founders are connected to the right people, with the right advice, at the right time. By doing so, we believe this enables them to establish a strong foundation for their businesses. This aligns perfectly with Connect 2 Success’s commitment to unleashing those vital connections, especially for women founders. We're excited to play a part in fostering this growth and empowerment.”

Caitroina McCusker, Regional Market Leader, Northern Ireland and Education Consulting Lead, PwC United Kingdom, said:

“At PwC we provide our own people with the purpose, mindset and meaningful opportunities that advance careers at the pace our people want them to go. Taking part in the C2S’s Corporate Mentoring Programme will allow us to help women entrepreneurs to build their skills at an important time in their careers and provide an environment where they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. There are so many exciting new businesses in Northern Ireland that are led by women and we want to support the next generation of exceptional talent.”

Seagate commented:

“Seagate chose to sponsor the C2S Corporate Mentoring Program to support the growth of women entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland, aligning with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. By partnering with C2S, we aim to share our expertise and resources to help women-owned businesses thrive, while fostering innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. This collaboration not only empowers local businesses but also provides Seagate with fresh perspectives and opportunities to build lasting relationships within the community, benefiting both the entrepreneurs and our leadership team.”

Stripe commented:

“Stripe's mission is to increase the GDP of the internet by helping businesses of all sizes start and grow online. We provide financial infrastructure used by thousands of companies across Ireland and support the startup ecosystem through our dedicated startup team. We collaborate with the NDRC, regional innovation hubs, Scale Ireland, and teen accelerator program Patch, and serve on the EU's European Startup Nations Alliance Advisory Board. We are excited to work with Connect to Success and participate in this unique mentoring program to further support entrepreneurs.”

John Ferris, Ulster Bank Accelerator Community Manager, added:

“Ulster Bank is committed to supporting people, families, and businesses across Northern Ireland, with a strong focus on community initiatives like “Do Good Feel Good” and empowering female entrepreneurs through programs like Connect to Success. By closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship, £250 billion could be added to the UK economy. Since launching its Enterprise Fund in 2019, Ulster Bank has invested over £300,000 in social enterprise and educational programs, reaching nearly 1,500 women, starting 130 businesses, and creating nearly 200 local jobs.”

About Ulster University   

Ulster University is a forward-looking institution, uniquely placed to drive economic, social and cultural development through our three campuses at Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine and Belfast.   

Student experience is at the very heart of everything we do and our high-quality teaching, informed by world-leading research across key sectors, boosts the economy and makes a positive impact on the lives of people around the world.   

The University has been shortlisted for Times Higher Education’s University of the Year UK and Ireland 2024
Ulster University is ranked Best UK University, careers services and job prospects, as voted upon by students. It is alsoranked in the top five for value for money, course content, campus and facilities, personal tutors and teaching quality. (StudentCrowd, 2024).
Ulster University is ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025)        
Ulster University is in the top 10 for course quality rankings across the UK (University Compare 2023).   
93% of Ulster University students are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (Student Outcomes 2020/21)   

Research and innovation at Ulster University:  

Ulster University was ranked in the top 10% of UK universities for research impact in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. 

Headline results for Ulster University include: 

In the top 10% of UK universities for research impact 
97 % of Ulster University’s research impact having outstanding or very considerable impacts in reach and significance 
80.1% of Ulster University’s research outputs have been assessed as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. 

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