Tomorrow's Talent Meet the Judges: Patrick Delaney
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With his business partner Pádraic Gilligan, Patrick Delaney is Managing Partner at SoolNua, a specialist MICE agency helping destinations, hotels and venues with strategy, marketing and training based on 6 decades of expertise as global leaders in the industry.
Why do you think it's important to recognise and celebrate the young talent within the events industry?
I believe it is a fundamental human need to have your work and efforts recognised and appreciated. Certainly, all my experience in business and life has taught me that talent {that word sounds slightly inhuman!} once their basic 'shelter needs' are met and sometimes even before that, require and are motivated by recognition and praise.
Young people are no different, in fact when one is starting out in life the need for validation, support and encouragement is even greater as one builds up their sense of confidence and value. Mary Kay Ash, the famous direct sales entrepreneur, said it rather more pithily: “If there are two things that people prefer over sex and money, it’s recognition and praise”
Do you feel like there is a strong culture of mentoring and support for young people within the industry?
I don't believe there is a strong culture of mentoring and support in our industry. We have a tendency to be short-term project focused and use and burn without having the balance of genuine encouragement, support and recognition.
I have always believed that you don't build a business, you build people, and people build the business. A company with a clear understanding and commitment to mentoring and recognising the talent will always be more successful. The management guru Peter Drucker said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and a culture that has an understanding of the positive motivating power of genuine recognition is maximising its potential for success.
What are the attributes that you think make a successful meetings and events planner?
Curiosity, discipline, willingness and confidence to fail, and sense of humour.
What will you be looking for when reviewing the entries for Tomorrow's Talent? What would make someone stand out to you?
As above.
