Double honours for local business leader Sinead O’Neill at Network Ireland Waterford Branch Awards

Sinead, founder of Sinead O’Neill Consulting, has won Businesswoman of the Year – Networker of the Year 2025 at the Network Ireland Waterford Branch Businesswoman of the Year Awards, which were held at Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort on May 23rd last.

In addition to this accolade, Sinead also received the Judges Highly Commended Award in the Solo Businesswoman of the Year category, recognising her outstanding impact as a sole trader and leader in the local, regional and national business communities as a certified coach, mentor and trainer.
 
Sinead’s consultancy focuses on empowering individuals, organisations, leaders, and teams to achieve sustainable growth. Sinead is a highly accredited and certified coach in leadership, team and business development. A certified Wiley Partner in Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviours®, she delivers strategic development programmes across the corporate, SME and entrepreneurial sectors. Her work integrates behavioural insights with practical frameworks to drive leadership, communication, team cohesion and business success.
 
A former Associate Vice President with a Fortune 500 company and CEO within the Irish business and festival sectors, Sinead brings decades of experience across vast industry sectors. Her approach combines strategic vision with people-first leadership, qualities that have positioned her as a trusted advisor to senior executives and teams alike.
 
In her role as President of Network Ireland Waterford in 2024, Sinead led a transformational year for the organisation. Under her leadership, and her theme of Empowerment, the branch experienced substantial membership growth, with a 35% increase in active members. She curated a series of impactful events designed to inform, educate and empower women in business—addressing topics from leadership and confidence, wellbeing, health, mindfulness, networking, and innovation.

As a champion for women in business, Sinead has also played an active role in local, regional and national initiatives, including her participation as a mentor in her Leadership Development through Masterminding on the Regional Leaders Program with Waterford Chamber, a highly sought after mentor on the Network Ireland Mentorship for Success Program and her voluntary role as a Director of the Board with Respond, an Approved Housing Body with special focus to the remuneration, succession planning and nominations committee. Sinead also sits on the National Executive of Network Ireland.

Reflecting on Sinead’s lasting impact, a client remarked: “Sinead became a member of our team. Her dedication to our business, our team, and our client base was unlike anything we had witnessed before. Our growth was significant and sustainable both internally and externally.”

Speaking on the recognition, Sinead said: “These awards reflect the incredible work being done across Ireland in business. I’m deeply honoured to be recognised for work I’m so passionate about. Creating environments where business owners, leaders and teams can thrive. Sustainable growth is only possible when we prioritise people, purpose and performance together.”

Further to that Sinead said, “Network Ireland provides a safe space, a place of support, collaboration and leadership. ”My Networker award is a recognition of my networking journey across decades.”
 
For more information on Sinead O’Neill Consulting contact hello@sineadoneill.ie or on 086-3866065.