Cathy Kearney – HR Business Consultant

Cathy Kearney – HR Business Consultant

Can you share a bit about your professional journey leading up to starting your own business?

My professional journey has been predominantly in the retail sector, working in leadership roles for large organisations, and providing HR professional services to small to medium enterprises

My work environment has always been fast paced, and demanding with a strong emphasis on delivering excellence. As a HR professional, of almost 40 years, I have encountered many different and difficult workplace situations. Navigating these scenarios has helped me develop a true understanding and appreciation of the intricacies of the employer/ employee relationship and the importance of effective leadership. A strong emphasis on excellence is important to me, and that begins with delivering the highest standards to the people I work with. 

Following my pursuit of further education through the Talent Management MSc in DCU Business School, I had a strong desire to cultivate a sustainable career that had longevity, and which satisfied my ambitions for further development and growth in my professional life. 

Combining my ambition with my expertise, I established my own HR consultancy service in 2024 with a mission to provide client companies with experience and evidence-based HR solutions. 

The Business and Its Unique Offering

What services does your HR consultancy company offer, and what makes them unique?

The service includes a broad range of HR related solutions, in both the public and private sector. Many of my referrals come from word-of-mouth recommendations. 

I provide a consultancy service in the following areas;

• Talent acquisition strategies, recruitment, and selection
• Advice and training in Employment Law
• Leadership Skills development and training
• Executive training in Resilience and Conflict Resolution
• Advice and guidance on employee relations matters
• Business optimisation and crisis management

For me it is about establishing a strong relationship with my clients, understanding their business, the issues that cause them concern and working with them to find the most effective solutions. 

HR issues can be very complex and difficult to resolve and are sometimes viewed as a distraction from a clients’ core business. This is particularly the case for SMEs and there is an ever-growing need for business owners to have ready access to HR expertise. Relatively minor issues can quickly escalate and in my experience, these problems never go away, so the faster solutions are put in place the better for all involved. Being available and committed to dealing with my clients’ issues is critical, there is often a requirement for ‘in the moment’ advice or support. 

The HR landscape is rapidly evolving and it’s important to stay up to date with legislation and trends so it’s essential to actively engage in continuous professional development to keep my knowledge and skills up to date.

Entrepreneurial Journey

What has been the most rewarding part of running your own business?

There are many benefits to having your own business. I value being able to choose projects that best suit my knowledge and expertise. Working with a client, knowing I can make a positive impact is really important. Becoming a self-employed HR consultant has led to a range of interesting opportunities, working with different clients across different industries on a variety of HR related projects. There is an energy and camaraderie that develops when working with clients and being part of their success. 

Who are your typical clients, and how do you address their specific needs in the public and private sectors?

I work with clients across the public and private sector. Recently, I delivered leadership training to a client in the public sector who had identified a need to develop the leadership skills of their people in the area of conflict resolution in the workplace. I worked with the client to ensure the workshop would meet their specific needs and be an enjoyable worthwhile experience for the participants. These workshops were very well received and it is planned to work on further programmes for their people in 2025.

In the private sector, my work is mainly focused on providing HR advice and support in areas such as absence management, employee relations, and change management. HR can be quite technical so assisting clients with developing and implementing practical policies and processes for their business is rewarding. 

I have developed and delivered a number of highly engaging and effective training courses for SMEs seeking to upskill their employees to help them tackle day-to-day workplace obstacles. 

Are there any trends in HR consultancy or workforce development that you are particularly excited about or focusing on?

There are many emerging trends that excite me within the HR space. In a post-Pandemic landscape, the workplace and people’s working habitats have changed immensely over a very short time. An area of particular interest at the moment is Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the automation of HR and its impact on interpersonal connections in the workplace. AI has been identified as a valuable resource for businesses in relation to data insights and efficiencies however its impact on people is yet to be fully understood. 

As AI becomes more embedded in the workplace, it is ever more important to preserve the human element in workplace relationships by engaging directly with employees and developing their human skills. My focus is to work with businesses in developing these skills and building overall individual and business resilience.

Connect with Cathy Kearney here.