Show Notes
In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with John Concannon, Founder & CEO of JFC Group. From humble farm beginnings in Tuam, Co. Galway, JFC Group has grown to become a global leader in innovative solutions for the construction, agri-equine, material handling, and marine industries. Today JFC group operates across multiple continents with 14 international locations, employing over 650 people and delivering forward-thinking solutions worldwide. In this episode John reflects on 37 years, sharing invaluable insights on the highs and lows of international scaling, with plenty of fun along the way!
More from Smooth Scaling
In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie Donnellan sits down with Brian Hanly, co-founder of Brightbeam, one of Ireland’s fastest-growing AI companies. Brian shares the story behind Brightbeam’s rapid growth, its expansion into international markets, and how the company is helping organisations move from AI ambition to real-world implementation. The conversation explores leadership, scaling, data, customer trust, and why businesses need to act deliberately in a time of extraordinary technological change.
In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with Brenda Dooley, Founder and CEO of AXIS The Reimbursement Experts, to explore the scaling journey behind one of Ireland and the UK’s leading reimbursement strategy firms. Brenda shares how she built a highly specialised business from a clear market gap, the shift from boutique consultancy to an international scaling company, and the people, systems and strategic thinking required to support that growth. We also discuss innovation in healthcare, the future of reimbursement, AI, and why mission-led businesses can scale with both purpose and ambition.
In this episode, Marie is joined by Nancy Costello, Founder & CEO of The Belle Brush and the driving force behind Belle Hair and Invisibelle.
In this episode of Smooth Scaling, Marie sits down with Eoghan Finneran, co-founder of Senus, formerly FarmEye, a company that has grown from rural roots in Roscommon into a leading player in agri-tech and environmental intelligence.
Season Two of Smooth Scaling opens by setting the scene for the year ahead. In this short episode, host Marie Donnellan outlines what scaling businesses are facing for the year ahead. Drawing on insights from the 2026 Business Outlook Report, she explores key themes including international expansion, cost and margin pressure, lean growth, AI adoption, leadership bandwidth, and talent challenges. Season 2 will feature practical, honest conversations with founders and scaling leaders, many from the SCALE by Platform94 regional community, sharing real experiences and insights from their own scaling journeys. The episode also pays tribute to the late John Purdy, an early supporter of our regional scaling community and a much-loved guest on the podcast, whose spirit of collaboration and generosity continues to shape everything we do. New episodes coming very soon. Thank you for listening, your support truly means a lot.