Aidan Heavey, chief executive of Tullow Oil plc – one of the world’s fastest growing independent oil companies – recently held a two-day exclusive mentoring programme for the finalists of the 2007 permanent tsb Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at the company’s London office.
Heavey told the participants that openness in business was very important if they were to succeed. He also urged them to learn from their mistakes, emphasising that mistakes were common in every business.
He said Tullow Oil’s success today was as a result of the company’s decision to invest in a team of people, which he said was much more valuable for the progress of the company.
On the importance of entrepreneurs having a balanced portfolio of investments, Heavey said that Tullow Oil does not take risks but operates like a fund manager that spreads investments in a lot of companies. Some of those investments will go up, some will go down, he added.
The mentoring programme – organised by Metro Eireann, Ireland’s first and only multicultural weekly – attracted a number of high profile speakers, including John Healy, former CEO and president of Atlantic Philanthropies, and Teri Scott, CEO of the Ryan Academy for Entrepreneur-ship. Julia Ross, Graham Burton and Nicola Lee, all of Tullow Oil, also spoke during the two-day programme.
John Healy charged participants to contribute towards the development of the society by giving while living. He said philanthropy is essential be-cause people who engage in it get personal fulfilment and enjoyment. It is also an application of business skills to social problems, he added.
Speaking to the participants, Teri Scott reminded them of the need to focus on their business journey, harness the best out of their team, reflect on changes and opportunities that exist in their business and to make sure that they show leadership in what they do.
A total of 10 ethnic entrepreneurs from Ireland attended the mentoring programme in London.
