Pivot Points podcast: Paul Donovan, Venture Philanthropist

Episode three

"Me vs we": the greatest lesson any good leader can learn with Venture Philanthropist, Paul Donovan—episode three

When you’re driven by a personal purpose, as Paul Donovan has been, then the focus that you pour into a business becomes so much more powerful.

Now in what he describes as his "third career", Paul’s philanthropic endeavours give him the drive to change lives—one such endeavour being The Artis Foundation, of which he’s a Patron.

Paul’s illustrious career is studded with fascinating stories of turning around companies and finding his own mission, particularly through his prior CEO roles at ODEON, Arqiva and Eircom.

"I had to move from being a ‘me’ person to a ‘we’ person. When I did that, it was amazing how much more effective I was as a leader, creating a common and shared sense of purpose."

Paul Donovan

Venture Philanthropist

His is a journey well-worth exploring, as he joins Brandpie Founder Dave Allen for episode three of Pivot Points.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Paul’s self-described ‘third career’ proving the power of personal pivots in writing your story
Shift from a "me" to a "we" mindset in approaching leadership
The power of mentorship, with advice for young professionals on proactively seeking out experienced guides
The inspiring story of how Paul led the turnaround of Odeon Cinemas, revitalising the company's culture and customer experience
Paul's passion for philanthropy and his current mission to revolutionise primary education.

To tune in, head here:

“It's the ability to be agile, to be curious about the world around you, to be adaptable to change, and to have the interpersonal skills to be able to navigate all of that that actually can differentiate you as you go forward in your career.”

Paul Donovan

Venture Philanthropist