Marian Kennedy, PPR Healthcare Limited – A finalist in the Sodexo WMB Female Newcomer Award Category
11th April 2022
Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing you to our WMB Award Finalists. Ultimately there will be one winner in each of our five Award categories, to be announced at our Conference & Awards on May 16th. If you’d like to attend our Conference & Awards, you can book now>>
Here, we introduce you to Marian Kennedy, PPR Healthcare Limited – a finalist in the Sodexo WMB Female Newcomer Award category.
Title and Company Name
Founder/CEO PPR Healthcare Limited
Sector & size of operation
Femtech /Healthcare with a team of three people
You originally hail from
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Single or relationship
Married to Derek with two beautiful girls, Emily (6) and Grace (1).
What is the best part of your job
Knowing that what I am working on and developing is going to help people in the most sensitive areas of their body.
I also love being a woman in business and supporting other women in business. I believe we lift each other up by supporting one another.
And the most challenging
Difficulties in been a sole founder – thankfully building the right team to support the business and me is starting to come together. I find the investment side of the business challenging as only 7% of investors in Ireland are female. It can sometimes be difficult to get over the barriers that exist and are rarely talked about!
Your definition of success
My definition of success for PPR Healthcare will be when we go international with our wound care division. That will demonstrate for me that we are moving forward and that the opportunity that lies ahead is one of growth and most importantly, of providing safe and effective products to those who need them.
My definition of success personally and in life is to have a healthy and happy family.
Best trait
I am kind but strong. I have learned from previous managers those leadership traits that I believe work and those that don’t. These learnings have helped hone my own leadership skills for the better.
Worst trait
Sharing the workload – I have been doing it for so long on my own, it’s hard to ‘let go’! However, now that we are starting to grow the team, I know the benefits to ‘sharing the load’ will be worth it in the long term.
Biggest ‘win’ to date
The biggest win for the company to date is when Enterprise Ireland became a shareholder. This is validation for PPR Healthcare that the national agency for supporting, investing and growing home grown businesses sees a global future for our company and wants to be a part of it.
I was also honoured to be one of seven women selected by Enterprise Ireland to be part of their inaugural Go Global programme for the Australian/NZ market. Most recently, we were recognised as one of the top 20 Healthcare Innovation companies in Ireland to watch out for in 2022 by Health Innovation Hub Ireland.
Who inspires you most
My mother always inspires me; she has shown me that hard work pays off and has taught me not to be afraid to ask the question and find the answer. She worked so many jobs when my siblings and I were younger and yet she was always there for us for bed time stories and prayers, dinner and breakfast. She always shows us love, support and encouragement. On this roller-coaster ride that is entrepreneurship, my mother continues to support me and my family.
Name two things on your ‘bucket list’
Bring my family on a trip to Hawaii.
Sell our products internationally into 18 countries.
What does it mean for you to be a woman in business today
I love being a woman in business and I’ve always wanted my own business. I love that women now have opportunities which were not afforded them previously. However, we still have a long way to go and more support is needed for women to have equality and fair representation.
I am so happy that the importance of women in business is been recognised and I know that our future generations, my daughters included, won’t have to overcome as many obstacles as we have to. Recently my daughter asked me who my boss was and I replied that I was – the smile on her face, she just lit up and said, ‘That’s so cool mammy’. I won’t forget that moment.
Best advice to pass on
Ask the question – you will get the answer you want or you won’t – either way you now have been given a direction to move on instead of being stuck in a position.
