Mandy Maher joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share the entrepreneurial mindset, resilience and self-belief that helped her build one of Ireland's leading modelling and influencer agencies.
From growing up in Tipperary to launching a business that many believed would never succeed outside Dublin, Mandy shares the lessons she learned about confidence, independence, entrepreneurship and staying true to yourself.
In this episode we discuss building a business from scratch, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, overcoming rejection, reinventing yourself during difficult times and why successful people never stop learning.
Whether you're a founder, creator, entrepreneur or someone looking for the confidence to take the next step, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
• Why confidence comes from action, not validation
• How to build a business when people doubt your vision
• Why successful entrepreneurs never stop learning
• The importance of staying authentic in business
• How Mandy reinvented her business during Covid
• Why independence matters
• The mindset needed to overcome rejection
• How to build a personal brand people trust
• The reality of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
• Why you should stop waiting for permission
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Meet Mandy Maher
01:40 Growing Up As The Youngest Of Four
03:00 How Her Parents' Divorce Shaped Her Independence
05:15 The Importance Of Open Communication
06:27 Why Mandy Never Followed A Traditional Career Path
07:06 Her Dream Of Becoming A Model
08:36 Training As A Professional Model
09:59 Being Told College Wasn't For Her
10:32 Fitness, Business & Following Her Passion
11:46 The Business Opportunity Everyone Missed
12:34 Building A Model Agency People Said Would Fail
13:47 Persistence, Rejection & Winning The Opportunity
14:25 Being A Woman In Business
15:14 Staying Authentic In Business
17:27 What Makes A Great Model
18:31 Building A Team Culture
21:16 The Reality Of Running A Business
22:12 How Covid Changed Everything
24:40 Launching A Second Business During Covid
25:52 Why Successful People Keep Learning
26:42 Working With Major Brands
27:47 Botox, Fillers & Beauty Standards
30:04 Influencers vs Entrepreneurs
31:00 Why Every Creator Needs A Niche
32:45 What Makes Mandy Say Yes To A Brand
33:25 Turning 50 & Embracing Life
36:23 The Reality Of Motherhood & Business
39:27 Learning To Let Go As A Founder
41:50 Advice For Aspiring Entrepreneurs
42:22 Never Give Up On Your Dream
43:10 Outro
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SPONSOR
This episode was sponsored by Athlone Town Centre.
https://athlonetowncentre.com/
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