The crossover between what can be learned between sport and business was very much in evidence in Belfast on Friday morning when Sport for Business was involved in a Business Breakfast hosted by BDO Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Sport Connex and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
Rob Hartnett was compere for the event which included a set piece interview with Ireland Cricket Manager John Bracewell fresh from a stirring match against Australia the previous day.
The identification of young talent coming through and providing them the platform and the facilities through which they can achieve their potential were two key themes running through his discussion, as well as his philosophy of ‘Go MAD’.
That’s not a license to tear up bars but rather to Go Make a Difference. Leadership is important in sport as it is in business and once a young player has been spotted as having the ability and the character to make a difference to his team mates and the overall performance, as well as his own, then that needs to be carefully nurtured.
Brian Murphy, Partner with BDO in Belfast spoke of the role sport plays in our national identity and how it made such an impact in the past eighteen months hosting events like the Giro d’Italia, the Irish Open in Golf and the match against Australia.
“Beaming pictures of sport against a Northern Ireland background to tens of millions of people around the world reminds us, through their reaction, of what a wonderful place we have here,” Murphy told a packed room at the Belfast Hilton.
“The inspiration we can draw from the dedication, preparation and attention to detail of sporting stars playing at the highest level can encourage all of us to perform that small bit better in everything we do and really make a difference.”
The morning concluded with an expert panel discussion featuring Warren Deutrom the CEO of Cricket Ireland, Lisa Bradley of Ulster University’s International Business School, Roy Millar, Chair of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum and Jim Eastwood, Vice President of Groupon and a former Tyrone Gaelic Footballer as well as Norther Ireland Universities International Soccer Player.
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