One of Ireland's unique assets is her global tribe. Many global Irish-born people have mastery of a dual identity--they identify as Irish AND as citizens of another country where they have achieved significant professional success, often as business leaders.
In 2010 the Irish government became wise to the opportunity to tap into this diaspora and created the Global Irish Network. The group is comprised of over 350 senior Irish and Irish-connected business people from 40 countries and is broadly tasked with providing input to help Ireland's economy. I was recently invited to join the group and attended the biannual Global Irish Economic Forum.
I arrived excited to contribute to the conversation yet highly aware that I had left Ireland and sensitive not to behave as an all-knowing returnee. My initial tentative posture was unwarranted. I was overwhelmed by the openness of the Irish business and government delegates to the ideas and provocation of the global members. There was no defensiveness; instead a strong bias for action was palpable.
While action and ideas were foremost on the agenda, in my mind the Forum provided a rare opportunity to surface key economic development questions for Ireland. I shared my questions in tweets on the final day. Here are my ten tweets questions inspired by the Forum:
- What is brand Ireland? What is the brand Ireland experience? What sets us apart?
- How ambitious are we for Ireland? Commerce? Culture?
- How do we make sure sustainability is central to our vision for Ireland?
- How do we make design a big part of what we produce?
- How do we harness the talent and intellectual capital of the diaspora in high-impact ways?
- How do we identify, access, and activate the silent diaspora?
- How do we become the best small country at scaling small business--indigenous and overseas investors?
- How do we build a strong, resilient "asking" muscle--sales and marketing?
- How do we identify qualified Irish abroad to serve on the boards of Irish companies?
- How do we create a society that is inclusive of all citizens?
Of course there are other questions around corporate tax rates, evolution of the education systems, and votes for immigrants that will be appropriately debated in the media and around kitchen tables in Ireland and among Irish abroad. To me the ten questions above frame the key opportunities surrounding Ireland's future economic progress. These are the topics that are less conductive to heated debate and benefit from the pragmatic perspectives of business professionals working together to hammer out creative solutions. Based on my experience with the Global Irish Network, there are throngs of global Irish keen and qualified to collaborate with the Irish in Ireland to help tackle these critical questions. This potential energy bodes well for Ireland's continued economic development.
What are your questions and comments? What did I miss? Please provide in comments below.