Fastnet First Hand: CEO Insights Interview with Eoin Leahy CEO EL Engineering

My Entrepreneurial Journey

What inspired you to start your own business?

I am an Electrical Engineer and graduated from UCC in 2003, a time when the life sciences industry was booming and there were lots of opportunities. As a young Engineer I was lucky to get a great foundation in Document Control, Quality Control and Project Management with companies such as PM Group. I enjoyed the variety of working with in different environments with several consulting engineering firms but was ambitious and invariably found myself wanting more. In 2008, I started a position as an Area Manager with ABB in 2008, a large component manufacturer. This was my first career pivot, a completely different focus where I learned a lot about the commercial aspects of running a business – sales, budgeting, EBIDTA etc. 

In hindsight this is what I needed to kickstart my entrepreneurial journey. I have always been passionate about Project Management and Execution, and I started to ask myself – what if? - what can I do? It started to consume me and I talked to my wife about taking the risk – she was on board. Now, I had to back myself and go for it!

What challenges did you face in the early years, and how did you overcome them?

My visions of CEOs in Armani suits were soon brought back down to earth when I was working on the landing of my stairs, 16 hours a day! When you start a business, you are the Designer, Project Executor and Project Manager. You are also responsible for all the financial aspects – POs, VAT Returns, Collections, Payroll etc. In addition to the day-to-day running, you are also looking to win new business. It was relentless. 

What advice would you give to your younger self starting a business?

It is probably easy to speak with the benefit of hindsight, but I would be braver and hire more resources sooner to alleviate the pressure. Prioritising is difficult when you just have yourself. I was perhaps too focused on ‘payroll Friday’. I had a mortgage to pay and young kids at the time, and I was the last person to get paid in the company. The financial piece is very real, but I believe you need to have the confidence that if you take on people you will get more business. 
I also think that having good mentors around you is important. I started with my first mentor 4 years in. Taking time to plan is critical, putting time in the calendar to step back and really look at the business. Planning and Forecasting are key. ISO9001 qualification and deploying an ERP system for Project Management were important milestones however sometimes, the smallest pieces of advice can be hugely impactful. For example, I was advised to go to the bank and get an overdraft. I did, and although I never used it, it helped me to sleep on a Friday night! 

Future Focus

What makes EL Engineering unique? 

The Engineering consulting business is competitive with lots of players in the market. It can be hard to find a niche. We engaged early with our core customers, Engineering Managers, to really understand their needs, not just immediate needs but what they will require 3 – 5 years from now. From my experience in industry, I had ideas as to how projects could be looked at differently. What sets us apart is the breadth and depth of our service – we design sustainable, energy efficient projects partnering with clients from concept to production. We literally plan and manage everything to the nth degree, communicating with multiple stakeholders, coordinating complex logistics, allowing our clients to focus on core business. Our focus on project excellence, coupled with speed of execution delivers superior and consistent results. Delivering a project 3 months before it could perhaps be delivered in another global location can be materially very impactful for our clients with batches being produced and monetised 3 months earlier. 

Our reputation is built on communication, trust, and strong relationships. Spending time with clients and regularly getting feedback is important to me.

How would you describe your company culture?

Culture is different in every company. The benefit of starting out on your own means that you take what you like and leave behind what you don’t like. Ultimately, our success at EL is based on our people, and our values of - Teamwork, Ambition, Respect, Integrity, Humility & Effort - are very important in how we work together attract talent, and engage new people. Teamwork is key, and we value friendship and camaraderie – we are not perfect, and we all need help. If something hasn’t gone well, perhaps missing a deadline, we dig each other out. Developing people and therefore organisational capability is also a big focus. If you are a Team Lead, how are you developing your colleague? Our talent pipeline is always evolving internally.
We trust people to deliver, and our people put in a big effort because of the culture at EL. Nurturing that is a priority for me as we grow. 

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the consulting engineering industry in the future?

Ireland inc. is faced with huge challenges from a talent pipeline perspective. We have an enviable track record in Life Sciences with deep expertise but how are we going to maintain that position? 

1. We have a major housing issue. 
2. Young people are coming out of college, going travelling and not coming back.
3.  How do we make trades attractive again? 
4. How can we support our young people? 
5. Who will build and run the production sites of the future? In my opinion, this is the standout issue for our country, and it needs serious thought, investment and action. 

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your role as CEO of EL?

It might be a cliché, but what I am most proud of is our people. We have a highly capable and diverse team with colleagues from Italy, Romania, Venezuela and Ireland. This gives me great energy!

Looking forward, what are you most excited about?

Growth! We have built solid foundations and now have an ambitious three-year strategic plan. Controlled, sustainable growth where we are maintaining a laser focus on quality and continuing to nurture our culture is very important to me. 

Well, have you bought the Armani suit yet?

I’m working on it!