The IEMP was launched by President Michael D. Higgins in New York, in 2012, a collaboration between the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) and the Irish Network – New York (IN-NYC). The purpose of the program was to foster engagement and promote development of new executive and entrepreneur talent in the Irish diaspora.
The most positive learning experience of the program’s continued evolution has been that Mentoring has proven to be the most effective engagement tool for both new and existing members of the global irish business community.
Ever-increasing demand for program participation, along with the onerous administrative burden of a manual program, led the IIBN to seek out a suitable technology solution. The goal is to scale the program to a meaningful level, in support of executives and entrepreneurs worldwide, with an affinity for their Irish heritage.
In 2014, the IEMP, through one of its sponsor organizations, IIBN NY, received a grant from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Program to aide the growth and expansion of this progressive initiative.
The success of the program is contingent on the participation and cooperation of Irish networks everywhere.
The program would not be possible without the help of the following inspirational leaders among the Irish diaspora:
Sean Gaffey, Eric Moore, Martin Ryan, Michelle Dervan, Anne Cosgrove, Peter Ryan, Fiona McCabe, Steve Lenox, John Murphy, Francine Kavanagh, Ailbhe Mullen, Louise Corrigan, Allison Gaffey