jlwalsh25

In today’s rapidly shifting economic landscape, uncertainty is affecting businesses across the US, Ireland, and the World.  At the Irish Business Organization (IBO), we want to remind you: you’re not navigating this alone. The IBO exists for moments like these—offering support, insight, and connection when it matters most.

Our members bring deep, real-world experience leading companies of all sizes through political disruptions, financial volatility, and complex HR transitions. If your organization is navigating through unfamiliar territory, the IBO is your gateway to new markets, strategic partnerships, capital opportunities, and a global network of seasoned professionals.

IBO members include senior executives, economists, legal experts, investors, diplomats, government advisors, marketers, and human capital specialists—ready to share knowledge and collaborate with you.

Looking for perspective on evolving markets? Need guidance from someone who’s been through it before? Connect with us. The IBO is here to provide the insights and support that drive smart decision-making.

To get started, we encourage you to watch Sean Lyman’s expert analysis on the latest tariff developments—available below—to better understand the economic forces at play.

And as Winston Churchill once said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else.” Let’s lead with resilience, together.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kr1pg04wpvd2ai5j2ukeq/Sean-Lydon-Trade-Policy.mp4?rlkey=02jh9otc2836cigv9zw42hcjn&st=kew4epgj&dl=0

It’s About Results

Executives care about numbers and results. Connecting HR metrics to key financial drivers such as profit margins, revenue growth, cost savings, and shareholder value shows how HR drives financial success in the organization. But historically, executives have viewed HR as a cost center rather than a value driver. However, HR data reveals opportunities to improve productivity, reduce turnover costs, and enhance employee performance. In summary, understanding HR metrics drives strategic business decisions.

Birchtree Performance HR (BPHR) uses the ISO 30414 organizational metrics to help Executive leadership identify the costs, benefits, and outcomes from HR operations. These metrics can be aligned with company financial metrics to show how HR operations affect EBITDA and Valuation.

Birchtree Performance HR (https://lnkd.in/er3nWjMS) is looking for medium to large companies who want information, coaching, and support to increase the financial performance of their human capital assets. We do this by connecting company key HR and financial metrics and using those metrics to suggest improvements in HR strategy, skills, retention, bench strength, training, total rewards, cost reduction, and management agility.

Contact us and we’ll show you exactly how you can increase EBITDA in HR activities: https://lnkd.in/d9NhRCRE

Expressing the value of HR in terms of business profitability can be challenging, especially when measuring its direct impact on EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). At Birchtree, our finance and operating executives have utilized ISO 30414 metrics to effectively measure human capital investments and directly link them to EBITDA. These results have offered valuable insights that enhance decision-making and business performance.

Interested in understanding how HR influences your bottom line and the research supporting it? Reach out to us at information@birchtreeglobal.com. We’ll tailor our insights to your industry and business metrics, focusing on strategies to enhance EBITDA in your business operations. Discover the impact HR can have on your financial success – you won’t regret it!

Promote yourself to VP!

The IBO New York is looking for a VP Treasurer, a Communication VP, a Board Secretary and two Interns. Come join the best networking, fun, and friendly business organization in New York and march with us in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Send your resume to the Irish Business Organization info@ibonewyork.org. We look forward to talking with you!

Come see us at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibonewyork/posts/?feedView=all

I was honored to be a Co-Chair at the Chemical Marketing & Economics STEM Leadership Awards and sponsor of Hubert Sagnières of Essilor Luxottica.  Established in 2012, the CME STEM Leadership Awards are the highest honor given by the Chemical, Marketing, and Economics Inc to outstanding leaders of society for harnessing the transforming power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the benefit of humanity.

Hubert Sagnières is widely recognized as a transformative force in the optical care industries and a leading scholar and contributor to exploration. Serving as the Chair and CEO of Essilor International, and later as the Executive Vice Chair of Essilor Luxottica, He has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of improving lives through better vision—a mission deeply rooted in societal impact and innovation.

Under his leadership, Essilor Luxottica has become a global leader in eye care solutions. His work has resulted in groundbreaking innovations, strategic mergers, acquisitions, an unwavering commitment to sustainable development, and a vision to eradicate uncorrected poor vision on a global scale. As a result, Hubert has been instrumental in bringing vision care to millions of people in underserved communities around the globe.

He is also a distinguished explorer. In 2023 he followed in the footsteps of great French Explorers documenting their achievements. He then published the updates in, Daring French Explorations 1714-1854, Trailblazing adventures around the world. The book is a series of extracts and illustrations from the travel journals of the French explorers and current observations.

Honorees from left to right:
hashtag#GeorgeRodriguez, hashtag#LeonardLevie, hashtag#RichardWiese, hashtag#HubertSagnières, hashtag#JanetWalsh, hashtag#WilburRoss, hashtag#RichardGarriott, hashtag#SurabhiVarshney, hashtag#ShahKarim, hashtag#KseniaTakhistova, and hashtag#EdwardGrebow

Birchtree Global, LLC and Birchtree Performance HR are pleased to announce Dr. Janet L. Walsh has been elected the 2025 president of the Irish Business Organization in New York (IBO). Founded in 1973, the IBO is a leading organization for business networking. For five decades the IBO has created vibrant networks across the tri-state area supporting, guiding, and enlightening waves of Irish and Irish American business leaders.

Dr. Walsh succeeds Paul Finnegan, who has held the post since 2022. She will be joined by Karen Colligan, First Vice President and Loretta Bricchi Lee, Second Vice President, and a number of outstanding Irish Business Leaders. Janet and her team will be focusing on continuing the work of the IBO, expanding and deepening business to business relationships, its partnership with Irish Government representatives in the United States and bi-lateral chambers, and supportive programs for the J-1 Visa Program for students, the community’s newest business members.

Dr. Walsh is the CEO and President of Birchtree Global, LLC, which specializes in globalizing business and HR strategies, operations, and workforce integration. She has established operations in 86 countries and all 50 U.S. states, leading cross-functional teams of legal, financial, tax, and HR experts. Previously, Janet held senior leadership roles, including Vice President and Director of Global HR for multibillion-dollar multinationals. She holds a BA in Economics from Bucknell University, an MBA from Loyola University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on Foreign Direct Investment in Cuba from University of Phoenix.

A recognized thought leader in global market entry, HR, and financial strategy, Janet’s board service includes Chair of Ethics and Governance for The Explorers Club, the Human Resources Certification Institute, and the D’Oyly Carte Foundation. As an adjunct professor and lecturer at top universities, including Columbia, Fairfield, Stony Brook, and Manhattanville, she works to bridge academia and practice.

Beyond business, Janet is a division-winning equestrian, award-winning watercolorist, and amateur archaeologist.

https://www.ibonewyork.org/

AIAC Chairperson Leonard Levie hosted leading economic and business executives at the Economic Club of New York, on November 21 to hear Ken Griffin discuss his perspective on the economy.  Two key comments Ken made included:

He was gravely concerned that the rise of tariffs puts the US on a slippery slope towards crony capitalism.

He pointed out domestic organizations might benefit from having potential competitors removed, however, this would be a short-term benefit.

He was concerned that removing potential competitors does more harm as companies may lose their productivity and competitiveness which in turn hurts the US economy.

Kenneth Cordele Griffin is the founder, chief executive officer, co-chief investment officer, and 80% owner of Citadel LLC, a multinational hedge fund and Citadel Securities. His 2023 estimated net worth of $35 billion, made him one of the top 40 richest people in the world.  He was part of Forbes’s 2023 list of the United States’ Most Generous Givers, donating some $1.56 billion to various charitable causes, primarily in education, economic mobility and medical research. He has also contributed tens of millions of dollars to political candidates and causes, usually Republican or conservative in ideology. For detailed summary of the discussion check out the following:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/21/citadels-ken-griffin-says-trumps-tariffs-could-lead-to-crony-capitalism.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/citadels-griffin-says-he-would-be-open-selling-minority-stake-his-hedge-fund-2024-11-21/

Photo: Bloomberg Media

Consider how you develop a competitive financial and operational advantage in your human capital. Here is a great article from McKinsey, well documented and food for thought. If you want more ideas for increasing your EBITDA in HR operations, let us know and our global, peer reviewed HR and Finance executives will brainstorm with you about your specific challenges.

Performance through people: Transforming human capital into competitive advantage

https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/performance-through-people-transforming-human-capital-into-competitive-advantage?cid=eml-web