Last weekend was one I’ll never forget.
On Friday evening, I was honoured to receive the Established Business Woman of the Year 2026 award at the Network Ireland Galway Branch Awards.
The following morning, I joined Richard Curran in the RTÉ Radio 1 studio to talk about my life, my career, and why I believe artificial intelligence is the biggest opportunity of our generation.
RTÉ titled the interview “Single Motherhood and Business Success.”
Growing Up in Donegal
I grew up on a farm in Glen, County Donegal, as one of eight children.
Life wasn’t easy. We lived in a busy council house, worked hard on the family farm and learned the value of resilience from an early age.
I helped shear sheep, dip sheep and spent many weekends at local marts. Looking back, those experiences taught me a work ethic that has stayed with me throughout my career.
Even as a child, I loved learning.
School was my happy place, and I knew education would be my route to creating opportunities.
Becoming a Mother at 17
Everything changed when I became pregnant at 16.
At the time, Ireland was a very different place, and I faced uncertainty, fear and judgement.
But I also made a promise to myself.
I would finish school.
Before my daughter Sophie was born, I met with my school principal and explained my plan to return after maternity leave. Six weeks after giving birth, I was back in the classroom while my mother cared for Sophie.
After school each day, I worked evenings washing dishes in a local hotel to help support my family.
I didn’t have all the answers.
I simply had the determination to keep moving forward.
Tragedy Changed Everything
Just months after Sophie was born, tragedy struck.
Her father, Henry, was killed in a road traffic accident at just 18 years of age.
Suddenly, I was raising a five-month-old baby alone.
Returning to school became more than finishing my education. It became my anchor during one of the most difficult periods of my life.
University Against the Odds
After completing my Leaving Certificate, I was determined to attend university.
Despite being told I should delay my education to qualify for additional financial support, I refused to wait.
Instead, I found my own way.
The University of Galway, friends, lecturers and employers all supported me. I worked multiple jobs, shared accommodation with friends and brought Sophie with me while I completed my journalism degree.
Looking back, it truly took a village.
Building a Career in Communications
Journalism was always my first love.
Growing up listening to Morning Ireland sparked a fascination with news, storytelling and current affairs.
After graduating, I worked as a journalist with Highland Radio before moving into media leadership and eventually starting my own communications business in 2007.
The timing wasn’t ideal.
The global financial crisis had just begun.
But I recognised that communications was changing, and I wanted to stay ahead of that change.
Why I Moved into AI
I’ve spent my entire career adapting to change.
When ChatGPT launched in late 2022, I immediately recognised another major shift.
As someone whose business is built around knowledge and expertise, I knew I needed to understand AI before it transformed my industry.
That decision led me to study AI extensively, write a book, complete executive education at Harvard University and help organisations adopt AI responsibly.
Today, I don’t just teach AI.
I build with it.
And I believe that’s where the biggest opportunities now exist.
My Advice on AI
Many people are understandably worried about how AI will affect jobs.
My advice is simple:
Don’t compete with AI.
Learn how to work alongside it.
The professionals who combine their expertise with AI will be the ones who thrive.
Technology can improve productivity, but it cannot replace human judgement, creativity, empathy and critical thinking.
Those skills are becoming even more valuable.
My Proudest Achievement
People often ask me what I’m most proud of.
Without question, it’s my children.
My daughter Sophie now lectures at the University of Galway, in the very lecture halls she once visited as a toddler while I studied there. She is a Chartered Accountant, a PhD researcher and a full-time lecturer.
My son Bobby also shares my curiosity for technology and AI, and I can’t wait to see where his own journey takes him.
Looking Ahead
When I reflect on my journey, I don’t see a straight line.
I see resilience.
I see people who believed in me.
I see education opening doors.
And I see every challenge preparing me for the next chapter.
Today, that chapter is artificial intelligence.
It’s not just transforming businesses. It’s creating opportunities for people who are willing to learn, adapt and build the future.
If my story proves anything, it’s that your starting point doesn’t define where you can end up.
If you want to build your AI literacy and skills, I can help
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About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
