WEALTH February 28, 2026 0 Comments

Brid Horan’s Bold Play at Nephin Energy: The Untold Story That Could Disrupt the Energy Market Forever

Ever noticed how, in business and in life, decisions sometimes feel like personal punches? Brid Horan throws us a curveball with her sharp — and frankly liberating — advice: “Don’t take things personally. While decisions may affect you, they’re probably not mainly about you.” Sounds simple, right? Yet it’s a message that many of us, especially those grinding in the entrepreneurial trenches, struggle to fully embrace. Brid’s journey—from a Donegal childhood surrounded by supportive family and scientific curiosity, to carving out a career that started almost by accident—offers more than just a story; it’s a roadmap for anyone looking to stay sharp, stay sane, and keep moving forward when the pressure mounts. So, how do you detach your identity from the outcomes and still steer your business or career to success? Let’s dive into Brid’s wisdom, her early ambitions, and the hard-earned lessons that have shaped her outlook — and maybe rewire how we handle setbacks along the way. LEARN MORE

“Don’t take things personally. While decisions may affect you, they’re probably not mainly about you” – Brid Horan

Can you tell us a little about your background, before you started your career?

I was born in Donegal and we moved to Moate, Co. Westmeath, when I was seven. I had three brothers and two sisters, with parents who were really supportive in whatever we sought to do.

Moate had two excellent secondary schools at the time — the Carmelite College for my brothers and the Mercy Convent for girls.

These combined with the local Vocational School in the 1990s to form Moate Community School, which has an outstanding record in sport, science and music.

What was your earliest ambition?

Ireland was very different when I was leaving school and even though my parents would have liked me to go to university, getting a job and independence was key. Joining Irish Life as a trainee actuary was somewhat accidental, but proved a great starting point for my career.

Were you a good student?

That depends on how you define “good” — I didn’t like memorising things (I still can’t quote a poem) but I did enjoy figuring things out. Fortunately, the Mercy Convent was unusual in that we had a sciencelab and I was able to take honours physics, chemistry and maths — a privileged position for girls at that time. Both my older sister Anne and I entered the Young Scientist Exhibition in our final year.

What’s your motto for life?

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good (more elegantly expressed by Voltaire in French). In fact, I would amend it slightly to “don’t let perfect be the enemy of better” — take whatever step, however small, can make things better than they are.

What was the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Don’t take things personally — look at the bigger picture. While a decision may affect you, the decision itself is probably not mainly about you. Understand the reasons behind decisions (in so far as you can) and deal with the consequences in a constructive way.

What’s the most difficult thing about running a business?

Planning effectively for the future when you’re responsible for something. Making any venture or organisation effective for now and sustainable beyond your own involvement is vital.

Which business people have inspired you?

There are many, but I’d like to mention one in particular. Joe Maher was finance director when I joined ESB. I benefited from his wise counsel and witnessed directly and indirectly the impact he had on many careers, particularly his belief in encouraging female talent and diverse perspectives.

Regrets, we’ve all had a few. Can you tell me one of yours?

This isn’t a major regret [but] I’ve never lived outside Ireland, which I think would have been interesting.

What’s your favourite TV show?

Possibly boring, but it would have to be the Six One News on RTÉ. Having lived in the Wicklow Mountains for 20 years, we’re unduly obsessed with the weather forecast.

Humanity’s best invention is?

Community living is one of the reasons humanity survived and evolved. It’s one we should re-invent for the future, too, particularly to provide communal options for older people to live in supported environments without losing independence. There are examples in other countries and some now happening in Ireland. More needed.

What do you wish you’d known at an earlier point in your career?

How interesting life can be.

Brid Horan — Tackling the impact of disinformation, social media and AI on society would be top of Horan’s agenda if she were Taoiseach for a month

What’s your favourite day of the week and why?

When I was working full-time, it was Friday with the prospect of the weekend with my sons. Now, it’s often the same because I’m likely to see them and our grandchildren.

If you could be Taoiseach for a month, what legislative change would you make happen?

To tackle the impact of disinformation, social media and AI on society and particularly on young people.