Core Business Information
LIFT Ireland: Social enterprise transforming Ireland by developing Leaders of Character. Join our weekly 45-min Roundtables to build self-leadership in schools, businesses & communities.
About Us and Our Team
LIFT Ireland is a groundbreaking social enterprise dedicated to transforming Irish society by enabling the development of Leaders of Character. Its ultimate vision is to create real, lasting positive change across Ireland, one person at a time.
The Founder’s Journey
LIFT was founded in late 2017 by Joanne Hession, a passionate entrepreneur and visionary leader who has been active in the Irish business landscape for over 25 years. The inspiration for LIFT was deeply personal, stemming from Joanne’s realisation that she needed to work on her own leadership. This understanding evolved into the core philosophy: that all problems in the world—in homes, communities, or businesses—are caused by human behaviour.
The concept was solidified after Joanne witnessed a simple five-step leadership process being used effectively in Paraguay. She mapped out the LIFT process on her 24-hour return journey, driven by the conviction that if the whole country adopted this process, it could "lift the whole country".
The LIFT Philosophy: Self-Leadership
LIFT challenges the traditional view that leadership is a position or title. Instead, it teaches that good leadership is fundamentally self-leadership, how an individual behaves and acts. By strengthening one's own character and human skills, individuals are better equipped to lead themselves and those around them.
The movement is built on eight core leadership values (including Listening, Respect, and Accountability), which were identified through independent national research asking the people of Ireland what attributes they needed most to see developed.
- Scale and Impact
- LIFT is a highly inclusive initiative, working as a catalyst for social change that is powered by a strong board and a network of over 60 experienced people from every sector.
- Reach: Since its launch in 2018, over 130,000 people have been involved, resulting in over a million roundtables across the island.
- Education: LIFT works with 411 schools (and growing), training older students (16-year-olds) to facilitate the process for younger students (12- and 13-year-olds) in a peer-to-peer model.
- Corporate: The programme is widely adopted across leading organisations, including Bank of Ireland, Pfizer, and Riverdance.
- Accessibility: LIFT operates as a social enterprise, charging organisations with a budget to allow the service to be extended to those who cannot afford it, such as schools and non-profits. They will work to overcome any barrier to participation, even providing translations for their materials.
- LIFT is a highly inclusive initiative, working as a catalyst for social change that is powered by a strong board and a network of over 60 experienced people from every sector.
LIFT Ireland's unique strength lies in transforming the abstract concept of leadership into an accessible, practical, and highly scalable process focused on self-leadership and character development.
The core difference is the LIFT Leadership Roundtable—a structured "gym for your character". This simple, weekly 30–45 minute session is unique because it forces individuals to stop, reflect, and confront their own behaviour without fear of judgment, as there is a strict no-commenting policy. This safe space is vital for personal growth, enabling participants to take one specific tiny action step to course-correct and strengthen a core human skill (like Respect or Honesty) each week. By democratizing self-development and focusing on human behaviour rather than job titles, LIFT has created an inclusive, national movement that drives real, lasting culture change from the kitchen table to the corporate boardroom.
Offerings & Specialties
LIFT Ireland's service offering centres on a proven, simple, and scalable learning process designed to build self-leadership and character across Ireland, transforming communities, schools, and organisations one person at a time.
Core Product: The LIFT Leadership Roundtable
The core of the social enterprise is the LIFT Leadership Learning Process, delivered through a structured, safe, and non-judgmental small-group setting.
- Format: An 8-week programme consisting of weekly 30 to 45-minute roundtable sessions.
- The Process: Individuals in groups of 4-6 read assigned material on a key leadership value. Participants then self-reflect and self-evaluate how they have been living that value in the last 24–48 hours.
- Key Action: The session culminates with each person taking a specific, tiny action step to course-correct or strengthen that leadership muscle in the coming week.
- Unique Feature: Crucially, there is no commenting or discussion on what anybody else says, creating a safe space for personal reflection and increasing self-awareness.
Programme Content: Leadership Values
The programme is based on eight key leadership values identified through independent national research into the attributes the country needed most. These core values include:
- Listening
- Positive Attitude
- Respect
- Accountability
- Honesty & Integrity
- Empathy & Understanding
- Competence
- Dedication & Determination
The topics have since expanded to include Resilience, Critical Thinking, Sustainability, and Fairness.
LIFT is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all, focusing on developing Leaders of Character across every sector.
- Schools & Education: Teachers are trained as facilitators, and the programme is rolled out peer-to-peer, with 16-year-olds facilitating roundtables for 12- and 13-year-olds. Materials are available for different age groups, including primary students and translation support (e.g., Ukrainian).
- Corporate & Business: Partner organisations (e.g., Bank of Ireland, Pfizer, Riverdance) are trained over a half-day to run roundtables in-house, enabling a fast and effective way to embed core values and enhance company culture. Customised roundtable materials can be created to embed an organisation's specific values.
- Community & Non-Profits: LIFT is open to community groups, sports clubs, and is actively offered in non-profits and prisons. Drop-in online roundtables are available for individuals who wish to try the process.
- Facilitator Training: LIFT runs training summits to certify individuals (teachers, employees, community members) in how to lead the roundtables, enabling the movement to scale nationwide.
Digital Resources: Podcast & Blog
LIFT Ireland extends its mission and learning beyond the roundtable sessions through its public digital platforms:
- LIFT Podcast: Features interviews and discussions that promote the values and vision of LIFT, sharing insights on leadership and personal development with a wider audience.
- LIFT Blog: Offers articles and posts that explore the core LIFT leadership values, programme updates, and stories of impact from various sectors across the island of Ireland.
Practical Details & Amenities
LIFT Ireland offers multiple pathways for individuals, teachers, and organisations to engage with the movement and strengthen their self-leadership muscle.
- Join a LIFT Online Roundtable Session
This is the fastest way to experience the LIFT process:- What it is: A space to reflect on leadership values (such as Positive Attitude, Determination, or Resilience) and consider how you can improve.
- Format: Up to 5 people connect via Zoom.
- Duration: Sessions are 45 minutes and take place weekly.
- Booking Link: Calendly
- Become a Certified LIFT Facilitator
Facilitators are the engine of the LIFT movement, enabling them to roll out the process in their own workplaces, schools, or communities.- Prerequisite for All Facilitator Training:
- You must participate in two online roundtables before facilitator training.
- If you would like to learn more about what it means to become a LIFT Facilitator, please read our FAQ’s here.
- General Online LIFT Facilitator Training:
- This training is for individuals looking to join LIFT's network of facilitators.
- To proceed, please email directly via the contact form or info@liftireland.ie on this listing after completing the prerequisites.
- Prerequisite for All Facilitator Training:
- LIFT Facilitator Training - Teachers (Online):
- Dedicated training sessions for educators.
- Duration: Sessions are 4 hours via Zoom.
- Booking Link: Calendly
- Corporate and Group Partnerships
For organisations looking to roll out LIFT internally (e.g., in corporate settings, community groups, or sports clubs), please contact Hannah Dormer directly Hannah@liftireland.ie to arrange a tailored rollout strategy and bespoke training. - Support the Movement
As a social enterprise, LIFT is working to extend its reach to those who cannot fund it themselves (e.g., more schools and non-profits).- Make a Donation.
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