The Spaces That Shape Us

Mark Redmond - Chief Executive, Redmond Coaching For Impact

Mark Redmond

Professional journeys are, by their nature, busy. They’re filled with wonderful experiences but also consumed by deadlines, emails, and other day-to-day demands.

Finding the time to pause long enough to reflect on who we were, who we are, and who we are becoming is challenging. As a leadership coach, I often see leaders struggle to step back, reflect, and think strategically. I encourage them to ask themselves: What am I doing well? What do I want to improve? What’s my sense of purpose? How am I interacting with the people who matter to me?

When they do carve out that time, meaningful patterns emerge, just as they have in my own journey. Making room for perspective, I see the invisible threads connecting me to the people and spaces that inspired me, from my time as a tax director to my years as the CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham) to the founding of Redmond Coaching for Impact, and how these experiences continue to shape my personal and professional growth.

Wilton Place: One Neighbourhood, Many Lessons

Remarkably, I spent two-thirds of my professional career working in one space: Wilton Place. It’s a beautiful part of Dublin, lined with late Georgian townhouses overlooking Wilton Park and the Grand Canal – two havens of green in a bustling area.

There, I began my career at Price Waterhouse (now PwC), training as a chartered tax adviser. With degrees in English and history, tax might seem like an unusual choice, but tax advisory relies heavily on researching texts and interpreting language, so the training built upon skills I’d already developed.

PwC gave me a strong grounding in what good client service looks like, which is about understanding clients’ needs and solving their problems. As a mentor once told me, “We’re not here to be somebody. We’re here to do something.” I’ve carried that phrase with me into every role and new space I enter.

When you enter a new space, you have two choices. You can focus on yourself – thinking, “This is my first time here: I need to impress these people.” Or, you can see it as an opportunity to learn as much as possible about that place and those people so that you can do something positive with that information. By choosing the latter, you discover new insights that benefit you, your organisation, and your clients.

As an inherent introvert, this lesson profoundly shaped the way I interacted with others in a workspace. Introverts make great team members: they’re reflective, think deeply, and focus on problem-solving. However, many environments, such as noisy open office plans, don’t support their strengths, perpetuating the misconception that introverts can’t thrive in group dynamics. Introverts can play in the extrovert space, but we tend to find it exhausting, so we do it when it’s needed.

By focusing on doing something rather than being someone, I could thrive in roles that require “front-of-house” skills. In fact, the situations that built my confidence in public speaking, debating in secondary school and working as a tour guide in college, were purpose-focused. Through debate, I questioned and rethought the ethical, political, and societal issues shaping our world. As a tour guide, I introduced people from around the globe to Dublin Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, the Casino at Marino, and other unique buildings, explaining what these spaces represented.

With this purpose-focused approach, I delved into working with clients, most of whom were US multinationals (MNCs). This early experience working with the dedicated, intelligent individuals at MNCs had a tremendous impact on me.

Looking back, it’s strange to think that for those seven years, I walked past the AmCham offices on Wilton Place without knowing the organisation was there or that I would one day lead it. The offices had no street-level presence, and even if they had, I wasn’t yet aware of AmCham’s work.

Fast forward several years, and I’d learn a great deal from my time at 6 Wilton Place and the other spaces I visited as CEO of AmCham.

AmCham: Inspiration from Many Spaces

When I first started at AmCham and saw the interior of the building, I got a shock. The building was a beautiful period piece with a stunning facade, but inside, it felt like we had stepped back into the Victorian era. The space wasn’t conducive to achieving our goals, and from speaking with my new team, I knew it hurt morale. I wanted to do something to build a sense of pride in where we worked.

With the backing of our supportive board, one of my first decisions as CEO was to renovate, modernising the space while preserving its historical character. The transformation made the offices functional, beautiful, and energising, which improved productivity, collaboration, and happiness.

The activity at Wilton Place inspired me, as did the work I witnessed in our member companies. However, nothing inspired me more than visiting US MNCs’ advanced manufacturing facilities.

Across Ireland, extraordinary people from all over the world work in these facilities. They’re passionate about what they do, and their work has a massive impact. Few people realise just how much of the world relies on what’s done in Ireland. Four out of five medical stents worldwide are made here. One out of every three contact lenses is manufactured here. Seven out of every 10 brain tumour operations use surgical technology developed here. The list goes on.

These companies undergo stringent external audits, yet their record of compliance is unmatched, a testament to the people behind the work. Their contributions don’t stop when they leave the building, either. They invest in their communities, support local organisations, and promote equality and opportunity.

Before becoming CEO of AmCham, I wasn’t aware of the type of work happening in these spaces—because you have to be invited in. Experiencing it firsthand was a privilege that made me realise these stories needed to be told. Inspired by these spaces, I wanted to celebrate the people within them—the committed teams and the leaders who motivate them. That drive ultimately led to the creation of AmCham’s US-Ireland Business Awards and its Mandate Leadership Programme.

At Home in Glandore: Redmond Coaching for Impact

Through these events and others, I began to recognise a pattern: the spaces that have inspired me most share three key characteristics.

The first is the people, the mentors, colleagues, and teams I’ve met and learnt in a place, and how they shape the experience. The second is the physical nature of the space, an architectural feature, a view, or something else that fills the heart with joy. The third is the legacy, the civic or historical significance of a space, and the pride that people took in being part of that.

The most meaningful spaces in my career, the ones that shaped both my thinking and my trajectory, have always combined these attributes. That’s why when launching Redmond Coaching for Impact, I wanted to begin in a space that embodies them, which is what I’ve found in Glandore.

Redmond Coaching for Impact is based in Glandore’s historic Fitzwilliam Hall. From the moment you walk into Glandore, you have the sense that what you’re doing matters. It’s evident in how the team pays attention to every detail, ensuring members feel supported, respected, and connected.

I’ve always remembered the workspaces where I felt welcomed, recognised, and seen—the ones where I didn’t get lost. I’ve also experienced the opposite, so I know firsthand how an environment affects morale, confidence, and productivity. That feeling of being valued and supported is exactly what Glandore gets right. The Kelly family has infused their values into their business, creating an environment where success isn’t just encouraged it’s personal.

When launching a business, that support is invaluable. Starting a company is exciting, but it can also feel uncertain and even a little intimidating. At Glandore, the professionalism is unmatched. Members never have to worry about whether the details will be handled properly, they always are. That frees up entrepreneurs to focus on what matters: growing their business.

As a leadership coach, I see how space influences professional growth. With leadership coaching, people have the opportunity to enhance their personal and professional sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. To do so, they need a trusted, confidential setting where they feel comfortable speaking openly. Effective coaching requires an atmosphere that promotes deep thinking for both coach and client. A coach must listen empathetically, asking questions that challenge appropriately, and the client must be allowed the trusted space to reflect and respond with consideration. At Glandore, that environment already exists. The privacy, professionalism, and comfort enable individuals to explore their goals without distraction

When you’re surrounded by people who genuinely want to support you, great ideas emerge. Beginning my coaching journey at Glandore has given me the opportunity to collaborate with the Kelly family, whose vision of community, inclusivity, and growth aligns with my own. As a result, Redmond Coaching for Impact now offers exclusive coaching sessions for Glandore members.

A common thread in my career has been a passionate belief in personal and professional development. Every role I’ve held, every organisation I’ve worked with, and every mentor I’ve had has underscored the value of learning and growth.

Being a part of the Glandore community has reinforced everything I believe about professional development. Through Redmond Coaching for Impact’s partnership with Glandore, I hope to help individuals at the early stages of their careers gain clarity, confidence, and purpose just as I’ve been fortunate to do throughout my own journey.

Read more about Glandore’s Flexible Workspaces