By Héloïse Chaudot 
Emma Kennedy is the Founder and CEO of Porter, the company behind Porter Privé, a flexible workspace operator, and Plié, which helps businesses find, secure and shape the right workspace. With more than a decade of experience across commercial real estate, hospitality and flexible workspace in Ireland, the UK and Australia, Kennedy has built a reputation for creating design-led workplaces that put people, experience and community first.
What are your main priorities and goals in your role?
My priority is building businesses that people genuinely want to be part of – whether that’s our clients, our team or our investors. While growth is important, we’re equally focused on creating exceptional brands, delivering world-class customer experiences and building a culture that attracts outstanding people. Everything we do is centred around redefining what the workplace can be.
What are your biggest challenges as CEO?
The biggest challenge is maintaining the highest standards while scaling quickly. As opportunities increase, so do the decisions, and it’s important to stay disciplined and remain focused on the long-term vision. Growth should never come at the expense of quality or culture.
How do you keep your team/staff motivated?
People perform at their best when they feel trusted and believe in what they’re building. We involve our team in the journey, celebrate successes together and encourage ownership at every level. Creating an environment where people feel valued, challenged and supported is one of my most important responsibilities as a leader.
What are the challenges facing the industry going forward?
The role of the workplace has fundamentally changed. Businesses are no longer looking for four walls and a desk; they’re looking for spaces that attract talent, foster collaboration, and enhance company culture. The businesses that succeed will be those that deliver experiences rather than simply providing office space.
What new trends are emerging in your industry?
Hospitality continues to shape the future of work. Clients increasingly expect beautifully designed spaces, exceptional service, flexible solutions and seamless technology. Sustainability, wellbeing and community are also becoming central to workplace strategy rather than optional extras.
Are there any major changes you would like to see in your sector?
I’d like to see our industry become far more customer-centric. Great workplaces should be designed around the people using them, not around operational efficiencies. Design, hospitality and service should become standard expectations rather than premium add-ons.
As an employer, are you finding any skill gaps in the market?
The biggest skill gap isn’t technical ability; it’s mindset. We look for people who combine commercial thinking with emotional intelligence and a genuine passion for hospitality. Our clients expect more than office space; they expect an experience. Finding people who instinctively understand service, build relationships and consistently go the extra mile is becoming increasingly valuable.
How did your strategy develop in the context of the banking crisis and economic crisis?
Periods of economic uncertainty reinforce the importance of building resilient businesses. Rather than relying on a single revenue stream, we’ve focused on creating complementary businesses that strengthen one another while delivering greater value to our clients. Diversification gives us resilience and allows us to continue investing through changing market conditions.
How do you define success, and what drives you to succeed?
I define success by the legacy a business leaves behind. If we’ve created exceptional places to work, helped businesses grow, built fulfilling careers for our team and generated long-term value for our investors, then we’ve succeeded. I’m driven by the challenge of creating something original – building brands that reshape industries rather than simply competing within them.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given in business?
Play the long game. Businesses aren’t built overnight, and reputations are earned over years, not months. Consistency, resilience and integrity always compound.
What advice would you give to others starting in business?
Don’t wait until everything feels perfect because it never will. Start before you’re ready, keep learning and be prepared to adapt. Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking, stay curious and remember that every successful business is built on trust and relationships.
What have been your highlights in business over the past year?
The past year has been defined by building. Launching Porter Privé and Plié has been a significant milestone, bringing together hospitality, workplace strategy and commercial property under one vision. It’s been hugely rewarding to see the market respond so positively, and it has reinforced our belief that there is a real appetite for a more thoughtful, design-led approach to the future of work.
What’s next for your company?
Our immediate focus is growing Porter Privé and Plié while preparing for the launch of FORM. Together, these businesses will create an integrated platform that supports clients in finding, creating and operating exceptional workplaces. Longer term, we’re building a business that can expand into other European cities while maintaining the premium experience we’re known for.
Where do you want your business/brand to be this time next year?
I’d like Porter to be recognised as one of Ireland’s most innovative workplace businesses, known not just for the spaces we create, but for the experience we deliver. I also want us to be taking meaningful steps towards international expansion while continuing to attract exceptional clients, talent and investment.
What is the best book you’ve ever read (non-business) and why?
I don’t read as much as I’d like. Time is usually my biggest constraint, so podcasts have become my way of learning. I spend a lot of time listening to conversations with founders and business leaders while I’m on the move. Right now, Aspire with Emma Grede is one of my favourites because it offers honest insights into building ambitious businesses, scaling brands and leading with resilience. As a founder, I find it invaluable to learn from people who have successfully built businesses from the ground up.
What is your favourite hobby and why?
The gym is my favourite hobby because it helps me stay physically fit and mentally resilient. As a founder, there are constant demands and decisions to make, so training gives me the clarity and discipline to perform at my best. Looking after my health is an investment in both my personal wellbeing and my business.
What is your mantra for life?
Build with purpose, lead with integrity and never stop evolving.
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