Karen Ní Bhroin

• Karen’s Story: A candid account of experiencing burnout in 2022, the signs she ignored, and the impact on her life and career.
• Recognising Warning Signs: Spotting stress triggers early and trusting your gut to take action before it’s too late.
• Essential Self-Care: Prioritise good sleep, exercise, healthy eating, and managing alcohol intake to stay physically and mentally resilient.
• Setting Boundaries: Learn to disconnect, say no, and let go of what you can’t control.
• Building a Support Network: The power of trusted relationships to share the load and stay balanced in high-pressure roles.

The journey to the podium for one conductor who went from conducting a local choir in Co. Wexford to leading some of the world’s top orchestras.
You will learn:

• The success story of someone who’s odds were against her
• The psychology of conducting and getting the best out of any team
• Maintaining a healthy mind at the top of your game
• Is communication only verbal?
• Setting goals and achieving them
• Believing in your vision, when no one else does
• Dealing with failure on a daily basis
• Entrepreneurship, creating your own career and life
• Creating a balance

How conducting really works, what do we really do and what kind of leadership is it?
You will learn:

• Leadership styles and how they apply not only to music
• Trusting your team
• Building honest communication
• Admitting when you are wrong
• Dealing with failure in front of your team and publicly
• Dealing with criticism
• Being true to yourself always
• Putting your art first no matter what

1. Preparation Creates Success
   Karen shares how, as an international conductor, she walks into a rehearsal already knowing the orchestra’s history, energy levels, and recent performances. She emphasizes that leadership begins long before the first interaction—understanding the team and anticipating challenges is essential to set the right tone.
2. Building Trust in Minutes
   Karen recounts stepping onto the podium with 90 musicians she’s never met. Her ability to connect quickly—through respect for their expertise and personal acknowledgment of each member—creates the foundation for collaboration. In leadership, trust is the glue that holds the group together.
3. Empathy with Decisiveness
   Drawing from her experience managing diverse, sometimes fatigued orchestras, Karen highlights the balance between understanding team dynamics and making firm, timely decisions. “Musicians need clarity and confidence from their conductor,” she says. The same is true for teams in business.
4. Clear, Succinct Communication
   Karen reflects on the importance of concise, effective direction, where every word or gesture matters. She compares this to leading in business, where clear communication minimizes confusion and keeps the team aligned on shared goals.
5. Grace Under Pressure
   From last-minute changes to unexpected technical issues, Karen’s stories illustrate the importance of staying calm and in control. “If I falter, the orchestra falters,” she explains. Leaders, too, must embody steadiness during uncertainty to inspire confidence and maintain momentum.