CEO Corner: Episode 10
Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish
In episode 10 of CEO Corner, Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer, CEO of Make A Wish, discusses the differences in leadership within the private sector versus the charities sector, why there is stigma around salaries in charities and the happiness granting wishes bring to terminally ill children and their families.
Susan has been the CEO of Make A Wish for 12 years, where she heads up a staff of 12 and a volunteer force of 200.
Make A Wish
Make-A-Wish was established in Ireland in 1992 and grants wishes to children between the ages of 3 and 17 years living with life-threatening illnesses. Under Susan’s leadership, Make-A-Wish has grown significantly and developed expertise in building solid relationships with all types of donors.
Make A Wish has reinvented its fundraising approach and transformed the business since the start of the pandemic. The last two years have been among the most challenging and rewarding for Susan and her team.
Originally trained as a Montessori teacher which was her chosen career path, Susan now says that fundraising is her passion. Susan has also completed an MBS in Business Practice from UCC.