Judged by her CV — Irish immigrant, business founder, successful entrepreneur and now MBA grad — an interviewer might expect hard-driving Boston entrepreneur and Irish community activist Martina Curtin to be more focused on profits than people.
Far from it.
In fact, our conversation at the members-only Quin House in Boston's Black Bay, is largely free of business buzzwords or self-development shibboleths.
Instead, soft-spoken Curtin, fresh from achieving her MBA from Suffolk University in a compressed and high-pressure 18-month program, declares herself content with the opportunities she has been offered by "the circle of life".
More Zen than Shark Tank.
But being in the moment should not be confused with taking a moment for Curtin is a ball of energy — laser-focused energy at that — who has reimagined the biggest Irish center in the USA and set up Irish America's newest network, all while negotiating the sale of her successful homecare business and travelling the world in pursuit of her masters.
Mná Mheiriceá was born from her belief that, post-Covid, Irish women in America needed to provide each other a shoulder to lean on. "I wanted to get women back to Boston and back together," she told the Echo. "I sensed a void in the city because people were working from home but also a void in the attendance at Irish events. I was seeing the same faces at every event and realised that some were being left out — people who perhaps found it daunting to return to Irish gatherings."
The women's network Mná Mheiriceá was set up with the simplest of goals — to help women meet their peers. Kicking off the new movement were Sunday morning walks on Castle Island peninsula in South Boston — free and open to women from all backgrounds. "We have made a real commitment to turn out on the first Sunday of each month and while a very simple activity the health benefits of a walk with others can't be overestimated. Our attendances are growing but what is particularly satisfying to me is that we are bringing in stay-at-home mums and others who don't usually get a chance to mix with their Irish peers."
Join us for our December Wellness Walk! Enjoy some fresh air & connection while getting your steps in. 🚶🏼♀️☀️
See you at Castle Island at 11am Sunday December 1st!
Reserve your spot here - https://t.co/fTfZdoqsbo#bostonma #wellnesswalk #bostonevents #womensevents pic.twitter.com/WJHfJXrSvd
— Mná Mheiriceá (@mnamheiricea) November 12, 2024
Not surprisingly, the "fast-growing" Mná Mheiriceá also boasts business network activities. "Our big business breakfast in September at the UMass Club brought young professionals and business women from across Boston," explains Curtin. "Our goal is to encourage and promote young women in the Irish community. They are facing the same struggles I faced when starting out in business and I want to embolden them in their journey. Our message to women who come to our events is, 'don't expect a name badge when you arrive, instead bring your whole self — our gatherings are about people rather than about business.'"
From its Boston base, Mná Mheiriceá has attracted interest from across America. "I'm very keen to explore the possibility of setting up chapters not just in New York and Chicago but also in Ireland," adds Curtin. "But alongside any geographic expansion, I would also like to develop a mentorship program with perhaps a special focus on the young J1 grads coming out to America."
A relatively recent arrival on these shores — she left her beloved Clare in 1999 — this newcomer found her feet swiftly courtesy of the famously welcoming Boston Irish. She has repaid that generosity in spades through her leadership of the Greater Boston Irish Cultural Center (formerly the Irish Cultural Center of New England but under any title still the biggest Irish hub in the country).
"My Irishness is very important to me," she explains. "I'm very proud of my heritage and return to Clare often."
As she looks to the future, one thing is clear, there will be little moss gathering under this rolling stone. Curtin's decision to take on an arduous MBA course (and emerge with the Business School's special Impact Award) was driven by her determination not to relax unduly during her non-compete period post-sale. That non-compete period now over and freshly-armed with her MBA, the Clarewoman already has plans for a new concierge care company.
"Since I came to America, I've not been afraid to take a risk," she concludes. "Failure never frightened me. I take the view that you learn from everything you do. And I have a lot left to do."
