01 · Events & leadership teamsThe Positive Economist
Making economics actionable.
Presenter of Taking Stock, Newstalk's international economics show
- Keynote speaking
- Master of ceremonies
- Webinars
- Data & insights
HayesCulleton Group · Dublin · Since 2010
One group. Three ways to help people grow.
Speaking and conference hosting, active-learning technology and real-world experience for young people — a group of businesses devoted to helping people reach their highest potential, with clients across Europe and the USA.
The Positive EconomistMaking economics actionable.Active Peers AIScalable active learning ecosystems, personalised for every participant.Savvy TeensCareers, communication, confidence.The Positive EconomistMaking economics actionable.Active Peers AIScalable active learning ecosystems, personalised for every participant.Savvy TeensCareers, communication, confidence.
§ 01The businesses
Different audiences, one belief: positivity, rooted in practicality.
01 · Events & leadership teams
02 · Programmes at scaleActive Peers AI
Scalable active learning ecosystems, personalised for every participant.
- Programme design and delivery support
- Participant, mentor and stakeholder portals
- Structured journeys with milestones, tasks, journals and peer groups
- AI matchmaking to foster beneficial connections
03 · Young people & employersSavvy Teens
Careers, communication, confidence.
Tens of thousands of teenagers reached over the past decade
- Transition Year (TY) work experience programme
- Industry collabs
- School roadshow
- Book sponsorship & digital educational content
ArchiveSavvy Women Online — Top tips to upskill yourself and lead a richer life — is paused. Browse the archive
§ 02Working across the Group
Many of our clients work with more than one of our businesses.
One relationship, one team. Savvy Teens programmes run on Active Peers AI, so young people, teachers, mentors and sponsors all share one joined-up experience.
Savvy Teens + Active Peers AI
Engineering Across the Border — with MEGA, supported by InterTradeIreland
Real-world engineering, all-island
An all-island initiative led by Savvy Teens and MEGA that embedded real-world STEM experiences into students' education. Powered by Active Peers AI, its platform connected students, teachers and engineering professionals on real manufacturing challenges — mapping learning journeys, equipping mentors and giving the programme team real-time visibility of progress and outcomes.
- students across the island
- 300+
- students across the island
- manufacturing & engineering professionals
- 50+
- manufacturing & engineering professionals
- years
- 2
- years
“In my 14 years of teaching I've attended a lot of events, participated in a lot of projects … I was the most proud of this one.”
Savvy Teens + Active Peers AI
STEM TY Challenge — supported by STEM South West
A STEM challenge for secondary schools
A three-month, teacher-led Transition Year module: students visit a STEM company, get industry feedback on their work and showcase it at the end. Active Peers AI facilitated the Mentor Training Day and three Skills Bridge Days for STEM Cork Life Sciences Group.
- months, January to March
- 3
- months, January to March
- Skills Bridge Days
- 3
- Skills Bridge Days
“How TY students may not be aware of the STEM opportunities available to them during school and college — placement, etc.”
§ 03What connects them
One team
Run from Greenway Hub at TU Dublin Grangegorman, with clients across Europe and the USA.
Shared technology
Savvy Teens programmes are powered by Active Peers AI — the Group's own learning platform.
Shared values
- Realistic yet optimistic
- We practise what we preach
- Practical and implementable
§ 04Founder & Managing Director
Susan HayesCulleton, CFA
Presenter of Taking Stock on Newstalk and an international economics broadcaster, speaker and MC — speaking not from a distance, but from the lived reality of leading a business every day. A CFA charterholder and the author of seven books.
- Books
- 7
- Books
- Articles
- 450+
- Articles
- Events
- 600+
- Events
- Years' experience
- 15+
- Years' experience
On air & online
Podcasts, interviews and webinars with Susan.
Budget 2027, Explained Simply
The Personal Finance Show
Making Financial Literacy Engaging and Accessible for Teens
CFA Institute
Leadership and the Future of Work
Ulster University Business School
Managing Your Finances
Digg podcast, episode 113
§ 05 · In their words
On stage, in classrooms, in your ears.
The Positive Economist
“Susan is an inspirational public speaker, gifted with an ability to make complex information accessible to all. Her passion for her subject matter is palpable.”
Dawn Leane
LeaneLeaders
Savvy Teens
“It was amazing, I really like the company's work culture and I got to speak with a mentor. She gave good advice about choosing jobs to work in & travelling.”
TY Student
Transition Year work experience
“Thank you for the excellent contributions to the panel discussion on Financial Literacy for the next generation. We received excellent feedback from attendees and that is testament to your expertise.”
Eoin Diffley
Irish Life Investment Managers
Recent work
See all our workThe Positive Economist
Deutsche Börse Group & Clearstream
Rethinking financial confidence
A keynote for the global women@dbg networking event in Cork, exploring gender gaps in financial literacy, stock market participation and pension provision — and the steps attendees can take to strengthen their long-term financial security.
“Susan's talk left me considering my financial thermostat — how comfortable I am with money, and how best to ensure that my financial security is best served into the future.”
Active Peers AI
10x NorthWest Entrepreneurship Exchange
From participant to mentor
Short talks, structured mentoring and peer learning on practical ways to grow a business — from spotting where customers drop off to understanding a funder's perspective. Active Peers AI built the event app: speaker slides, attendee LinkedIn profiles and live feedback organisers could act on. Now in its second year, delivered by Susan both times. Keith Sleater of Sleater Solutions reported 50% sales growth after taking the advice to “work on the business, not in the business” — and came back as a mentor.
- sales growth for a past participant, now a mentor
- 50%
- sales growth for a past participant, now a mentor
- years running
- 2
- years running
Savvy Teens
Society of Actuaries in Ireland
TY weeks and a careers webinar
Transition Year weeks introducing students with an aptitude for maths to the actuarial profession, plus an online webinar on the life of an actuary for Senior Cycle students.
- webinar registrants
- 209
- webinar registrants
- panellists
- 6
- panellists
- questions from students
- 68
- questions from students
Recent clients & partners
- Deutsche Börse Group
- Bank of Ireland
- EirGrid
- PwC Ireland
- Davy
- Local Enterprise Offices
- Society of Actuaries in Ireland
- Offaly County Council
- InterTradeIreland
- Women in Business NI
- CFA Society Ireland
- Johnson & Johnson Ireland
- Ulster University
Funder, partner, sponsor or journalist? Start here.
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