Last Thursday, Scarisbrick Hall School welcomed renowned business leader Ronan Dunne—Chair of Six Nations Rugby, former CEO of Verizon Consumer Group and O2 Telefonica, and advocate for youth empowerment. Speaking to 250 students, guests from Auckland College (South Liverpool), and local business leaders, Dunne shared invaluable insights on leadership, resilience, and using individual impact to create global change.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Leadership
Ronan’s journey started far from the boardroom—his first job flipping burgers at McDonald’s remains one of his favourites. From there, he rose to the top of global business, proving that leadership isn’t about titles, but about integrity, courage, and vision. He captivated students with stories of securing the iPhone’s exclusive UK launch in 2007 and handling O2’s 19-hour network outage in 2013, calling it his Kipling moment: “Success lies in keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs.”
Dunne’s first lesson: It is not what you do, but what you make happen. Great leaders enable others to succeed, focusing on impact rather than individual effort.
His story aligned perfectly with Scarisbrick Hall’s RIVER philosophy (Resilience, Integrity, Vision, Empathy, Respect). He spoke about the pressure of leading through crises, reminding students: “Leadership isn’t about avoiding failure. It’s about owning it, learning from it, and emerging stronger.”
Dunne’s second lesson: To be an effective leader, build an effective team. True success comes from valuing diverse perspectives and empowering others to contribute their strengths.
Integrity and Business for Good
Ronan emphasised the importance of businesses acting as a force for good, citing O2’s Think Big Youth Programme, which has funded thousands of social impact projects. He urged students to think beyond personal gain: “Success means leaving something behind that’s better because you were there.”
He also advised: Exercise judgment as to when to exercise judgment. Rushing to make an impact can be counterproductive; smart leaders gather the right information before making critical decisions.
Dunne’s belief in the power of curiosity resonated with students aspiring to top universities like Cambridge and Oxford (Pathways to Oxbridge and Beyond) and those looking to go straight into apprenticeships. He described how digital transformation—turning phones into “remote controls for life”—has revolutionised industries and opened opportunities for innovative thinkers – even though he never went to university himself.
His fourth lesson: Leadership should happen at every level. Those closest to an issue often make the best decisions. Encouraging leadership across an organisation fosters agility and innovation.
Scarisbrick Hall has a history of producing leaders across industries, from professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood to businesswoman Nisha Katona (founder of Mowgli) and global thought leader Lord Michael Hastings. With The 154th Open set to take place at Royal Birkdale in 2026—the oldest golf tournament in the world—Dunne’s message was clear: use local opportunities to create a global impact.
His fifth lesson: Authenticity is the gateway to true leadership. The best leaders know their strengths and are unafraid to admit what they don’t know.
Defining the Future
As Ronan Dunne prepares for his next chapter, he left students with a final lesson: Know the question before you try to answer it. Rushing into decisions without clarity often leads to missteps. Taking the time to define a problem accelerates the path to the right solution.
At Scarisbrick Hall, we believe in developing leaders who are resilient, innovative, and prepared to make a global impact. Ronan Dunne’s visit reinforced this vision—proving that true success isn’t just about personal achievement, but about lifting others as you climb.
Watch the full event recap on our Youtube video:
