In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Paolina Hawthorne. Paolina is the Managing Director of Diversity NI, one of Northern Ireland’s leading interpreting and translation companies. Originally from Bulgaria, Paolina built the business from the ground up, offering face-to-face and remote language services in over 200 languages, with a focus on rare and hard-to-source dialects. Her journey has been marked by resilience, adaptability and a deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion. As she reflects on 15 years of entrepreneurship, Paolina continues to refine her company’s strategic direction while also working on two exciting books - one on interpreting and another chronicling the real-life highs and lows of running a small business.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Stuart McAllister. Stuart is the founder of Belfast Storm, an esports and gaming organisation rooted in community and competitive excellence. With a background as a former player and deep passion for the gaming world, Stuart has built his business to support young talent across Northern Ireland and beyond. As a business owner, he's learned the value of consistency, resilience, and investing in people - all while balancing the challenges of funding and growth. Looking ahead, Stuart’s focus is on building out coaching programs, school partnerships and creating infrastructure that gives gamers the resources they need to thrive.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast we feature Mark Gilligan. Mark is the founder of Wizso, an innovative start-up tackling water waste with a simple yet effective product designed to reduce unnecessary toilet flushes. Drawing from his background as a civil engineer and global experience in water-scarce regions, Mark developed Wizso to help individuals and businesses lower their environmental footprint by avoiding the flush for small uses. His biggest learning as a business owner has been the importance of patience, realism, and trusting others. As Wizso prepares for full market launch, Mark is focused on expanding into commercial sectors like hospitality and exploring international opportunities. Be sure to turn into Mark's fascinating business journey!