Irish Start Up to Global CEO: AIB Start-Up Academy Finalists pick their favourite Fortune 500 companies

If time and money were not an option...

During the AIB Start-Up Academy, JOE managed to have a chat with the lucky finalists to find out a bit more about them. One thing we wanted to know was just how aspirational our finalists were when it came to thinking big, so we asked them what Fortune 500 company they would most like to be in charge of.

Pic via Fortune Magazine - Facebook 

The AIB Start-Up Academy is now coming to a close and the finalists will be making their last big pitch on Thursday March 26, and the winner will be announced on the night. So without further ado, here's a look at the large and hugely successful companies our AIB Start-Up Academy Finalists decided they'd most like to run.

Liz Fingleton – Obeo

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Whole Foods Market. I love what they stand for and their ethos. Not to mention we could then roll out Obeo across the States.

Gail Condon – Writing for Tiny

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Mattell toys, only because there isn’t a children’s book publisher on it….yet! I would change a lot as CEO of Mattell. I recently watched a documentary on Fisher Price, which were acquired by Mattell. They have fantastic toys. I would focus on Fisher Price and put Barbie in the bin. Barbies are a ridiculous toy in my opinion... sorry if I've offended any fans of hers.

Dave McGeady – Wyldsson

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Whole Foods. I love what they do. The first thing I’d do is set up a bunch of stores in Ireland!

Bernie Kinsella – Worldbox

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Which CEO gets paid the most?

Phillip Martin – Blanco Nino

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Personally, I have zero interest in being in charge of any Fortune 500 company. However, I'd love to see one of my own companies reach that level some day.

Febien Peyaud – Herdwatch

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. To be honest, I love the small and medium business world, so I have never really lusted for the world of a Fortune 500 company. That being said, if I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse, it would probably come from one of the top tech software companies, like Microsoft or Google. Those 2 companies have the power to influence and improve the lives of literally billions of people through the power of technology.

Seamus Tighe – Everest Granola

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of?  A. I would love to be in charge of Starbucks as it has similar traits and services to Everest Granola. Starbucks started as a small operation in Seattle and its growth has been phenomenal. The business is very scalable and has a strong management structure in place with great locations and a worldwide brand recognition. It is my opinion that there are synergies between what they have achieved and what is possible for Everest Granola Cups.

Shane Lynn – KillBiller

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? A. Boeing. Private jets for everyone! We don't have to be good at running the new company, do we?

Karl McCarthy - Usher

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? Apple. I would cut their product prices by 70 per cent to what they really should be.

James Winans - Vanguard Beer Collective

Q. What Fortune 500 company would you MOST like to be in charge of? Who has time for a Fortune 500 company? I’m too busy building Vanguard up to that level right now...