Ramona Nicholas

Ramona Nicholas is a self made, Award winning, Female Entrepreneur who is the Joint Managing Director of the Cara Group, which holds 13 Pharmacies, 2 Cara Home stores and also a thriving Online store. She was also quoted as the only person in the Irish Independent '40 under 40' in 2013 to watch in Retail. She completed two series as a Dragon on the RTE Series 'Dragons Den' and also was the only female and youngest person to complete the Series 'The Secret Millionaire' in 2012. She speaks publicly around the country, on many subjects and also has MC'd many events. She is often seen gracing our screens on other programmes, such as The Late Late Show, Xposé and UTV. The Cara Group was formed with her husband in 2002, and over the last 15 years the group has grown to a turnover of over €25 Million +. The company employs over 180 people, with their head office based in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. A Qualified Pharmacist, she is highly skilled in Strategic Planning, HR, Aggressive Purchasing Methods, Design Management, Accounting Structures, Web Development and much more. She is extremely passionate about Retail and Brand Management both on the High Street and through eCommerce. The Company has won many Awards under her guidance, including the Deloitte Best Managed Company 2012, 2013, and 2014, and achieved the Gold Standard in 2015, 2016 and most recently this year 2017. Ramona was selected as one of the 'TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN ' in Ireland in June, 2014 by WXN, and made a keynote speech at the Awards Ceremony along with Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman. She was also awarded Queens University 'Graduate of the Year' in 2013, and 'Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014' by WMN (Women Mean Business) Ramona now resides on the coast of South Donegal with her husband Canice, son Alex (7) and daughter Sarah (1), but travels home often to her family in Dungannon regularly.