Mayo native nominated for major award
Bernie Murtagh, daughter of Paddy and Margaret Murtagh, of Fauleighter, Aghamore, has been named a finalist in this year’s Women in Business Excellence Awards (WIBEAs).
Organised by the Irish Women in Business Network, the WIBEAs celebrate the ambition, innovation, and success of women across Ireland. Finalists are recognised across six categories: Digital and Tech, Finance, Services, Wellness and Lifestyle, Hospitality and Tourism, and Retail.
Bernie is recognised in the Digital and Tech category for her outstanding contribution to modern digital workplace transformation.
She works as an independent modern workplace consultant specialising in Microsoft Viva Engage, where she helps organisations turn digital ghost towns into thriving online communities. She was also recently appointed as a trusted advisor and influencer for the Irish brand Workvivo by Zoom, a leading employee experience platform that brings culture, communication, and connection to life.
Operating under her personal brand, Engage with Bernie, she blends strategy, storytelling, and human insight to create meaningful employee engagement in hybrid and remote environments. Her work has earned her recognition as a Top 5 Global Viva Engage Expert, a LinkedIn Top Community Voice, and a European Community Manager Award winner.
She’s also been featured on the front cover of , the UK’s first printed business newspaper, in an edition focused on community and networking. Her insights have also appeared in several business magazines, highlighting her expertise in digital community-building and workplace culture.
Bernie is an active member of several female-led digital business communities - spaces rich with mentorship, emotional support, and shared wisdom - where she contributes and learns alongside other women shaping the future of work.
“Platforms don’t build culture. People do,” she says, a belief that underpins her work and her recent recognition as a finalist at the Women in Business Excellence Awards.
“In the fast-paced world of digital and tech, being seen and celebrated as an independent consultant is no small thing - it means a great deal to be recognised in this way,” Bernie adds.
Congratulations, Bernie - fingers crossed for another piece of silverware coming home to Mayo!
