Dylan Walsh, the founder and CEO of Celtic Dynamics, has an impressive journey that led him to his current role. Born and raised in Galway, Dylan studied energy engineering at the National University of Ireland, Galway. His passion for environmental issues grew during his time working with the local aquarium. After college, he spent three years traveling the world with an energy solutions company. This global experience fuelled his ambition to create Celtic Dynamics, a company dedicated to advancing energy solutions. We at CIO Global, are proud to introduce Dylan Walsh as one of the Promising CEOs to Watch, 2024.
Dylan’s inspiration to start Celtic Dynamics wasn’t sparked by a single event but by numerous interactions with passionate individuals in the climate action space during his eight years at the Galway Aquarium. Witnessing the damaging effects of climate change and meeting like-minded people solidified his resolve to make a significant impact. The values of Celtic Dynamics — courage, friendliness, sincerity, reliability, knowledge, wisdom, love, light, hope, kindness, and going beyond — reflect Dylan’s belief in the power of teamwork to solve complex issues creatively and effectively. The company’s mission is to inspire advanced creative solutions in energy and technical engineering.
“Balancing long-term goals with short-term needs involves strategic planning and effective communication.”
Looking ahead, Dylan has set ambitious goals for Celtic Dynamics. In the coming year, the company aims to expand its success in energy audits and projects to a global scale, promoting new services like ESG reporting and energy management options. Key milestones include expanding the team beyond Ireland, achieving tenfold business growth, and reaching over 2,000 clients globally by the end of 2025. These goals align with the company’s long-term vision to support clients in achieving their decarbonization and energy goals creatively. For Dylan, success at Celtic Dynamics is measured by the lasting impact the company creates, not just numbers. Key performance indicators include the number of projects completed, energy savings in kWh, CO2 savings, and cost savings for clients. Customer satisfaction and employee engagement are also crucial. Building long-lasting relationships with clients is only possible with an engaged and motivated team. Specific achievements, like the number of sites impacted and the energy savings facilitated, symbolize the company’s success.
As a CEO, Dylan faces many challenges. One significant challenge is the constant responsibility towards his team, ensuring everyone is cared for and motivated. Hiring new team members who fit well with the company culture and have the right experience has also been challenging. During the hiring process, Dylan focuses more on understanding candidates’ personalities and values than their qualifications. This approach has shown him that while qualifications are important, they don’t necessarily reflect a person’s potential to integrate and contribute positively to the team.
To keep his team motivated and focused, Dylan organizes meet-ups, rewards good work with professional development opportunities, and fosters creativity. The team engages in fun activities like fantasy leagues and attends industry events. Clear communication is maintained through regular meetings such as weekly Work in Progress and LION meetings, monthly company brainstorms, and bi-weekly training sessions. These practices help maintain team morale and ensure everyone is aligned with the company’s goals. Celtic Dynamics stands out in the industry for several reasons. The company’s creativity, speed, and expertise in grants and energy audits set it apart from competitors. Offering a broad range of creative solutions gives Celtic Dynamics an edge, with a unique value proposition that guarantees identifying at least 30% energy savings and a 100% approval rate for grant applications. Innovations like their automated Energy Report system and in-house developed ESG Reporting service allow them to deliver more specific and efficient solutions to clients.
“Innovation is encouraged through monthly brainstorm sessions, creative independence, and R&D opportunities.”
Recently, Celtic Dynamics celebrated a significant milestone. This month, they reached 500 clients, achieved 1,500 GWh in energy savings, saved 140 million euros in costs, and reduced CO2 emissions by 500 tonnes. This success has enabled the company to grow and support more clients, showcasing the impact of their previous projects. When hiring new employees, Dylan Walsh prioritizes honesty, reliability, creativity, kindness, and technical capabilities. The most critical skills and experiences include expertise in energy and multidisciplinary engineering, self-teaching ability, and a willingness to learn. Cultural fit and alignment with the company’s values are extremely important, ensuring new hires can contribute positively to Celtic Dynamics’ mission of impacting the climate crisis.
Innovation is a cornerstone of Celtic Dynamics. The company encourages innovation through monthly brainstorming sessions, providing creative independence, and offering R&D opportunities. Staying informed about industry trends and technological advancements is facilitated by in-house research systems and subscriptions to industry forums and socials. The team is highly adaptable, with bi-weekly training sessions on new technologies, regulations, and grants. Projects like their decarbonization efforts for clients across Ireland highlight their commitment to innovation. Technology plays a central role in Celtic Dynamics’ business strategy, especially in integrating new energy-efficient solutions. The adoption of AI has significantly accelerated their development, enabling the company to stay ahead of competitors. Continually integrating new technologies into their operations ensures they deliver the best solutions to clients.
Balancing long-term goals with short-term needs involves strategic planning and effective communication. Dylan Walsh ensures tasks and projects are prioritized by reviewing objectives weekly and monthly. Effective resource management is supported by an in-house work management system, and the balance between long-term and short-term goals is communicated to the team and stakeholders through presentations and reports. For those aspiring to become CEOs, Dylan advises continuous learning and being strategically open to taking risks. Prioritizing people is crucial, as a strong, motivated team leads to the success of the company. Developing people skills, sales, and marketing expertise is essential. He emphasizes that being a CEO often involves significant personal sacrifice and risk, especially in the early stages.
Handling failure involves analyzing the situation, systemizing solutions to prevent recurrence, and seeking help when needed. Dylan views failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. Encouraging the team to develop automated systems and standard operating procedures (SOPs) helps Celtic Dynamics collectively learn from setbacks and become more resilient. Outside of work, Dylan enjoys art, karaoke, playing basketball, and trying new activities. These hobbies, along with spending time with friends and family, help him manage stress and maintain a work-life balance. Art, in particular, serves as a form of meditation, allowing him to disconnect from work and rejuvenate. Maintaining these interests is crucial for his overall well-being and productivity.
“Our company’s values reflect my belief that with the right support, teams can solve complex issues creatively and effectively.”
