MENTOR / SHOE DESIGNER / LECTURER & SPEAKER

HELPING creativeS & FOUNDERS DEFINE THEIR STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS.

Are you a founder or solopreneur with an innovative new idea? Need some help combining the creative with the pragmatic?

Let’s work together to design your unique roadmap for success.

design LEADERSHIP & mentoring

I use design skills and rigorous thinking to simplify complex business problems and enhance creative & professional development. I work with startups, SMEs and individuals to identify goals, troubleshoot product creation & futureproof their business.

Specialising in:

  • Mentoring founders & SMEs

  • Design thinking & creative strategy

  • Fractional head of footwear product creation roles

  • Speaking and workshop guest engagements

services

  • From single power hours to ongoing support, let’s brainstorm your goals and challenges.

    Common topics include goal-setting, feasibility reporting & deck reviews, briefing creatives & onboarding, board meeting prep, critical path management, supply chain management, effective prioritising and founder work-life balance.

  • Footwear design and development services include:

    Fractional head of footwear

    Factory introductions & supply chain managment

    Special projects & collabs

  • Topics & workshops include:

    Design thinking & innovation

    Entrepreneurship

    Mentoring

    Portfolio careers

Caoimhe has a unique talent for gently guiding me towards greater self-confidence. Her approach involves practical, actionable tasks and habits that have proven instrumental in my personal as well as professional growth. I’m so grateful for their mentorship, I feel more empowered and capable than ever.

— Isabella Sumner, CEO & Founder Inhaus.ai

HI, I’M CAOIMHE (QUEE-VA)

I've been a shoe designer on the British high street and for global brands for over twenty years. Back in 2021, I decided to pivot and focus on footwear startups and smaller fashion brands. 

Since then, I’ve set up design teams and supply chains. Developed complex luxury footwear in Italy and been the chief shoe-wrangler backstage in Milan during fashion week.

I've also taught business management to fashion students and mentored founders and entrepreneurs. I've facilitated design thinking and innovation workshops. Helped influencers create business plans & turned ideas into revenue streams.

It’s been a busy time figuring out solopreneuring and a portfolio career!

And now here I am, ready to share all I’ve learned with you. Reach out if there's a situation or goal you could use help to break down, I’d love to hear more and see if we’re a fit!

Brands I’ve worked with

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What they say

  • IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT DESIGN THINKING FROM A DESIGNER, AND GET HELP ON HOW TO USE IT TO SOLVE BUSINESS PROBLEMS, THEN YOU NEED CAOIMHE KELLY.

    Sophia Matveeva, CEO & Founder , Tech For Non-Techies

  • Caoimhe has worked as a freelance footwear developer with the team at Charles Jeffrey Loverboy since March 2022. She has supported us to develop a complex shoe all the way from concept to industrialisation. Her knowledge across a variety of construction techniques has been very insightful. Its been great to take ideas from concept to final production so smoothly and efficiently.

    Naomi Ingleby, Product Director, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy

  • CAOIMHE'S WORKSHOP CONTENT IS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF INFORMATIVE, ENGAGING AND CHALLENGING. SHE HAS BEEN SUCH AN ASSET TO OUR COURSE.

    Muireann McMahon, Associate Professor and Design Researcher at School of Design, University of Limerick

Let’s work together.

I’m always happy to have an initial conversation about your situation and your goals. Drop me a line to set up a call!