Some of the minds behind the mission

Our leadership team has worked in fast-growing, ambitious businesses in the tech and SaaS industries.

Stride brings together expertise from the worlds of event management, project management office (PMO), branding, marketing, internal comms, HR and people leadership, strategic operations, diversity, equity and  inclusion (DE&I).

GET TO KNOW ME

Get To Know Me

Barry (he/him) is passionate about creating meaningful impact through his work, partnering with companies to improve how people collaborate and make decisions at work. With a strong belief in the power of teams over individuals, Barry co-founded Stride to empower people to do their best work. Committed to a global perspective and human-centred approach, he values collaboration, both internally and with partners. Outside of work, Barry enjoys travel, which fuels his curiosity about people.

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Get To Know Me

Imer (she/her) is a versatile leader with a rich blend of experience across the SaaS, Tech, Digital and PR & Communications sectors, having guided companies from Series A to post-IPO. Recently pivoting to Chief Operating Officer after 20+ years as an HR and people leader, Imer excels in cross-functional roles, driving growth and championing equality in the workplace. Guided by values of integrity, she brings a people-first approach to every challenge. Beyond work, Imer enjoys live music, fashion, travel, and is an advocate for feminist beliefs.

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Get To Know Me

Ashley (she/her) is a dynamic experience designer, employee engagement nerd, and co-founder of The Optimist Collective. With over a decade in tech at companies like Uber and Asana, she creates innovative spaces for connection, from brand events to company kickoffs. Driven by a commitment to fostering authentic experiences, she weaves purpose and delight into every interaction. A matcha enthusiast and avid traveller, she makes ordinary magical, one thoughtfully curated moment at a time.

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Get To Know Me

Jane (she/her) is a seasoned communications leader and brand strategist with a strong background in people engagement, marketing, event management, and experience design. Jane brings a unique blend of strategic vision and creative execution to her work, crafting dynamic experiences that inspire connection and engagement. When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, Jane loves exploring different parts of the world, adding to her long list of favourite restaurants and spending quality time with family and her dogs.

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Get To Know Me

Thais (She/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride with a passion for events and fostering meaningful connections across the globe. With experience delivering impactful events across EMEA, AMER, and APAC, she excels at creating spaces where people come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Having moved from Brazil to Ireland seven years ago, Thais deeply values the power of connection and belonging. In her free time, Thais enjoys cold sea swims and discovering new coffee shops.

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Debby thrives on producing events that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. In her role as Lead Experience Partner at Stride, she combines 25+ years of event production expertise with a passion for leading creative teams that love connecting people in impactful ways. Outside of work, Debby enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying live music with her family and lifelong friends.

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Niall has a deep passion for events, fuelled by nearly 20 years in the industry. He thrives on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow together. As an Experience Partner at Stride, Niall combines his expertise with a people-first approach to deliver impactful results. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated sports enthusiast and loves sharing his passion with his kids, building memories one game at a time.

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Claire Horan (she/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride who is passionate about delivering events that stand out. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring ideas to life, Claire thrives on creating memorable experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. With her enthusiasm and approachable style, Claire brings a fresh perspective and a personal touch to every project she takes on. When she’s not immersed in event planning, you’ll find her exploring new places, staying active, or catching live music with friends.

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Carla (she/her) is a numbers enthusiast with nearly 10 years of accounting experience spanning various industries. She brings a positive, can-do attitude to her role as Accounts Assistant while supporting Stride’s mission to build meaningful connections and deliver memorable and impactful experiences. When Carla's not working, you’ll find her playing tennis, at live gigs with her friends, or exploring new walking spots with her dog.

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Get To Know Me

As an Experience Coordinator, Natalie combines her background in sports and hospitality with her love for teamwork and problem-solving. Natalie channels her adventurous spirit to curate events that are as dynamic and engaging as she is. Outside of work, Natalie’s adventurous spirit comes alive, whether she’s playing sports, attending live music events, exploring new food spots with friends, or capturing moments through her camera lens. Her enthusiasm and love for exploration ensure every event she coordinates is unforgettable and impactful.

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Get To Know Me

Passionate about systemising business finance functions, Richard believes in empowering people by providing them with accurate, complete and meaningful financial information, and also equipping them with an understanding of it, so that they can make informed decisions (to bring about whatever it is that they desire). As well as enjoying translating all things into their equivalent spreadsheet form, Richard loves to surf, dance (sometimes simultaneously) and chill out while sipping some homebrewed kombucha or some curious blend of organic medicinal tea.

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

The minds behind the mission

Our leadership team has worked in fast-growing, ambitious businesses in the tech and SaaS industries.

Stride brings together  expertise from the worlds of event management, project management office (PMO), branding, marketing, internal comms, HR and people leadership, strategic operations, diversity, equity and  inclusion (DE&I).

GET TO KNOW ME

Get To Know Me

Barry (he/him) is passionate about creating meaningful impact through his work, partnering with companies to improve how people collaborate and make decisions at work. With a strong belief in the power of teams over individuals, Barry co-founded Stride to empower people to do their best work. Committed to a global perspective and human-centred approach, he values collaboration, both internally and with partners. Outside of work, Barry enjoys travel, which fuels his curiosity about people.

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Get To Know Me

Imer (she/her) is a versatile leader with a rich blend of experience across the SaaS, Tech, Digital and PR & Communications sectors, having guided companies from Series A to post-IPO. Recently pivoting to Chief Operating Officer after 20+ years as an HR and people leader, Imer excels in cross-functional roles, driving growth and championing equality in the workplace. Guided by values of integrity, she brings a people-first approach to every challenge. Beyond work, Imer enjoys live music, fashion, travel, and is an advocate for feminist beliefs.

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Get To Know Me

Ashley (she/her) is a dynamic experience designer, employee engagement nerd, and co-founder of The Optimist Collective. With over a decade in tech at companies like Uber and Asana, she creates innovative spaces for connection, from brand events to company kickoffs. Driven by a commitment to fostering authentic experiences, she weaves purpose and delight into every interaction. A matcha enthusiast and avid traveller, she makes ordinary magical, one thoughtfully curated moment at a time.

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Get To Know Me

Jane (she/her) is a seasoned communications leader and brand strategist with a strong background in people engagement, marketing, event management, and experience design. Jane brings a unique blend of strategic vision and creative execution to her work, crafting dynamic experiences that inspire connection and engagement. When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, Jane loves exploring different parts of the world, adding to her long list of favourite restaurants and spending quality time with family and her dogs.

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Get To Know Me

Thais (She/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride with a passion for events and fostering meaningful connections across the globe. With experience delivering impactful events across EMEA, AMER, and APAC, she excels at creating spaces where people come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Having moved from Brazil to Ireland seven years ago, Thais deeply values the power of connection and belonging. In her free time, Thais enjoys cold sea swims and discovering new coffee shops.

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Debby thrives on producing events that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. In her role as Lead Experience Partner at Stride, she combines 25+ years of event production expertise with a passion for leading creative teams that love connecting people in impactful ways. Outside of work, Debby enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying live music with her family and lifelong friends.

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Niall has a deep passion for events, fuelled by nearly 20 years in the industry. He thrives on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow together. As an Experience Partner at Stride, Niall combines his expertise with a people-first approach to deliver impactful results. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated sports enthusiast and loves sharing his passion with his kids, building memories one game at a time.

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Claire Horan (she/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride who is passionate about delivering events that stand out. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring ideas to life, Claire thrives on creating memorable experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. With her enthusiasm and approachable style, Claire brings a fresh perspective and a personal touch to every project she takes on. When she’s not immersed in event planning, you’ll find her exploring new places, staying active, or catching live music with friends.

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Carla (she/her) is a numbers enthusiast with nearly 10 years of accounting experience spanning various industries. She brings a positive, can-do attitude to her role as Accounts Assistant while supporting Stride’s mission to build meaningful connections and deliver memorable and impactful experiences. When Carla's not working, you’ll find her playing tennis, at live gigs with her friends, or exploring new walking spots with her dog.

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Get To Know Me

As an Experience Coordinator, Natalie combines her background in sports and hospitality with her love for teamwork and problem-solving. Natalie channels her adventurous spirit to curate events that are as dynamic and engaging as she is. Outside of work, Natalie’s adventurous spirit comes alive, whether she’s playing sports, attending live music events, exploring new food spots with friends, or capturing moments through her camera lens. Her enthusiasm and love for exploration ensure every event she coordinates is unforgettable and impactful.

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Get To Know Me

Passionate about systemising business finance functions, Richard believes in empowering people by providing them with accurate, complete and meaningful financial information, and also equipping them with an understanding of it, so that they can make informed decisions (to bring about whatever it is that they desire). As well as enjoying translating all things into their equivalent spreadsheet form, Richard loves to surf, dance (sometimes simultaneously) and chill out while sipping some homebrewed kombucha or some curious blend of organic medicinal tea.

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

Get To Know Me

Barry (he/him) is passionate about creating meaningful impact through his work, partnering with companies to improve how people collaborate and make decisions at work. With a strong belief in the power of teams over individuals, Barry co-founded Stride to empower people to do their best work. Committed to a global perspective and human-centred approach, he values collaboration, both internally and with partners. Outside of work, Barry enjoys travel, which fuels his curiosity about people.

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Barry Plunkett

Founder & CEO

Get To Know Me

Imer (she/her) is a versatile leader with a rich blend of experience across the SaaS, Tech, Digital and PR & Communications sectors, having guided companies from Series A to post-IPO. Recently pivoting to Chief Operating Officer after 20+ years as an HR and people leader, Imer excels in cross-functional roles, driving growth and championing equality in the workplace. Guided by values of integrity, she brings a people-first approach to every challenge. Beyond work, Imer enjoys live music, fashion, travel, and is an advocate for feminist beliefs.

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Imer Cakiroglu

Chief Operating Officer

Get To Know Me

Ashley (she/her) is a dynamic experience designer, employee engagement nerd, and co-founder of The Optimist Collective. With over a decade in tech at companies like Uber and Asana, she creates innovative spaces for connection, from brand events to company kickoffs. Driven by a commitment to fostering authentic experiences, she weaves purpose and delight into every interaction. A matcha enthusiast and avid traveller, she makes ordinary magical, one thoughtfully curated moment at a time.

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Ashley Frabasilio

Head of Experience Partnership AMER

Get To Know Me

Jane (she/her) is a seasoned communications leader and brand strategist with a strong background in people engagement, marketing, event management, and experience design. Jane brings a unique blend of strategic vision and creative execution to her work, crafting dynamic experiences that inspire connection and engagement. When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, Jane loves exploring different parts of the world, adding to her long list of favourite restaurants and spending quality time with family and her dogs.

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Jane Dundon

Head of Experience Partnership EMEA

Get To Know Me

Thais (She/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride with a passion for events and fostering meaningful connections across the globe. With experience delivering impactful events across EMEA, AMER, and APAC, she excels at creating spaces where people come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Having moved from Brazil to Ireland seven years ago, Thais deeply values the power of connection and belonging. In her free time, Thais enjoys cold sea swims and discovering new coffee shops.

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Thais Rebua

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Debby thrives on producing events that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. In her role as Lead Experience Partner at Stride, she combines 25+ years of event production expertise with a passion for leading creative teams that love connecting people in impactful ways. Outside of work, Debby enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying live music with her family and lifelong friends.

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Debby Courtney

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Niall has a deep passion for events, fuelled by nearly 20 years in the industry. He thrives on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow together. As an Experience Partner at Stride, Niall combines his expertise with a people-first approach to deliver impactful results. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated sports enthusiast and loves sharing his passion with his kids, building memories one game at a time.

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Niall Slowey

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Claire Horan (she/her) is an Experience Partner at Stride who is passionate about delivering events that stand out. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring ideas to life, Claire thrives on creating memorable experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. With her enthusiasm and approachable style, Claire brings a fresh perspective and a personal touch to every project she takes on. When she’s not immersed in event planning, you’ll find her exploring new places, staying active, or catching live music with friends.

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Claire Horan

Experience Partner

Get To Know Me

Carla (she/her) is a numbers enthusiast with nearly 10 years of accounting experience spanning various industries. She brings a positive, can-do attitude to her role as Accounts Assistant while supporting Stride’s mission to build meaningful connections and deliver memorable and impactful experiences. When Carla's not working, you’ll find her playing tennis, at live gigs with her friends, or exploring new walking spots with her dog.

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Carla McEllone

Accounts Assistant

Get To Know Me

As an Experience Coordinator, Natalie combines her background in sports and hospitality with her love for teamwork and problem-solving. Natalie channels her adventurous spirit to curate events that are as dynamic and engaging as she is. Outside of work, Natalie’s adventurous spirit comes alive, whether she’s playing sports, attending live music events, exploring new food spots with friends, or capturing moments through her camera lens. Her enthusiasm and love for exploration ensure every event she coordinates is unforgettable and impactful.

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Natalie Calbario

Experience Coordinator

Get To Know Me

Passionate about systemising business finance functions, Richard believes in empowering people by providing them with accurate, complete and meaningful financial information, and also equipping them with an understanding of it, so that they can make informed decisions (to bring about whatever it is that they desire). As well as enjoying translating all things into their equivalent spreadsheet form, Richard loves to surf, dance (sometimes simultaneously) and chill out while sipping some homebrewed kombucha or some curious blend of organic medicinal tea.

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

Richard Boate

Head of Finance

How we work

Our guiding principles

We are allies

We support your strategy and outcomes at every stage. As your ally we will never forget whose project this is and what matters to you most.

We are thinkers

We won’t rush to the first solution. We will always find the time to think, even when the pressure is at its most intense

We are energisers

We love momentum. We are exuberantly positive and  quietly effective. But we will never let a project lose pace and direction.

We are allies

We support your strategy and outcomes at every stage. As your ally we will never forget whose project this is and what matters to you most.

We are thinkers

We won’t rush to the first solution. We will always find the time to think, even when the pressure is at its most intense

We are energisers

We love momentum. We are exuberantly positive and  quietly effective. But we will never let a project lose pace and direction.

"Handee's ability to adapt to our evolving needs has been invaluable. They not only provided us with cutting-edge solutions but also supported us with actionable analytics and performance metrics that allowed us to make informed decisions."
Fiona Nic Choilligh
CEO, GreenEarth Solutions
"Choosing Handee was a strategic investment in our future!"Their strategic foresight and innovative campaign execution delivered immediate and sustainable results. Working with Handee has been instrumental in achieving our growth objectives."
Hanna Phan
President, Tech Innovators Inc.
"Handee's ability to combine data-driven strategies with captivating creative content resulted in campaigns that were not only impactful but also memorable. Partnering with Handee has been instrumental in achieving our marketing objectives"
Christopher Brown
CEO, Green Energy Corp.
"Handee's expertise elevated our brand to new heights!They leveraged cutting-edge technologies and analytics to continuously refine our campaigns, demonstrating a commitment to excellence that exceeded our expectations."
Robert Miller
President, SmartApps LLC
"Handee exceeded our expectations in every way possible! They took the time to truly understand our brand and audience, crafting a tailored strategy that not only resonated with our target market but also drove tangible results."
Sophia Wilson
CMO, Digital Dynamics Inc.
"Choosing Handee was the best decision we made for our brand! Their team's dedication and attention to detail were evident throughout the entire process, ensuring that every aspect of our campaign was meticulously executed."
Anthony Lewis
Head of Sales, Blue Ocean Trading
"Handee is more than just an agency, they're a true partner in our success. From revamping our website to launching social media campaigns, Handee's multifaceted approach drove measurable results that surpassed our expectations."
Sophia Wilson
CEO, Quantum Labs
"Handee set a new standard for our brand's digital They took the time to understand our industry nuances and target audience preferences, resulting in campaigns that not only resonated but also drove significant conversions."
Sarah Johnson
CFO, DataMax Solutions
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Captivating line in here about the beginnings of Stride, where we’ve come from and what we are about

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100+

Projects Completed

50k+

People connected

Photo illustrating team work

What our clients think