My Business Life: Brendan Nourse, ISAVV

Brendan Nourse, managing director of ISSAV, shares his life and business lessons.

Brendan Nourse, is managing director of Image Supply Systems A. V. Limited (ISSAV), a leading Dublin-based provider of professional audio visual solutions and services.

The business has been delivering a comprehensive range of services and state of the art AV systems throughout Ireland and abroad for over 30 years.

With 30 employees, including a fully qualified and experienced inhouse technical team, ISSAV specialises in the installation and maintenance of audio visual, video conferencing and digital equipment for commercial, government, healthcare and education sectors.

Based in Dundrum Business Park in Dublin, ISSAV provide solutions at every project stage; from initial consultation and design to installation, user training, pro-active service maintenance and technical support.

ISSAV works with a diversified client base across a range of sectors including corporate, government, third level education, and healthcare sectors. Clients include Avolon, KPMG, Glanbia, Three, AerCap, Enterprise Ireland, Vodafone, RCSI and Uniphar.

The business recently joined the Econocom Group, a European leader in digital transformation for public and private organisations.

Tell us about your background, what journey brought you to where you are today?

I was born in Malawi and moved to Ireland with my family at the age of seven. After finishing school, I pursued photography at DIT (now TUD) with ambitions of becoming a war correspondent. While studying, I worked in a camera shop and quickly realised that not only did I love working with people, I also had a natural ability for sales.

In 1991, I became one of the founders of Image Supply Systems, which later led to the establishment of Image Supply Systems Audio Visual in 1999. As Sales Director, I helped grow the business to where it is today.

But the truth is simple: a business is only as strong as its people. We are fortunate to have an exceptional team – including several who have been with us since the very beginning. Our people truly are our greatest asset.

Why are you doing what you’re doing? What need are you meeting? What’s your USP?

I have always been fascinated by technology, and over the past 35 years I’ve witnessed extraordinary shifts in the audio-visual industry. This constant evolution keeps me engaged, and I’ve always prioritised ensuring our clients receive the most effective, cutting-edge solutions for their needs.

Our customers all share one common requirement: Better communication. Whether they’re sharing a message, presenting results, or planning the future, we provide the technology that allows that communication to happen clearly, seamlessly, and professionally.

Our USP is absolutely our people. We have exceptional staff retention, which leads directly to strong customer retention. Clients deal with the same trusted individuals over many years. Our after-sales support is also a core part of who we are – it’s not just something we offer; it’s part of our DNA.

How did you fund and start the business, and what are your growth plans?
We self-funded and took personal loans to fund the business organically in the early days, reinvesting every euro back into growth. As the market evolved, we strategically expanded our services and expertise.

Recently, we entered a significant new chapter as ISSAV was acquired by Econocom Group, a European leader in digital transformation. This partnership strengthens our ability to scale, expand into new service areas, and access a wider European market while continuing to deliver the high-quality AV solutions our clients rely on.

Our growth plans now focus on strengthening our service offering, continuing to invest in our people, and expanding into emerging technologies that support hybrid work, digital communication, and intelligent AV solutions. We are expanding into new areas such as Workplace, Network & Infrastructure and Finance.

What key skills and qualities set you apart?

My greatest strength is listening – truly listening – to what customers need. I am not interested in overselling or adding unnecessary equipment. Instead, we work in partnership with our clients to design the right solution, not the biggest one.

This builds trust, and trust is the reason so many of our customers stay with us for decades.

Being a “people person” has also shaped my entire leadership approach. Our employees are our greatest asset, and supporting them creates the strong foundation our clients experience every day.

Who has helped you most along the way? Greatest mentor or inspiration?

Niall O’Callaghan, my business partner, played a pivotal role in the early days. He brought me into the business, supported my development, and taught me the fundamentals – including the importance of building a sustainable business that can deliver the level of service we promise.

What was the greatest piece of business advice you ever received?

In my first job, the owner told me that work shouldn’t just be about earning money – you should get satisfaction from what you do. If you wake up every morning dreading your job, something needs to change.

Not everyone can change immediately, but you can always plan, and planning creates momentum.

What qualities or circumstances mark the difference between success and failure?

Keeping a close eye on overheads is essential – ignoring the numbers can quickly lead to stress and, ultimately, failure.

Equally important is not isolating yourself. When faced with difficult decisions, talk to the people you trust. A problem shared is genuinely a problem halved.

What was the most challenging aspect of starting or growing the business?

In the beginning, the biggest challenge was always securing the next sale and staying positive during tough times.

As the business grew, the challenge shifted to learning how to delegate effectively and allowing others to take ownership. Empowering your team is vital but not always easy in the early days.

How did you navigate the pandemic and what lessons did you learn?

We were fortunate compared to some industries. The shift to remote and hybrid work transformed how people communicate, and this accelerated demand for high-quality audio-visual solutions.

The biggest lesson? The world can change overnight – and flexibility, both in mindset and in technology, is essential.

How has digital transformation affected your scaling journey? Are Irish firms using digital technologies sufficiently?

Digital transformation has become a major driver of growth for us as more organisations adopt hybrid working and digital collaboration.

Irish firms are progressing, but many are still early in their digital maturity. There is significant opportunity for businesses to better integrate technology in a strategic, structured way.

If you were to do it all again, what would you do differently?

Honestly, not much. At times we were perhaps too conservative in our ambitions, but that same caution also kept us focused and resilient when the economy shifted.

Who inspires you in business today?

I draw inspiration from many people across different industries. The hospitality sector, in particular, offers incredible lessons in customer service. I’d recommend that young people spend time working in hospitality – it teaches communication, empathy, and how to handle people in real-world situations.

What advice do you give new hires, and how do you nurture talent?

We encourage all new hires to stay curious, ask questions, and offer suggestions whenever they see a better way of doing something.

Self-development is central to our culture. Many of our senior team members began at entry level and worked their way up. Whenever possible, we promote from within – loyalty and development go hand in hand.

What business books do you recommend?

I enjoyed David McWilliams book Money. It gave an interesting history of money throughout the ages and I always enjoyed history. The combination of business & history worked well.

What technologies or tools help you stay on track personally?

A combination of cloud-based tools for communication, planning, and project management keeps me organised. I also rely heavily on structured routines and regular check-ins with the team. I also believe that work is important, but switching off and spending time with family and friends, away from work, keeps you balanced. Nothing better than 4 or 5 hours playing golf and not thinking about work.

What are your preferred social media platforms and why?

I’m not a fan of most social media platforms. For professional use, I stick to LinkedIn. For personal communication, WhatsApp is my go-to. Whenever possible, I prefer speaking with people in person – nothing replaces real interaction.

What are your thoughts on where technology is heading and how it applies to your business?

AI is here to stay, and it will continue to grow rapidly. We need to embrace the opportunities it brings while remaining cautious and thoughtful. AI will automate many processes, but it cannot replace genuine human interaction.

We’ve all had frustrating experiences with automated bots – sometimes a one-minute conversation with a real person solves the problem instantly. That personal touch will always matter.

What advice would you give your 21-year-old self?

Work hard. Believe in yourself. Stay focused on what matters. And remember that every challenge you face is an opportunity to learn.

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