It was a day for unleashing your inner entrepreneur.

The second annual Cork University Business School (CUBS) Conference took over Cork Opera House today, with a range of expert guest speakers and panellists taking the stage to talk real business, finance and technology.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the event kicked off with a ‘Women in Leadership’ panel.

Later a digital innovation panel discussed the importance of self-taught skills in start-up era, before entrepreneurs making waves in the food sector, including Rebel Chilli founder and CEO, Paul Moore; Director of Kinsale Spirit Co and Electric, Ernest Cantillon; and Catherine Buggy of Boutique Bake shared their take on the latest trends in the industry.

Social media king James Kavanagh and Cork businesswoman and blogger Lisa Jordan joined RedFM’s Head of Marketing, Stephen Ryan to chat building your brand with social media.

Here are 13 practical tips to put into practice in your own start-up journey…

1. Do what you love for a living…

Advice to all the students here,

“Do what you love. You know your own passion. Then try to make money from it” #CUBSConf18 pic.twitter.com/i8aisGa9td

— CUBS Conference 2018 (@CUBSconf) March 8, 2018

2. Don’t be the woman who won’t ask for a pay rise

“Don’t ask for a pay rise, demand one. I guarantee you the men are. Don’t be ashamed” #CUBSConf18

— Sharon Hanafin (@SharonHanafin) March 8, 2018

3. Go after your dreams

#CUBSConf18 @CUBSucc @siliconbarry “If you see an open door, walk through. Don’t wait to be ready.” Great words of wisdom. pic.twitter.com/xmkX0aXfS6

— Gill Barrett (@gillbbarrett) March 8, 2018

4. FOCUS.

“If you don’t learn how to do it, the person next to you will” Barry O’Sullivan on managing distraction to work productively #CUBSConf18 @CUBSconf

— ✨ Sadhbh ✨ (@sadhbhers) March 8, 2018

5. Accept that there may be failures. Learn from them.

Failure is often glamorised these days but know that failure is painful, it can destroy your confidence and you need to have a lot to emotional strength to come out the other side. You can’t be afraid of it to succeed, but you have to be prepared for it. #CUBSConf18

— Joe Lennon (@joelennon) March 8, 2018

6. See the world

Best advice from the conference I’ve heard was to get out of cork and explore the world, might take the advice into consideration ✈ #CUBSConf18

— KT? (@KatieMurphy987) March 8, 2018

7. Be true to yourself and your beliefs.

Flexibility and following your own passion proving to be a key point by many of today’s speakers #CUBSConf18 #eyeopening

— Patrick Walsh (@paaWalsh123) March 8, 2018

8. Be curious, not complacent

Well done to Stephen Moran from @bankofireland.
“Keep learning. Everyday is a school day”#CUBSConf18 pic.twitter.com/U7Sqbci0Hd

— David Doyle (@Doyle12David) March 8, 2018

9. Sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow…

Sometimes the plan is not to have plan.. go with your gut.@ErnCantillon #CUBSConf18 #FoodForThought

— Wren Data Ltd (@WrenDataLimited) March 8, 2018

10. Don’t undersell yourself. Everybody has to start somewhere.

Good point from Mark Faherty, @kerryfoodgroup
Corporates were once start-ups. They are not miles apart.
40 years ago, Kerry Group was a couple of people in a portocabin. #CUBSConf18 pic.twitter.com/5Z3hCsnjbu

— David Doyle (@Doyle12David) March 8, 2018

11. Never waste a direct marketing opportunity…

“My aim is for everyone in Ireland to have a bottle of Rebel Chilli in their fridge or on their kitchen table.” -Paul Moore of @rebelchilli when asked what he thinks people will be eating in the year 2050 #CUBSConf18 @CUBSconf pic.twitter.com/nTb08t70lV

— UCC E&S (@ucceands) March 8, 2018

12. Let your followers see the real you

‘People want to know you on a personal level.’ The dynamic @lisajordanblog on growing @LUNAbyLisa #CUBSConf18 pic.twitter.com/iIqA4YBbfw

— Yay Cork (@yaycork) March 8, 2018

13. Always be working

So true. “Treat social media as a springboard to do what interests you” – @JamesKavanagh_ #CUBSConf18

— Nicola (@tietheribbons) March 8, 2018