We had the good fortune of connecting with Gillian Hourihan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Gillian, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have always from a young age been a risk taker but my mindset is and has been if it doesn’t work out I will figure it out!
When I was 18yrs old I turned down a Field Hockey scholarship at a NY College to move to Ireland to attend UCC because I wanted a new adventure and not be in NY where I had grown up.
From then it has been a series of risks through my career including my most recent jump from Reality TV producer with zero knowledge or skillset in App development to deciding that I wanted to create a new app that would foster community and mindset globally. Everyone told me not to do it, including app developers saying that it was a saturated marketplace no return on investment BUT I still did it because I have a big vision for what I am building with Unstoppable App!
Without taking any risk I don’t think we can truly live out our potential because we are basically saying we don’t want to fail so we don’t even try! I will say that I take calculated risks now that I have a family!
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Reality & True Crime TV Producer, I lived in London for 11 years before moving to Charleston in 2019 to help look after my father with Stage 4 Cancer.
With not much of a TV industry in Charleston I began working remotely casting TV shows like Too Hot To Handle and now work as a consultant for MY Entertainment based out of Charleston and New York.
My dad was an entrepreneur starting his first business at 18yrs old in Ireland so I learned a lot from him growing up and feel that the entrepreneurial blood is in me. I have realized that just jumping in with your both feet and going for something is the best way because you are never going to know everything! Jumping into building my app I had zero experience in app development or where to even begin but I had a vision on my heart that I wanted to pursue this and I am never afraid to fail because I know I will just get right back up.
I am most proud of having the courage to take risk and follow what is truly on my heart! I had an online business alongside TV for 10yrs which was a six figure business but it was no longer in alignment with what I wanted to do in this next chapter of life so I walked away from it.. it took a whole lot of courage to do that!
The biggest lesson I have learned building Unstoppable App has been not reaching out to get mentorship early on in the process, it probably would have saved me a lot of time and money!
I want the world to know that this app is a movement for me – it isn’t just about downloading an app it is about bringing community to the forefront so we can help to lift and inspire each other… because who doesn’t need that in life!?
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love Charleston, it has completely taken over my heart since moving from London!
One of my favorite spots that reminds me of the hamlet Chelsea in London is the The Post House Inn – it is one of my fav spots to get brunch or evening drink and dinner.
Being a mom of two boys we love visiting Vintage Cafe – they are always so welcoming there know us by name and have great spot so we can enjoy a cup of coffee while the kids play.
Halls Chop House – we recently brought friends from England to and they said it was the best food they had ever eaten! It always goes down well and they loved the high calibre of service.
The Celt & Tommy Condon’s – With my Dad being from Ireland – these two spots are a go to when any of our Irish family are in town and we love when they have live traditional music & you can’t get wrong with The Celt’s Irish breakfast!
And when looking for a late night boogie The Commodore Charleston is fab and off the beaten path!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was blessed to have had a father who was an entrepreneur from the age of 18 owning bars in Ireland before moving to America and owning his own businesses here. I saw the ups and downs of being a business owner growing up and the importance of being surrounded by great family and friends to uplift you during the harder times. My entire family always support my crazy ideas and I found an incredible group of women entrepreneurs here in Charleston at Bubbles n Business where we can support each other.
Website: https://unstoppableapp.app
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillianhourihan/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-hourihan-489a332a