As a child, I was drawn to anything that involved creativity, colour, and making people feel good.
Having set up her first business at just 19 years old— a café in Cork City—serial entrepreneur Tara Prendergast is used to working hard for what she wants. In 2015, she started the Bite the Biscuit Facebook group, a melting pot for creatives that now boasts 10.
5k members. Since then the community has organically blossomed into The Biscuit Factory. Here she shares more about her career journey to date.I didn’t always want to be a career mentor! I dreamt of becoming an actress or fashion designer, which soon evolved into aspirations of being a singer-songwriter and abstract painter. I never liked conforming to traditional paths; I was always looking beyond the obvious, exploring the world in my own way.I wanted to be a painter, but when I asked, “How will I make money from my art? Where are the marketing and sales modules?” I was met with a dismissive laugh. That moment changed the course of my life. I walked out, knowing deep down this wasn’t my path.in Cork City. I was determined to disrupt the local café scene, and over four years, I learned the gritty realities of running a business. It was an education like no other.I’ll never forget one of my earliest orders: “A pint and a half of Smithwick’s.” I spent five red-faced minutes searching for a glass big enough to hold a pint and a half before asking if I could give it to the customer in two glasses.members’ library because education is crucial for every small business owner. Each month, weMy role is to foster an environment where members can offer encouragement, share ideas,stalls. To keep our community moving forward, we offer mindset coaching and have honest,Together, these elements help our members thrive both personally and professionally.A common misconception about what I do is that putting myself out there is easy; it’s not. It takes time, practice, and effort to build the confidence to do it. I am always learning, reading, listening, staying informed. It is part of how we turn up as entrepreneurs. The day you say “I know it all” is the day you lose. Curiosity is one of our most valuable assets. Regarding career mentors or people I turn to for advice, I’m lucky to have many sources. My husband Matt helps keep me focused. My community, students, and family offer constant feedback and advice. I’ve also gained valuable strategy guidance from my mentors Jill and Josh Stanton and Stu McLaren who run internationally acclaimed membership communities.At 19, I could’ve seen starting my first business as risky, but to me, it was an opportunity. Moving from Cork to Dublin to start fresh wasn’t a risk; it was an adventure. It’s all about mindset.On a regular day: I wake up, cuddle my kids and my husband, prep lunchboxes, coffee and eggs, shower, and be at my desk by 9am. On a VIP day: add in a walk with Matt before settling into work.I listen, care, and give my all to what I do because this work isn’t just a job for me, it’s my passion. The first thing I do at work is check in with my team on Slack and open the day’s social media apps. I don’t touch my phone before work –cuddles come first! I usually spend the first part of the day smembers through live calls, answering emails, brainstorming content, and getting in some fresh air to stay grounded. On an average workday, I help hundreds of people feel more confident and make smarter business decisions.I have some interesting stories and something funny to share at the dinner table.ive Zoom calls with my members and sharing stories with my family at the dinner table – I rarely get through my workday without laughing! The most challenging part of my day is staying focused. I have endless ideas and people I want to help, but I gift myself 15 minutes daily to daydream, which fuels my creativity.I can choose my hours and push things if I need to, to prioritise family life and my mental health.hen my son is in after-school camp, I finish my workday at 5pm. On the days he’s not in after school, I finish at 2pm. Then I play, cook, listen, jump, talk, laugh and once he’s in bed and my daughter is reading in bed, I finish up with a few hours in my office.After a long week, I de-stress by going out for dinner at our favourite local spot Woodruff or enjoying a cosy night watching movies on the couch.oing for a walk, playing with my 7-year-old, chatting with my 14-year-old daughter, or half-listening to my husband talk about guitars and pedals. I also love lifting weights and meeting friends.moving to Dublin with only three connections and struggling to find a creative community to join., has nearly 11,000 members and has become one of the most supportive and positive spaces online for creatives to connect and collaborate.Open a business or manage one – real-world experience will teach you far more than any book.with doors closing on Friday, September 13. We only open membership twice a year so this is a chance for our next cohort to join and connect with our growing community. I’m excited to welcome fresh faces and strengthen bonds with our existing members. Our next big project involves developing AI tools to help small business owners save time and focus more on their creativity. We’ve also launched aBuilding a thriving community takes time and effort, but for me, it’s all about connection, respect, and leading with kindness. I spend a lot of time listening to our members and learning from them – this is the foundation of our culture.has become Ireland’s #1 space for creatives to learn, connect, and stay sane while navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and I’m so proud of what we’ve built.‘I’ve had some very deep conversations on the shop floor with customers’: Edwina Donnellan, CEO of Donnellan’s Centra in Ennis: By clicking subscribe, you agree to receiving future communications from IMAGE and are happy for your data to be shared with IMAGE.
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