Corporate Masters

Leadership, fundraising, and civic impact. Connecting the people and resources that shape communities.

What We Do

Rita Kelly brings together business leaders, philanthropists, and civic figures to advance three interconnected practices: developing the next generation of school leaders, building capacity for major fundraising campaigns, and facilitating pathways to civic honours and investment opportunities.

Three Practices

Leadership

Masterclasses that pair school principals with C-suite executives for structured leadership training and mentorship.

Philanthropy & Civic Impact

Galas, dinners, and events that build philanthropic networks and open pathways to civic honours including the Freedom of the City of London.

Education & Impact

Partnerships with leading organisations to drive educational initiatives and student leadership development.

Who We Are

Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly, Freeman of the City of London

Rita Kelly

Owner and Chief Executive of Corporate Masters. Freeman of the City of London. Thirty years spent raising money, building boards, developing leaders, and connecting business people with those who need them.

Rita's practice spans the UK and Ireland. She works with business leaders, charitable trustees, school principals, and civic figures.

The Freedom of the City of London

In recognition of her contributions to leadership development, philanthropic endeavour, and the business links between Ireland and the United Kingdom, Rita Kelly received the Freedom of the City of London. This tradition, dating from 1237 and presented at Guildhall, is one of the most prestigious honours the Corporation of London can bestow.

Philanthropy and Civic Impact

Galas, dinners, and evening events that build networks, advance causes, and create pathways to civic honours.

Building Networks, Creating Impact

Rita at event Gala event

Civic Opportunities

Freedom of the City of London

A prestigious honour dating from 1237, presented at Guildhall. Rita Kelly facilitates pathways for business leaders and philanthropists to be nominated and recognised.

Action Cancer Leadership Partnership

A bespoke programme that pairs leadership gifts with nomination for the Freedom of the City of London, positioning supporters as civic figures.

Ireland-U.S. Council Awards for Excellence

Annual awards recognising outstanding achievement across International Business, Construction & Infrastructure, Agri-Food Innovation, Enterprise Management, Performing Arts, and Public Service.

Recent Events

House of Lords Gala
St Patrick's Celebration

Recent Occasions

June 2026

Ireland-U.S. Council Midsummer Gala Dinner

Friday 26 June

An elegant evening at The Mansion House, Dublin. Celebrating business links between Ireland and the United States.

March 2025

St. Patrick's Lunch in New York

Friday 14 March

11:30am Cocktails, 12:30pm Lunch at The Metropolitan Club, NYC. Ireland-U.S. Council Annual Celebration featuring award recipients Mariel Hemingway (Performing Arts) and Paul McCormack (Public Service).

June 2026

Ireland-U.S. Council Midsummer Gala

Friday 26 June

The Mansion House, Dublin. Cocktails 6:30pm, Dinner 7:30pm, Black Tie. Sponsorship and individual ticket packages available at www.irelanduscouncil.com

Investment

Capital, networks, and strategic guidance for growth across Ireland, the UK, and transatlantic markets.

The Network Operating at Scale

Rita Kelly's practice brings together investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across Ireland, the UK, and North America. For thirty years, she has facilitated connections that unlock value: capital finds opportunity, expertise finds emerging leaders, and networks accelerate growth.

This is not transactional. Rita works with investors and business leaders to understand their objectives, the markets they enter, the people they need to meet, and the timing that matters. She then architects introductions and partnerships that create advantage.

Cross-Border Opportunities

Ireland-UK Market Entry

For businesses expanding from the US into Ireland or the UK, Rita provides strategic introductions to regulatory advisors, financial institutions, and distribution partners. She understands both markets: their regulatory landscapes, their business cultures, and the people who move capital and contracts.

UK-Ireland-US Networks

Investors seeking exposure to Irish or UK opportunities benefit from Rita's transatlantic relationships. She facilitates partnerships between US investment groups and Irish or UK businesses, managing both the commercial logic and the interpersonal dynamics that make deals succeed.

Leadership and Governance

Beyond capital, growing companies need talent. Rita connects boards with executives, entrepreneurs with mentors, and emerging leaders with the experience they need to scale. She understands that the right people matter as much as the right capital.

How Rita Guides Investment

Strategic clarity: Understanding your objectives (growth, exit, market entry, scale) before introducing capital or partners.

Relationship intelligence: Knowing the right people in banking, law, investment, and operations across jurisdictions. Knowing who understands your sector, who has capacity, and who moves quickly.

Institutional knowledge: Understanding the regulatory and business environments in Ireland, the UK, and across the US. What works in one market may not work in another. Rita navigates those differences.

Value engineering: Not just making introductions, but structuring conversations and partnerships so that each party understands what the other needs. The best deals happen when both sides win.

Leadership

Executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic mentorship for principals, boards, and business leaders.

Executive Leadership and Coaching

Rita Kelly works with emerging and established leaders to develop strategic capability, executive presence, and decision-making in complex environments. Her coaching spans board development, executive transition, succession planning, and cross-sector leadership challenges.

These programmes pair leaders with experienced executives who have navigated similar challenges, creating mentorship relationships that accelerate development and build networks across industries and geographies.

The approach focuses on three dimensions: strategic thinking and business acumen, interpersonal effectiveness and influence, and the ability to lead through uncertainty and change.

Leadership in Action

NAPD Masterclass Sept 8 2025

Delivered at University of Limerick on behalf of National Principal Association of Ireland (NAPD). Featured business leaders include: Dermot O'Grady, CEO, Ardentide • Katherine Duffy, CEO, Northern Trust • Niall O'Leary, Senior Vice President, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Education and Impact

Building partnerships with leading organisations to develop student leaders and drive educational innovation.

Partners

Rita works with organisations at the forefront of their sectors to create educational opportunities and leadership development programmes.

EY
AIB
Garda
Defence
Pfizer
BOI

Featured Initiatives