Dermot Buffini · Leadership Advisor · Host · Chieftain
Rooted in Ireland.
Built for the World.
The Story
Dermot Buffini grew up in Dublin, Ireland — the youngest of ten children in a family that understood hard work, community, and the power of showing up. Those values never left him.
After moving to the United States, Dermot built a career in real estate before discovering his real calling: helping other leaders find theirs. For the past 26 years, through Olivemount Consulting, he has coached CEOs, founders, and executives across six continents — helping them operate above the line, build around their strengths, and lead with clarity.
He is the host of The Curious CEO, a YouTube channel and podcast with over 115,000 subscribers, where he has real conversations with real leaders about the things that actually matter.
And he is the founder of The Chieftains — an invitation-only gathering of 30 of the world's most serious leaders, held annually in Dublin.
Dermot lives by a simple philosophy: the leader you are is already inside you. His job is to help you find it.
The Journey
26 years. One direction.
1988
Born in Dublin, Ireland. Youngest of ten.
1994
Moved to the United States. Started in real estate.
2000
Founded Olivemount Consulting. First CEO client.
2005
Expanded to corporate programmes. 50+ companies served.
2012
Launched The Curious CEO — first as a blog, then a podcast.
2018
YouTube channel launched. 10,000 subscribers in year one.
2022
100,000 subscribers. 200+ companies coached.
2024
First Chieftains gathering. Dublin. 30 leaders. Life-changing.
2026
The Chieftains returns. October. Dublin. 30 places.
What Dermot Believes
The principles that guide everything.
01
Lead from Strength
The best leaders don't fix their weaknesses. They build around their strengths and hire for the gaps.
02
Clarity Before Action
Most leaders are busy. Few are clear. Clarity is the rarest — and most valuable — leadership quality.
03
Community is Everything
You cannot lead well in isolation. The people around you determine the leader you become.
04
Above The Line
Every leader has a line. Above it: vision, strategy, culture, strengths. Below it: noise. Know where you are.
05
Roots Matter
Dermot's Irish roots — family, community, storytelling, resilience — are the foundation of everything he teaches.
06
The Long Game
Great leadership isn't built in a weekend. It's built over years of intentional, accountable work.
