Upcoming lectures
Susan Hallam (Founder of Hallam) - Just Say Yes
Saying yes before you feel ready is not recklessness. It can be one of the most powerful decisions any of us will ever make. Drawing upon her experience starting, scaling and exiting a successful business, Susan Hallam MBE explores why giving yourself permission to take the leap, to lead, and to fail honestly is what separates the people who build something remarkable from the people who are still waiting until the time is right.
Date: Wednesday 23rd September
Time: 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Location: Newton Building, Lecture Theatre 2
Charlotte Cox (Managing Director at Perry Ellis Europe) - The Gift of Time: What stopping taught me about starting again
In this candid and personal session, Charlotte shares what a year of pause, reflection and rediscovery taught her about identity, purpose and resilience - from founding the Global Game Shapers network of 1,500+ senior women, to stepping back into the job market after two decades and relearning how to tell her own story. In a world where AI can write your cover letter, it can't tell your story. The real work - self-reflection, honesty, and knowing what you uniquely bring, is yours alone to do. Part personal narrative, part practical career insight, this session challenges students to think differently about what makes them stand out, and ends with an open Q&A.
Date: Thursday 26th November
Time: 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Location: Newton Building, Lecture Theatre 5
Adam Stacey (Head of Technology for Partner Engineering at Compare the Market) - AI Won't Transform Your Business. Your Culture Will.
When Compare the Market set out to make agent-first delivery the default rather than the exception, the technology proved to be only half the challenge. Adam Stacey, Head of Technology for Partner Engineering, will share what it actually took to prove that a smaller, well-supported engineering team using AI could outperform a larger team working the traditional way - and what it took, in parallel, to bring people through one of the most disruptive changes he has led without losing trust or engagement. Equal parts capability and culture, this lecture sets out the practical lessons from both sides of AI transformation: the technical bets that paid off, and the human ones that made them possible.
Date: Wednesday 3rd March
Time: 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Location: Newton Building, Lecture Theatre 2
Gallery of past speakers
Past lectures
Real AI; real life
Designing our tomorrow: the power and potential of technology and media
The business of an international orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is one of the BBC’s five full-time professional orchestras, renowned for its versatility across classical, popular and broadcast music. In this lecture, the Orchestra's Director, Matthew Swann, will discuss how the Orchestra operates, engages audiences, and plans for the future of a modern broadcast ensemble.
The career skills you need right now
In this lecture, Sarah Ellis, co-founder of Amazing If, shared how to build a meaningful, motivating career by developing five key skills: critical thinking, curiosity, connecting, creativity, and courage.
The art of collaboration
In Bal's lecture, he shared the story behind Coca-Cola’s famous ‘name on a bottle’ campaign and what it reveals about true collaboration. Drawing on experiences from innovation projects like The Bridge Programme, Bal explored what makes collaboration work, and what doesn’t, highlighting how combining ideas and partnerships can drive success, and showing that great achievements rarely happen alone.
The future of HR in a changing world
Peter explored how HR is adapting to a rapidly changing world of work, taking on a more strategic role and driving progress in equality, inclusion, well-being, and employee engagement.
The session also examined the impact of AI on talent and job design, and the opportunities ahead for HR to shape the future through innovative policy and people development. Ideal for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone interested in the future of work.
A leadership journey – my attempt at leading with impact!
Anthony’s lecture explored his leadership journey across major organisations, sharing real-life experiences, key lessons, and the wider impact of his roles.
The session offered practical insights into effective leadership and concluded with advice for future leaders, emphasising continuous learning and adaptability.
Winning through people: a perspective from private equity portfolio businesses
Unlock your potential: 5 ideas for growing your career with purpose and impact
Sarah, HR Director at the BBC and NTU alumni, has built a non-traditional career spanning tech to television. Passionate about supporting others, she is researching career progression for people from working-class backgrounds through a PhD at NTU. In her talk, she shared personal lessons, research insights, and practical career tips for students and professionals aiming to build meaningful and impactful careers.
Legacy leadership: building purpose-driven enterprises for a better tomorrow
Levi Roots explored how leaders can build lasting impact through purpose, inclusion, and legacy. Drawing on lessons from the Windrush Generation, he highlighted resilience, service, and cultural contributions, inspiring attendees to embrace diversity, turn challenges into opportunities, and create businesses that drive innovation and meaningful social change.
The New Career Currency: Skills, Storytelling & Standing Out
Ellie Long, Global Head of Emerging Talent at Rolls-Royce, shared what truly sets students apart in today’s job market: practical skills, behavioural strengths, and storytelling. She revealed what employers really value and offered tools to help students build careers that stand out and thrive.
A Small Action is Worth a Million Words
Sir Dave Lewis reflected on the debate over purpose in business, sustainability, and greenwashing, drawing on his experience at Unilever, Tesco, and beyond, to highlight the need for small, meaningful actions over empty talk.
Explore our lectures from previous years
- Caroline Wayman - Leading through turbulent times: working out what I have learned and how to always look forward (Watch on demand)
- Dr Anino Emuwa - Leading in 2025: Navigating Trends, Risks, and Opportunities (Watch on demand)
- Sir Ken Olisa - Entrepreneurialism: Beating the Babbage curse (Watch on demand)
- Ornella Barra - How to Grow a Business and Navigating Through Crisis (Watch on demand)
- Rob Barker - The Simple Tools that took me from Sales Rep to Global CEO to Entrepreneur (Watch on demand)
- Sue Hayes - The Power of People (Watch on demand)
- Lucy Hagues - 24 years of personal development in 24 minutes (Watch on demand)
- Polly Harrold and Wendy Whewell - How do SMEs feel about their path to net zero? (Watch on demand)
- Chris Townsend CBE - How to make things happen: Raising £2.5bn to fund the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Andrew Bostock - In conversation about the future of business (Watch on demand)
- Lorna Holder - Ever-Evolving (Watch on demand)
- José Luiz Rossi - How to Stay Relevant in the Changing World of Technology and Management (Watch on demand)
- Mike Keoghan - Artificial Intelligence, Data and the Economy (Watch on demand)
- Tim Moody - The opportunities and challenges of working in a global business (Watch on demand)
- Debbie Hewitt - What tips would I give to my younger self about being a business leader (Watch on demand)
- Marvin Cookie - Once in a century transformation whilst managing disruption