Past speakers
Recent lectures
Leading in 2025: Navigating Trends, Risks, and Opportunities
Join Dr Anino Emuwa, an international management consultant and AI thought leader, as she shares insights from her engagements at Davos and other high-level forums. Anino will unpack the defining trends of 2025, exploring their profound implications for businesses and, more critically, how leaders can proactively navigate these changes to drive success.
Entrepreneurialism: Beating the Babbage curse
Join us for an early evening presentation where Sir Ken Olisa will identify the principal myths that lie in the path of present-day mission-addicted entrepreneurs. And, more importantly, how to overcome them!
How to Grow a Business and Navigating Through Crisis
Drawing on her extensive experience as an entrepreneur and leader in the healthcare industry, Ornella Barra shared valuable strategies for growing a business, fostering innovation and making key strategic decisions. Guests learnt from one of the most respected leaders in business on how to lead with foresight, adapt in challenging times and drive sustainable growth.
The Simple Tools that took me from Sales Rep to Global CEO to Entrepreneur
In this lecture, Rob charted his career path from Sales Rep to Global CEO and Entrepreneur, and shared his knowledge of tools and techniques that can be used by all to enable them to advance their careers and fulfil their potential.
Sue Hayes - The Power of People
Sue examined how building the right team can lead to great outcomes, at every level of the organisation, and how this is equally important in large businesses as well as small start-ups.
Lucy Hagues - 24 years of personal development in 24 minutes
Lucy talked about the lessons she learnt over her 24-year career, how she’s learnt from others, developed new skills and approaches, and even shifted her world view to allow her to be more effective and to take on ever bigger challenges.
Polly Harrold and Wendy Whewell - How do SMEs feel about their path to net zero?
Polly and Wendy discussed the findings of a Santander UK survey on 500 small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). They explored the sustainability challenges these businesses face, contributing 43-53% of the UK's business-related emissions. SMEs, essential to larger companies' supply chains, are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainability strategies. This lecture highlighted barriers and opportunities for SMEs in their sustainability journey.
Chris Townsend CBE - How to make things happen: Raising £2.5bn to fund the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were an unprecedented success by any measure. The UK Government funded the construction of the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Park and the transport infrastructure at Stratford, East London. With a budget of £2.5bn, the task of securing the necessary funds was entrusted to Chris Townsend CBE, the Commercial Director of LOCOG.
Chris discussed how he and his team achieved success, sharing his experience and lessons learnt including what you need to do (and not do) to make things happen!
In conversation with Andrew Bostock, Senior Partner at KPMG, about the future of business
In this lecture, Andrew shared his insights on emerging market trends, current industry challenges, and the developing technologies that are shaping all our economic futures. In conversation with the Deputy Dean of Nottingham Business School, Melanie Currie, he also told us what KPMG looks for in its graduate recruits.
Lorna Holder: Ever-Evolving
This talk explored Lorna’s journey through her multi-layered career history of over 45 years. Lorna shared the heartfelt process as a professional black woman who took control of her life's narrative.
José Luiz Rossi: How to Stay Relevant in the Changing World of Technology and Management
In this lecture José Luiz Rossi drew upon his 40 years of leading major businesses in 20 countries across multiple business sectors, cultures, as well as a rapidly evolving technological landscape. He highlighted how one has to keep learning to successfully navigate through changes in technology, new business and management trends and cultural differences to stay relevant.
Mike Keoghan: Artificial Intelligence, Data and the Economy
Mike Keoghan, Deputy National Statistician & Director General, Economic, Social and Environmental Statistics Group at the Office for National Statistics, discussed the ONS’ rationale behind AI data, examples of work they are doing and where they want to go next. The talk covered how the use of transactional data and data modelling the opportunities are not only endless, but play a critical role in how data, in it’s modern form, impacts and shapes our economy.
Tim Moody: The opportunities and challenges of working in a global business
Tim Moody, the Head of Global Hybrid IT Strategy at Fujitsu, explored the critical importance of cultural awareness in driving effective teamwork within multinational IT teams. He delved into the key concepts, benefits, and strategies for fostering cultural understanding and collaboration, ultimately paving the way for success in the global IT landscape.
Debbie Hewitt: What tips would I give to my younger self about being a business leader
Debbie Hewitt, The Football Association’s first female Chair and one of the UK’s most influential women, gave an overview of her non-executive and executive career as she dispelled some of the common entrepreneurship myths. This was followed by an insightful Q&A session.
Marvin Cooke, Executive Vice President for Manufacturing at Toyota Motor Europe
The automotive industry is going through profound transformation. In response, Toyota has declared a shift toward a 'Mobility Company' with the aim of contributing to the improvement of society through its cars and services. But with a host of factors threating disruption, Marvin discussed how the automobile giant is approaching this goal.