Entrepreneur School Speakers

Entrepreneur School Speakers

The ethos behind Entrepreneur School is to combine face to face networking with business education. This enables attendees to meet new contacts and network with them as well as gaining an understanding of the featured area of business

Here are some of the speakers who have featured in Entrepreneur School events covering all manner of market sectors

A “Little Miss Perfect” starts the New Raw Business Entrepreneur School Year at Guildford.

Verity Buchanan - Confidence Coach and “Sales Superstar”

Verity Buchanan began her business career in sales, selling one of the most difficult products - double glazing !  Face to face and telesales soon taught her that objection handling, rapport building and excellent customer service were the only ways to survive and thrive in such a tough market place.  Verity realised that honesty and integrity were the best approaches, which made her Top Salesperson in her area with “Coldseal Windows” and this approach became her style in her sales career.

Seeking a fresh challenge, Verity moved into the motor trade in the early 2000’s: this was not the easiest place for a small young lady who knew very little about cars.  However, Verity gained sufficient technical knowledge to move into the customer service side of the Volvo business; she discovered that she had a photographic memory, a skill for up-selling and a passion for dealing with difficult clients.  She loved the role as it combined the sales person and the counsellor in her, and she soon had a 100% customer satisfaction score as well as excellent commission sales.

As a part of this role Verity moved into selling warranties and so had to become FSA registered. Whilst studying for the certificate for insurance sales in the motor trade and training the rest of the staff, Verity discovered that she really enjoyed learning about different rules and regulations. She decided that being a “Sales Superstar” wasn’t enough - she also wanted to help other people achieve their hopes and dreams through sharing her confidence and sales techniques.

So, Verity decided to take yet another step towards her goal, and retrained as a mortgage advisor; she passed both Module 1 (UK Financial Regulation) for the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMap) and also the Certificate for Financial Advisers (CeFa) with distinctions, and started working with Countrywide Mortgage Services, quickly becoming one of their highest earning advisors.  She enjoyed that role as it pulled together the sales person, the counsellor, the coach and the accountant in her !  However, in order to be able to be an Independent Mortgage Advisor, she took and passed CeMap parts 2 and 3 (with distinctions) to enable her to progress further.

Leading up to the ‘credit crunch’, this afforded Verity a great lifestyle and enabled her to dedicate a lot of time to studying Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and coaching techniques which she knew were essential to achieve her ultimate goal ... her very own company, “Little Miss Perfect”!  Verity set up her company in November 2009 - and her business has really has taken off.  She ‘walks the walk’ and practises what she preaches - after all, if Clients are going to learn about confidence, it is important to them that they feel their Coach is a confident person and the knowledge the Coach imparts is not simply taken from a book but rather that it is based on tried and tested techniques.

“Little Miss Perfect” offers ‘Perfect Solutions’ for ANY business – ‘Perfect’ is a state of mind ..

Mark Watson–Gandy

Professor Mark Watson-Gandy was called to the Bar in 1990 and was made a Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2000. In 2004 he joined the Bar Council's panel of Young Spokesmen for the Bar.

He is a tenant at Thirteen Old Square Chambers.13 Old Square is a specialist chancery/commercial barristers' chambers in Lincoln's Inn and was founded by leading chancery silk, John McDonnell QC. His work is primarily in the areas of insolvency and company law. Mark was recently shortlisted in Credit Today magazine's Insolvency & Rescue Awards 2009 as "Barrister of the Year".

He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster (Corporate Finance Law) and was the first practising barrister to hold the Institute of Chartered Accountant's Corporate Finance qualification. He is a Visiting Lecturer on Cass Business School's MBA course. Dual qualified as an accountant, he is the author of "Watson-Gandy on Accountants" and the ICAEW Guide "Tax Advocacy". He is one of the Editors of the Company Law volume of the "Butterworths Corporate Law Service". His book "Corporate Insolvency Practice: Litigation Practice and Procedure" is due to be published later this year by Wildys. He is Head of Professional Standards for the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. He has acted for three of the UK's accountancy institutes and two of its second tier bodies and drafted the legislation on auditors for Dubai.

He represented the Nigerian Ports Authority in negotiations over the dredging of the Bonny Island Channel and advised the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, in his dispute with The Economist. He acted for the actress, Joan Collins, in her tax professional negligence case against her accountants. He advised in the restructuring of Sheffield United Football Club. He represented the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board on a £170 million private international law case over the building of a power station in India. His Holiness Pope Benedict recently knighted him in recognition of "his work as a barrister and law professor for the Catholic Church".

Recent reported cases include DTI v Daniel (2002) The Times 8th April (instructed for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry both at first instance and before the Court of Appeal in this human rights test case on the reverse burden of proof in bankruptcy prosecutions), Society of Lloyds v Levy [2004] 3 CMLR 56 (Lloyds Names challenge to premium claims under the Audit Directive) and Feetum v Levy (2005) The Times 28th February (the first case on the £50 million project finance exception to the bar on administrative receivers under the Enterprise Act 2002) and Khan v Nallamothu [2005] All ER D (Oct) 60 (company hi-jack).

Zoltan Micsinai

Zoltan worked in London for an IP boutique law firm before he embarked on establishing his own practice. He started his practice from scratch as many other businesses do which means he understands the problems of new start ups and is always able to offer solutions to his clients even if they are on a shoestring budget. His motto is: "Quality services for affordable prices."

This has earned him his client's trust and now he provides his service to multinational companies as well as SMEs worldwide.

Rona Cant

Rona Cant, round the world yachts woman, adventurer and high profile speaker will be presenting her highly successful and inspiring talk, Steering the Right Course at Entrepreneur School Richmond.

For the last 8 years across 3 continents Rona has been motivating businesses and individuals to get out of their comfort zone and reach their potential. Once an unexceptional, middle-aged single parent she became a round-the-world yachtswoman by competing in the BT Global Challenge Round the World Yacht Race (the toughest yacht race in the world), 2 days later she embarked on the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island (one of the world's toughest trails) encountering bears and cougars.

She was on the winning yacht, LogicaCMG, in the Round Britain & Ireland Race in association with The Daily Telegraph.

Rona helped organise and took part in the Nordkapp Expedition, dog-sledding in the Arctic Circle 600k to the northernmost tip of Europe, a trail thought to be impossible. Rona's compelling and memorable stories will captivate her audience and help them to overcome the fear of failure and see challenges and change as opportunities.

Visit Rona's website here.

Clare Lindstrand

First and foremost Clare is a successful marketer and businesswoman, with a leaning towards being a serial entrepreneur. She owns Dept707 (a marketing resource for small businesses in the tourism, education and charity sectors), is a founder and director of Four (a Bristol-based marketing and graphic design agency supporting SMEs), and a director of SumsUp (software support for creative businesses that turns creativity into cash).

Specialties:

Clare is a flexible, creative marketing professional with experience both client-side and agency-side. Over 15 years she's picked up the tricks of the trade working for major multinationals (Addis Housewares PLC) and FMCG brands (Taunton Cider PLC) as well as in SMEs and family-run businesses. The range of Clare's marketing experience and business acumen positions her perfectly to help SMEs in all areas, from getting off the ground to keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

Adrian Cooper

Adrian Cooper is Managing Director of Brian Tracy Associates, a company specialising in the training and development of individuals and organisations. Their core training material has been written and developed by World renowned educator and business consultant Brian Tracy.

Adrian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined.

He speaks to public audiences on the subject of personal and professional development. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Sales, Self Esteem, Goals, Strategy and Success Psychology bring about immediate changes and long term results.

Adrian had a distinguished selling career with Tyco International as European Sales Director responsible for £100 million of Sales and Glynwed PLC as a UK Sales Director. He also has experience in International Markets including China, Taiwan and Turkey.

Organisations that have used Brian Tracey Associates' training materials include Coca-Cola, HSBC, the US Postal Service and IBM.

Lisa Keeble

Lisa Keeble runs Contactor Umbrella from their Colchester offices. Contractor Umbrella is one of the largest and most respected Umbrella Companies in the UK. Established in 2002, it is now recognised as being the market leader with several thousand satisfied clients.

Contractor Umbrella is part of the SJD Group of Accountancy Companies, which includes SJD Accountancy owned by Simon Dolan, Lisa's brother. SJD are the chosen accountancy firm of over 8,000 contractors working through their own limited companies, winner of the prestigious Accountancy Age Awards for Excellence and are the National Firm of Accountants recommended by the Professional Contractors Group.

Lisa's journey has seen her business achieve some fairly significant awards including coming 14th in Fast Track 100 (2007) and Regional Finalists in the National Business Awards. I hooked up with Lisa in her Colchester offices to find out exactly who she is and what challenges and adversity she has faced and had to overcome during her rise to success.

Visit Lisa's Mi Profile

Jason Smith

Jason Smith is the Area Director for BNI Black Country and South Derbyshire, the worlds largest business referral organisation. BNI now has more than 5000 groups across 42 countries, with more than 115,000 members. Each year its members generate millions of referrals throughout its network resulting in billions of pounds worth of business for its members.

Jason's background of 25 years in Telecommunications taught him that he never wanted to cold call again. Now as a Referral Strategist, he looks after nearly 300 BNI members teaching them how to grow their business through a structured word of mouth program that uses Networking as its base.

One attendee to a recent event said;

"I've been that full of enthusiasm today it's unbelievable - not just saying it - best training I've been on since I can remember!"

Andy Calloway

Andy Calloway Set up his website development company with Chris Green in 2006. Bringing together over 25 years experience in the software development industry, Calloway Green Ltd offers web design and high performance web based development to customers serious about promoting their business on the web. Based in Wolverhampton, Calloway and Green have a world-wide client base.
 
Enabling clients to increase turnover well into the future, the company provides businesses with a professional internet service. With effective consultancy, project management and ongoing support, the service is designed to improve bottom line, increase turnover and boost profit. You can download their free e-book here: www.callowaygreen.com/diyseo/

Dr Andrew Lucas

Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1949, Andrew gained his Bachelor's (Honours) Degree in Mechanical Engineering in Melbourne and later, his PhD in Aeronautical Engineering at Queens College, Cambridge University, UK.

Ever the Entrepreneur

After spending some 20 years in the UK and Australia, in a wide variety of high-technology posts, including Associate Director of the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Andrew formed his first company, Agent Oriented Software (AOS) Pty. Ltd., Melbourne (initially an office in his Mother's* home in 1997). From that beginning, Andrew then extended his activities to the UK (AOS Limited, based in Cambridge) and the USA (AOS, Inc., based in Maryland). Andrew has over thirty years of experience in various engineering roles in aerospace, software, robotics and defence, and is the Founder and CEO of a very significant international (SME) company.

(*Mrs Lucas, an enigmatic entrepreneur, was respected in Australia and still a Business Advisor at age 85!)

Andrew's Experience

This includes the development of software applications in aerospace (Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, QinetiQ, Airservices Australia), defence (UK Ministry of Defence, Australian Department of Defence and US Air Force), manufacturing (PA Technology UK and Australia), and simulation and scheduling systems (as a founder and Director of Preston Aviation Solutions, now a division of the Boeing Corporation). Andrew has nearly twenty years experience specifically in the research, development and application of software agent technology, which underpins the new fields of autonomous systems and intelligent decision support systems. He has written a number of papers on autonomous systems, aerospace and robotic systems.

As a consequence of Andrew's dedication (he still travels around the world, seeking new opportunities), his company (AOS) leads the world in the revolutionary new field of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems with its software products. (Autonomous capability is suited to a wide range of applications – from oil production management systems, through autonomous air vehicles to autonomous farm machinery or hybrid road vehicle energy management. AOS's products cover the full spectrum, from acting as an "intelligent assistant" supporting an expert in performing a critical operational role, to providing an autonomous system capability working under the direction of a human.)

Andrew's Approach

An enigmatic person, an important part of Andrew's business approach is to ensure that he understands fully the Client's needs, and also that the Client gains awareness of the value that AOS brings to modern technology. Andrew can also be found Presenting at various Conferences, where he is well-known for his laconic, amusing, and enthusiastic style. Andrew is always willing to share his knowledge and enthusiasm to 'worthy individuals', and he is always prepared to take calculated risks. He also sponsors PhD Students, both in Australia and the UK.

For Relaxation

Despite that commitment to business and advanced technology, and many thousands of miles of travel every year, Andrew ensures that he makes time for people, and relaxation. Andrew's personal interests include working and breeding Suffolk Punch draught horses, horse riding, sailing and he also has a particularly keen interest in preserving the environment, which he is able to put into practice on his own estate in Australia.

Leslie Smith

Nearly 30 years in Sales & Marketing, working up from Junior Sales Position to a Board level role with an international business. Leslie has worked in Companies of all sizes, from a Family owned and run business to a Multi National Oil company with a multi million pound sales budget.

Leslie started Bizzxsell in January 2008, providing advice to SMEs, specialising in helping them with Public Sector Contracts and Tenders.

Bizzxsell provides both "hands on" help and a variety of training options, from 1-2-1 personal training, to remote access, on-line modules, which take companies and staff through the Public Sector procurement process from end to end, explained in plain English.

Visit Leslie's Mi Profile

Angela Marshall

Angela founded Appearance Management in 1995 and is one of the UK's leading image consultants. She has made a unique contribution to our understanding of image with her identification of ten distinct Wardrobe Personalities ranging from casual to dramatic to creative.

Her enduring success in a sector where people rapidly 'come and go' is due to her ability to skilfully and sensitively help people to Truly Be themselves. She gets a buzz out of helping people look good and to feel really great about themselves. "You can tell when its right" she says. "Their confidence increases and straight away their body language changes – they become a different person".

She has written two books: Being Truly You - for Women: Discovering Your Unique Wardrobe Personality and Being Truly You- for Men: Discovering Your Unique Wardrobe Personality.

Ian Harrison

Ian Harrison is an entrepreneur, coach and NLP practitioner. Ian defines success as: "Being who you are, becoming what you can be, enjoying the life you have." Having spent 18 years working in not-for-profit organisations Ian founded Aspire Programs Ltd to bring his experience in public speaking and coaching into the world of business. Ian is passionate about seeing successful people at the heart of successful businesses.

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Judith Fox

Judith retired very early, at 54, after a successful and wide ranging career. Her voluntary work has always been at a high level, including membership of a health authority, chairing various local organisations, such as Islington Mencap, North London Progressive Synagogue, two school governing bodies and Islington SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education). She has been a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and has also been involved with Islington Faiths Forum. Her spare time interests range from opera, music and the arts, travel, textile arts, books, food, family and friends.

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Yvonne & Rachel Morton

whYaRe Inspired Ltd are Mother and Daughter team Yvonne and Rachel Morton who were the guest speakers at Entrepreneur School Chelmsford on 16th of September 2009.

Yvonne is an experienced management accountant, a qualified further education tutor and accredited coach. She has worked in both the private and public sector and run her own successful business.

Rachel is a qualified drama drama teacher with a BS (Hons) degree in Drama and Theatre Studies. She specialises in training from a drama perspective through her "Confidence in Drama" courses. Her courses not only help people gain confidencebut improve their presentation and vocal skills.

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Ron Mitchell

Following 30 years management experience at Board level in both SMEs and large compamies and 18 years running own medium sized process engineering Group with both UK and overseas markets, Ron Mitchell is perfect for helping businesses that find themselves in trouble.

Ron is a Director of Business Renew (SE) which is an organisation that specialises in helping companies overcome the difficulties that they may find themselves in. Business Renew can step to relieve creditor pressure and negotiate with creditors, advise on restructuring strategies, debt management and personal guarantee solutions.

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Emma Wimhurst

Emma Wimhurst is a sought-after Motivational Business Speaker & Business Turnaround Expert. She is a successful Entrepreneur, Broadcaster, TV Personality and regular contributor to UK media. She is author of BOOM! 7 Disciplines to CONTROL, GROW and ADD IMPACT to Your Business, (Diva Publishing Ltd, November 2009).

Emma became a self-made millionaire from the success of her biggest enterprise to date: Diva Cosmetics, which was founded after she spotted a gap in the market for colour cosmetics at the height of The Spice Girls fame in the late 90s. Following a 10 year career in-house at Revlon, Emma seized the opportunity to nurse her entrepreneurial itch and Diva Cosmetics was born. The business rapidly became the leading supplier of own labelled colour cosmetics to the majority of high street chains including New Look, Monsoon Accessorize, River Island, and George@Asda. Emma is an original mumpreneur, starting Diva Cosmetics from home with her first-born on her hip. The business rapidly grew to accommodate a full-time team of twelve with offices in central Bournemouth.

The business was sold late 2003: a conscious decision by Emma to grow her family and take some time out. Not surprising, for Emma is a natural entrepreneur, another exciting enterprise was born not long after the birth of her third child, EMpwr, www.EMpwr.co.uk.

Emma has become a sought-after Professional Speaker & Turnaround Expert and has worked with hundreds of business owners trouble-shooting and problem-solving, taking them to sound success and profit-making. She has a unique and highly driven style and is one of the UK’s most charismatic and entertaining business speakers.

Emma was one of the featured Big Shot Entrepreneurs in the 2009 series of Beat The Boss for BBC Children’s TV, presented by Saira Khan. She has hosted her own internet radio show via www.connekt2.co.uk, and is a regular media contributor and columnist. She presents for Success Track and The Coaching Academy.

Keith Andrew

Following 30 years Banking experience across all business Keith started his own practice specialising in a commonsense approach with practical advice jargon free service. His experience covers both the commercial field as well as the voluntary and charity sectors. Keith believes every business is unique and so offers a service designed to each individual's needs.

Keith is currently writing business plans for growing companies planning for their future and will as part of these projects source appropriate funding for them. he continues to work across all sectors on planning, forecasts, change management, mentoring, systems, finding appropriate lenders and bankers to fit the business along with helping access to Business Angels.

Visit Keith's Mi Profile