Keynote Speakers

Entrepreneur, author & broadcaster; Chair & Co-Founder, Seven Hills

Michael is an entrepreneur and author. He co-founded the campaigns firm Seven Hills & co-authored Mission (Penguin). He is Chair of the Small Business Charter, the mark of excellence for small business leadership education in UK business schools. He is also Chair of Entrepreneurs at the private bank and wealth manager Coutts.

He is Honorary Professor of the Purpose Economy at the University of London where he also holds an Honorary Doctorate. Michael is also an Honorary Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

Michael co-founded the national campaign for early stage enterprise, StartUp Britain and was awarded an MBE for services to enterprise promotion, entrepreneurship and education.

Director of UK Small & Medium Business, Vodafone

As Director of Small and Medium Business (SME), Andrew is responsible for leading Vodafone’s efforts to provide the right support and technology to enable SMEs to evolve and grow at pace in the marketplace.

Andrew and his team have played an important role in offering connectivity and business tools to help SMEs of all sizes continue to operate during the recent unprecedented times; most notably offering unlimited business broadband free for 12 months, and launching a free digital support platform with one-to-one expert advisers, called V-Hub; all with the aim of helping SMEs develop the digital capabilities and confidence to maximise opportunities in the new digital world.

Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor

Sherry Coutu is currently a non-executive Director of Pearson plc, London Stock Exchange plc, DCMS, Workfinder, and Raspberry Pi.

Since founding, floating and exiting interactive investor, Sherry has accumulated decades of experience chairing FTSE companies, acting as Senior Independent Director, Chairing Remunerations Committees, Nominations Committees and serving on audit committees. Sherry has co-founded several organisations, angel-invested in more than 70 companies and is an LP in 5 venture capital firms.

Head of Strategy, Starling Bank

Adnan joined Starling in 2018 from PwC where he now shapes Starling’s strategy. He is involved in Starling’s capital raising, international expansion, M&A and other strategic projects.

Founder, BeGenio

Dr. Grace E Olugbodi is the creator of the multi-award winning maths board game, Race To Infinity (part of her series of 5 games) and the author of Make Maths Fun: How to Increase Your Child’s Grades and Confidence Through Games.

Grace graduated with 1st Class Honours in BSc Computing with Information Systems from London Guildhall University (2000) and holds an MSc in Financial Markets with Information Systems from London Metropolitan University (2003). In 2000, she became an Investment Banker and Java Software Programmer and worked in five different Investment Banks over many years.

Grace’s educational solutions support parents and teachers to use a special method that makes maths fun, increases confidence, reduces mathematical anxiety and helps increase children’s opportunities and life chances.

Creative technology, experience design, and digital transformation specialist, who previously worked for Google, Spotify, IBM IX, Yahoo!, and Atari; Nick Rosa is currently the Metaverse Strategy and Extended Reality Lead Europe at Accenture. Nicola is also the chairman of the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) council for Immersive Technologies, and a Director at the Academy Of International Extended Reality (AIXR), the entity producing the annual VR Awards

Founder, Two Comma PR

Sabrina has built several successful companies, mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs, and was a final candidate in the BBC One The Apprentice Show. Having spoken on internationally known stages, including Wembley Stadium, the London Olympic Stadium & The Excel Stadium, she knows how to captivate an audience with her story.

From professional tennis player to Forbes featured entrepreneur, she is on a mission to create an impact.

She has now launched Two Comma PR, an international creative and viral creative press agency, getting online coaches, entrepreneurs, and CEOs featured in huge publications.

Senior VP, CGI Group

Donna Kelly is a Senior Vice President and Business Unit lead for our ‘South & Midlands’ Business Unit in the UK which includes our Metro markets across the region, our HR Solutions & Payroll business and our Energy & Petrochemicals business.

Prior to taking up the role in January 2018, Donna was responsible for the services delivered to clients across a broad spectrum of private sector and Space & Defence contracts, building relationships and developing opportunities for new business. A keen people person, with extensive people management and leadership skills, she strives to bring out the best in her teams. Donna is passionate about continuous improvement of services and bringing innovation to our clients.

Chair, Entrepreneurial Services at Smith & Williamson

Guy is a qualified chartered accountant, author and mentor. A natural and driven enthusiast, he built and sold his own accountancy firm, as well as pursuing other commercial interests. He has been a director and part owner of a variety of companies, including businesses in the IT, property, defence, manufacturing and retail sectors. In an unusually varied career, he has been the senior partner of two accountancy firms, a finance director, a sales and marketing director and a professional adviser acting for multiple entrepreneurial businesses and their owners.

Chief Executive, International Marketing Partners

A Californian based in Europe for over 30 years, Allyson applies her international consulting experience, MBA education with Dr. Peter Drucker and languages to the company she founded, International Marketing Partners.

Allyson now advises more than 250 businesses in 26 countries including BAE Systems, Burberry, Cadbury, HSBC, Lufthansa and SAB Miller. Following her early career with PwC, PA Consulting Group and Hay Management Consultants, Allyson advises Boards and senior leaders to profitably grow across regions.

Besides joining the past four seasons of BBC’s The Apprentice, Allyson was Sky News’ “Muse of Marketing” for 4 years alongside appearances for CNBC’s The Business Class, BBC News, CNN, FT, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

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