MBA ALUMNI CONFERENCE 2025
Breaking Boundaries The power of an entrepreneurial mindset
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 July
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Contents
Welcome I am delighted to welcome you to Warwick Business School’s MBA Alumni Conference, which this year focuses on the theme of entrepreneurship.
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Day one
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At WBS, we believe innovation has the power to change the world for the better. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching ventures – it’s a mindset that empowers you to challenge the norm and turn aspiration into action, no matter your role or sector. With over 60,000 alumni spanning 174 countries, our graduates are proving just that. As Change Makers, they are turning ambition into action and driving impact where it matters most. This event will provide you with real-world learning – offering insights from industry experts, invaluable networking opportunities, and the knowledge to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset in your career and beyond. I hope you have an enjoyable time at the conference and the team at WBS looks forward to reconnecting with you.
Professor Andy Lockett Dean of Warwick Business School
First UK business school to be triple accredited and to receive the Athena SWAN Gold Award for improving gender equality.
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Welcome
Welcome to the annual MBA Alumni Conference. This year’s theme, Breaking Boundaries: The Power of an Entrepreneurial Mindset, invites us to explore how innovation and initiative can reshape industries and societies.
We are pleased to welcome a lineup of renowned thought leaders and experts who will share cutting- edge insights across a wide spectrum of entrepreneurial topics. Our sessions will cover areas such as Sustainable, Societal and Environmental Innovation, Female Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, Startups, and Digital Marketing and Consumer Engagement for Entrepreneurial Ventures. Beyond the sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow alumni and engage with our Alumni Careers, Executive Education and Rankings Teams. If this year’s programme resonates with you, we welcome your suggestions for next year’s theme or if you would like to contribute as a speaker or workshop facilitator, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing a weekend of insightful discussion and dynamic debate.
Dr Dimitrios Spyridonidis Associate Professor for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group Course Director – Accelerator MBA London and Executive MBA London
Dr Dawn Eubanks Associate Professor of Behavioural Science and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Course Director – Full-time MBA
Dr Hossam Zeitoun Reader of Strategy and Behavioural Science Course Director – Executive MBA Warwick
Dr Mo Moeini Associate Professor in Information Systems Course Director – Global MBA Warwick
Dr Sandra Pereira Associate Professor for the Organisation and Work Group Course Director – Global MBA London
Professor Ross Ritchie Professor of Operations Management in the Operations Management Group Associate Dean for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Management and Business
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Day one: Saturday 19 July
Panel Discussion 10am – 11am
Sustainable, Societal and Environmental Innovation
How can businesses drive innovation that benefits both society and the envi ronment? This panel brings together experts who are pioneering sustainable and ethical practices. Join us as we explore how entrepreneurial approaches can shape a more responsible and resilient future.
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Location
Session
8.30am – 9.30am Networking breakfast
The Hub
9.30am – 10am Welcome
The Oculus 1.05
10am – 11am Panel discussion:
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Sustainable, Societal and Environmental Innovation Join us as we explore how entrepreneurial approaches can shape a more responsible and resilient future.
11am – 11.45am Refreshments and networking
The Hub
11.45am – 1pm Panel discussion:
The Oculus 1.05
Female Entrepreneurship Explore the strategies, mindsets and networks that empower female entrepreneurs to thrive.
Panel Moderator Tribeni Chougule
Katerina Mouliadou Founder of Lignoo by SLN Sustainability, Head of Innovation at ATS Global WBS Alum Katerina is a sustainability-driven engineer, entrepreneur, and innovation strategist with over a decade of experience across product development, manufacturing, and strategic leadership. A Warwick Business School MBA alumna, she is the founder of a purpose-led venture focused on rethinking everyday consumer products – starting with a truly sustainable kids’ water bottle made using bio-based materials and a fully transparent UK-based supply chain. Her work has been recognised through multiple Innovate UK grants, including the prestigious Women in Innovation Award, and most recently the Manufacturer Top 100 Exemplar Award 2025 in the Innovator and Sustainability Hero categories. She is also a finalist for the 2025 Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Executive & Leadership Coach, Social Sustainability Consultant and Speaker – Kinspace.
1pm – 2pm Lunch
The Hub
2pm – 3.15pm Keynote Speech
The Oculus 1.05
WBS Alum and Alumni Network Ambassador Tribeni Chougule is an Inclusive Impact Coach and founder of Kinspace, a coaching and consulting practice that equips individuals and organisations to lead with clarity, courage, and conscience. Her work empowers leaders – especially those underestimated or underrepresented – to reclaim their voice, navigate transition, and drive meaningful change. After a 25-year career in global financial services, technology, and sustainability – including senior leadership roles at Visa – Tribeni made a bold pivot into entrepreneurship. She now helps others do the same: break boundaries, challenge norms, and reimagine leadership as a force for social sustainability and inclusive impact. Her approach blends strategic acumen with behavioural insight and deep lived experience. At Kinspace, she coaches professionals at every level, with a focus on identity-aligned leadership, inclusive impact, and leading through uncertainty.
An audience with Jenny Tooth OBE CEO of the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA)
3.15pm – 4pm Refreshments and networking
The Hub
4pm – 5pm Knowing me, Knowing you Speed Networking Session Break the ice with ease as our facilitators guide you through activities designed to spark meaningful conversation.
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Godefroy Harito Founder – Treeapp WBS Alum Godefroy co-founded Treeapp, a global tree-planting organisation based in London. Listed in Forbes 30 Under 30, Godefroy has dedicated his ventures and personal time to leveraging new technologies for good. He is an alumnus of Warwick Business School and London Business School and launched his first business, valued at over £40 million, with the founders of Starling Bank.
Jessica Rasmussen Founder – Two Magnolias WBS Alum and Alumni Network Ambassador Jessica founded Two Magnolias® in 2019 with her business partner Marie Korde, and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founding Partner. Jessica has led Two Magnolias® from its early inception as an Angel investment vehicle in December 2019, through to its launch as an Early-Stage Venture Capital fund, achieving its a final close of Fund 1 in April 2024, with the sole purpose of filling the clear opportunity gaps that are present in the UK Venture Capital ecosystem. This Fund was built on the founding principles of investing in entrepreneurs focused on Sustainability and Human Health solutions, based solely in the UK. As CEO, Jessica is passionate about bringing a clear vision and lens to investment opportunities that exist within the Nations and Regions of the UK, that provide a clear and impactful outcome to local communities. Jessica’s involvement in strategically positioning the Fund to ensure that both female and ethnically diverse founders receive an equal voice has been identified as critically important. She is a known advocate for diversity and inclusion within the UK’s Venture and Private Equity Industry, recognising the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and success.
Mark Collins Head of Future Transport – Transport for West Midlands and Director at Intelligent Transport Systems UK Mark Collins is Head of Future Transport at Transport for West Midlands and also represents TfWM on the board at ITS (UK). As part of his portfolio at TfWM, he is responsible for numerous technology and service delivery programmes. He recently led the Future Transport Zone programme in the West Midlands, which included elements such as Mobility Credits, Mobility Hubs, Mobility-as-a-Service, new modes including eScooters and WM On-demand. Separately, he oversees the CAV and related infrastructure activities as well as a developing transport behaviour change programme (the Influencing Transport Lab). He is also involved in establishing the future mobility strategy within TfWM, deploying the learnings from these innovation programmes. Before joining TfWM he spent 11 years at Jaguar Land Rover in a series of engineering and management roles including vehicle prototyping, vehicle packaging, technology research and advanced engineering. With a degree in Mechanical and Automotive Engineering he has extensive experience of delivering new technologies and mobility systems.
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Panel Discussion 11:45am – 1pm
Female Entrepreneurship
Female founders are reshaping industries with innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial drive. Join us as we explore the strategies, mindsets, and networks that empower female entrepreneurs to thrive.
Panel Moderator Ben Evans
Dr. Peace Ani Director – Occasio Consulting Ltd WBS Alum and Alumni Network Ambassador Dr Peace Ani’s career and entrepreneurial interests span over two decades across Investment Banking Capital Markets, Specialty Insurance Market, Asset Management and FinTech. She has also held and currently holds several voluntary roles as a Board member, Trustee, School Governor, co-chair of the WBS Women’s Professional Network, speaker and mentor. Peace is a skilled strategic problem solver, providing thought leadership, fresh perspectives and technical expertise as a change maker across multiple and varied stakeholder groups, supporting senior leaders to foster and drive a high-performance culture leveraging over 20 years of experience in corporate governance, problem solving, risk management, and organisational culture change. Peace is a Warwick Business School multiple award winner for Best Supporting DBA Student and Best Thesis Paper Presentation. Peace was previously nominated for the National Diversity Positive Role Model Award.
New Business Director at AtkinsRéalis and Vice Chair of the EDI Charter for Rail WBS Alum Ben Evans is the 2024 everywoman in Transport and Logistics Male Agent of Change and New Business Director at AtkinsRéalis. He leads strategic growth initiatives to help transport clients across the UK and internationally tackle challenges in digital transformation, decarbonisation, and sustainability. With over two decades of experience in transformation and management consultancy, Ben has supported clients including Network Rail, HS2, National Highways, the Cabinet Office, and Heathrow. He is Vice Chair of the EDI Charter for Rail and a founding member of AtkinsRéalis’ UK and Europe Health and Wellbeing Steering Committee. Ben holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, where he focused on customer relationships in professional communities of practice.
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Michelle Sartorio Founder and CEO – Aue Natural Ltd and True Value Creation
Abiola Ayanleye Founder and CEO, Just Paint and SIP Lagos WBS Alum Abiola Ayanleye is a creative entrepreneur, business strategist, and the founder of Just Paint Ltd – a vibrant paint-and-sip themed restaurant that fuses food, fun, and creativity in one unforgettable experience. With a recently completed MBA from Warwick Business School, Abiola combines creative passion with sharp business acumen. Her background spans business development, experiential marketing, and event design. Her entrepreneurial journey is rooted in passion, purpose, and resourcefulness. Outside of running Just Paint, Abiola uses her voice to inspire aspiring founders by sharing real, relatable insights on building a business from scratch, embracing messy beginnings, and leading with authenticity.
Tribeni Chougule Executive & Leadership Coach, Social Sustain- ability Consultant and Speaker – Kinspace. WBS Alum and Alumni Network Ambassador Tribeni Chougule is an Inclusive Impact Coach and founder of Kinspace, a coaching and consulting practice that equips individuals and organisations to lead with clarity, courage, and conscience. Her work empowers leaders – especially those underestimated or underrepresented – to reclaim their voice, navigate transition, and drive meaningful change. After a 25-year career in global financial services, technology, and sustainability – including senior leadership roles at Visa – Tribeni made a bold pivot into entrepreneurship. She now helps others do the same: break boundaries, challenge norms, and reimagine leadership as a force for social sustainability and inclusive impact. Her approach blends strategic acumen with behavioural insight and deep lived experience. At Kinspace, she coaches professionals at every level, with a focus on identity-aligned leadership, inclusive impact, and leading through uncertainty.
WBS Alum and Alumni Network Ambassador Michelle Sartorio is a growth strategist and sustainability leader with two decades of international experience in brand positioning, strategy and sustainability consulting, and stakeholder communications. She has held senior roles at HSBC, Brookfield Asset Management, KPMG, LGIM, BBDO, where she led go-to- market, investor relations, and sustainable value creation initiatives across the globe. Michelle began her career in Brazil in advertising, working on campaigns for brands such as L’Oréal and Coca-Cola, before transitioning into finance. In 2024, driven by frustration with the beauty industry’s unsustainable practices and the rise of harmful messaging targeting young consumers, Michelle launched Auê Natural Ltd. The brand is set to disrupt the $677 billion beauty and personal care industry through authenticity, system change, and high-performance products powered by responsibly sourced Amazonian bioactives. Michelle also leads True Value Creation, a freelance consultancy practice focused on helping organisations embed sustainability, purpose, and long-term thinking into their core strategy.
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Keynote Address 2pm – 3:15pm
Jenny Tooth OBE, Executive Chair, UK Business Angels Association
Jenny brings over 30 years’ experience of supporting businesses to access finance and investment. She is a business angel and established the UKBAA trade body for angel and early-stage investment in the UK in 2012 where she was CEO until 2020, before taking on the role of Executive Chair. UKBAA is an ecosystem of over 110 Angel groups, representing more than 20,000 Angels, together with VC Funds, online platforms, accelerators and a wide range of intermediary and stakeholder organisations at national and regional level. Jenny is an active proponent of increasing diversity in Angel and early stage investment. She was a member of the Rose Review Board between 2019-2023 and supported the establishment of the Investing in Women Code launched in 2019 and established the Women Backing Women campaign in 2021 to enable more women across the UK to become Angel investors. She currently sits on UK Women Angel UK Investment Task Force where she chairs the Angel Investment Sub Committee. She also sits on the London Life Sciences Advisory Board and is a Women In Innovation Ambassador for Innovate UK and is also an Entrepreneurship Ambassador at Oxford Said Business School. At European level, Jenny is a founding Board member for Business Angels Europe where
she is VP for Diversity and currently leads the EuropeanWomenInvest EU Network launched in 2024 supported by the European Commission and European Investment Fund. On an international level, she sits on the Investment Board for the UK-India Government Neev II Impact Fund. Jenny is also an experienced speaker both in the UK and internationally. Jenny was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her services to angel investment and small business.
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Knowing Me, Knowing You 4pm – 5pm
Networking Session
Break the ice with ease as our facilitator guides you through activities designed to spark meaningful conversations. Exchange insights, best practices, and innovative ideas with like minded individuals eager to collaborate and grow.
Konstantina Dee Alumni Careers Manager
Katy Rogers Executive Coach, Leadership Facilitator WBS Alum Katy Rogers is an internationally experienced commercial board director and coach. She delivers energising coaching and consultancy to leaders and teams to stimulate development, generate new perspectives, and achieve their goals, all through unlocking their own potential. Before setting up her own consultancy and coaching practice, she spent over 25 years working in leading corporate organisations. She is an experienced Board Level Commercial Director, having managed global multi-million pound businesses and led teams across various industries, including consumer goods, retail, construction and food packaging. She brings expertise in strategy, marketing, branding, sales and people leadership and has an MBA from Warwick Business School. Having been coached and mentored throughout her career, she is an advocate of the positive impact coaching can drive. When she’s not working, Katy works as a trustee for Mentor Link a charity who provide volunteer mentors for vulnerable and distressed children and young adults.
Konstantina is the Alumni Careers Manager at WBS, coaching a diverse cohort of alumni. She also contributes to workshops and sessions for current students. Konstantina is Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, completed her BA from the University of Sofia and obtained her MSc in Management Studies from the RAU. Since 2005 Konstantina has worked in Careers Services in the UK and has completed a PG Certificate in Careers Information, Advice and Guidance from the University of Warwick. She is also a licensed Spotlight practitioner.
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Panel Discussion 10am – 11am
Day two: Sunday 20 July
Intrapreneurship
Intrapreneurs drive innovation from within, transforming challenges into opportunities. Join us as we explore how an entrepreneurial mindset can empower employees to lead change and create lasting impact.
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Programme
Location The Hub
9am – 10am Networking breakfast
10am – 11am Panel discussion: Intrapreneurship
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Explore how an entrepreneurial mindset can empower employees to lead change and create lasting impact.
11am – 11.45am Refreshments and networking
The Hub
11.45am – 1pm Panel discussion: Startups
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This panel gathers experienced founders and industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a successful venture.
Panel Moderator Sophie Pullen Senior Vice President – WeQual WBS Alum Sophie Pullen is the Senior Vice President of WeQual, an organisation dedicated to achieving 50/50 gender equality at the top of the world’s most influential companies. With a strong foundation in Sales and Operations and an MBA to back her strategic acumen, Sophie has built a career focused on breaking down barriers to equality and driving meaningful change in global business. In her role at WeQual, Sophie plays a dual function – steering the company’s mission while also leading operational excellence within the team. She is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to improve efficiency, streamline systems, and ensure the organisation remains forward-thinking and relevant to the executives they engage with. Outside of her professional life, Sophie is an avid traveller, sports enthusiast, and proud mother. A former inter-club boxing champion and current gymnastics and boxing coach, she brings the same energy and discipline to her personal pursuits as she does to her work. Sophie is always open to conversations about business transformation, supporting senior executive teams, implementing learning and development initiatives, or sharing travel tips – especially for Asia and South America.
1pm – 2pm Lunch
The Hub
2pm – 3pm Panel discussion:
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Digital Marketing and Consumer Engagement for Entrepreneurial Ventures Explore how entrepreneurs can leverage digital tools and engagement tactics for business success.
3pm – 3:30pm Conference close
The Oculus 1.05
3:30pm – 4pm Refreshments and networking
The Hub
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Leon Ayo Managing Partner – Sterling Bell WBS Alum
Babs Odunlami Portfolio Head, Enterprise and International – First Abu Dhabi Bank, UAE WBS Alum Babs Odunlami is a seasoned strategic transformation leader with over 17 years of experience driving innovation, enterprise change, and regulatory transformation across tier 1 global financial institutions including NatWest Group, and Lloyds Banking Group and most recently First Abu Dhabi Bank. His expertise lies in the delivery of complex, cross-border change initiatives, with a strong focus on regulatory transformation, enterprise strategy, and operational excellence. In his current role as Portfolio Head – Enterprise and International at First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mr. Odunlami leads a multi-billion-dirham portfolio which includes some of the group’s high profile programmes aligned to group strategy. He has consistently led complex cross-border change in highly regulated environments, delivering measurable outcomes in areas such as cybersecurity, infrastructure automation, and digital transformation. He firmly believes that an entrepreneurial mindset defined by adaptability, innovation, and value creation is essential not only in start-up environments, but also in navigating complex corporate ecosystems. Babs Odunlami currently resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Camilla Young Programme Lead: Next Generation of Barcodes – GS1 UK WBS Alum Camilla Young is the Programme Lead spearheading the rollout of the next generation of barcodes – a groundbreaking digital transformation reshaping the future of retail. With over 20 years of experience across the retail industry, Camilla’s career spans HR, Commercial, and now Digital Transformation. She has consistently driven innovation and delivered commercial excellence across some of the world’s most iconic brands. Before joining GS1 UK, Camilla held senior roles at Johnson & Johnson, where she led customer value creation and commercial strategy for their baby, beauty, and oral care portfolio – including household names like Listerine, Johnson’s Baby, Aveeno, and Neutrogena. Her earlier career includes impactful commercial roles at Hasbro, Bic, and Pernod Ricard, where she was known for delivering results and shaping brand growth. Since joining GS1 UK two years ago, Camilla has been the driving force behind the UK’s transition from traditional barcodes to 2D barcodes powered by GS1 standards – a once-in-a-generation transformation that connects physical products to the digital world. Under her leadership, major players like Unilever, L’Oréal, Bayer, and Tesco are already scaling their programmes, with many more on the horizon.
Leon moved into the world of consultancy in 2004 having served as a Captain in the British Army. He spent 7 years as a regular officer operating internationally on both counter terrorists and diplomatic missions. He served in Africa, the middle East, Central & North America and Europe. He has consulted and led teams across four continents specialising in Leadership, High Performance Culture, Agile Thinking, Entrepreneurship and helping organisations navigate the 4th Industrial Revolution embracing Diversity & Inclusion. He has been a visiting lecturer at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Lancaster, Birmingham, Cape Town and Stellenbosch as well as Warwick, Cranfield Business Schools and is Professor of Practice at Johannesburg Business School. He is a board advisor and consults on Leadership, strategy, driving growth and transformation through disruptive training and helping organisations embrace the new world of work. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he was awarded a British Army languages scholarship, earning an MA in French & Diplomatic Studies. He holds an Executive MBA from Warwick Business School, University of Warwick and is also an IMD alumnus.
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Panel Discussion 11:45am – 1pm
Start ups
This panel gathers experienced founders and industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a successful venture. Join us as we explore key strategies for growth, resilience, and navigating the startup journey.
Panel Moderator Anderson Hirst Director – Selling Interactions Ltd. WBS Alum
Minnie A. Nguyen CEO & Founder – BarberBoss WBS Alum
Alexander McLeod Startup Coach, Warwick Enterprise, University of Warwick Alexander McLeod is an experienced innovation and enterprise leader with over 20 years of cross-sector expertise spanning entrepreneurship, higher education, and corporate ecosystems in both South Africa and the UK. His core focus lies in designing and implementing high-impact startup and venture growth initiatives that drive sustainable value across diverse stakeholder groups. A recognised Fellow of Enterprise Educators UK, Alexander has played a pivotal role in advancing enterprise education and supporting emerging ventures. His career has seen him successfully lead operations, manage enterprise programmes, and support founders throughout their entrepreneurial journeys – blending strategic insight with hands-on delivery. With a proven track record in consulting, innovation, and venture building, Alexander has engaged effectively with stakeholders at every level – from government bodies and academic institutions to private sector firms. He is known for his collaborative leadership style, commitment to impactful outcomes, and deep passion for empowering entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Bhavesh Vaghela CEO Founder Ethita.com and CPTO & AI London Marathon Events WBS Alum
Minnie A. Nguyen is the CEO and co-founder of BarberBoss, the British personal care brand launched in August 2020. With an intuitive, hands-on approach, she has driven the company’s rapid growth by focusing on product innovation, developing a distinctive customer service model, and forging bold marketing partnerships that have helped the brand thrive across the UK and eight EU countries. Under Minnie’s leadership, BarberBoss has earned over 32,000 Amazon reviews with an average 4.5-star rating and 375+ full five-star Google reviews. In 2025, the brand achieved £1 million in Q1 sales, then over £800,000 more generated in May alone. The brand’s impact has earned significant industry recognition. It was named “Best Value Hair Clippers” by The Telegraph and received the “2025 Consumer Sector Cross-Border Leader” award in the Frost & Sullivan Consumer Sector Series Selection, presented by Forbes China. BarberBoss has also been featured multiple times in GQ Magazine in both the UK and Germany and consistently ranks among Amazon’s Top 10 Best Hair Clippers for Men between 2020 and now. Since 2023, BarberBoss’ visibility has grown further as the Official Sleeve Sponsor of West Bromwich Albion.
Anderson is perhaps WBS’s greatest advocate for how choosing a good dissertation / capstone project can alter your whole career. After completing his MBA at WBS in 2010, on the suggestion of his project supervisor, set up a consulting business to commercialise his research. This was based on assessing a sales organisations ability to implement consistent sales processes and customer experiences. Since then, he has worked with many organisations to help them improve their sales approach. During Covid, he worked extensively with start-ups and SMES, culminating in writing a book for that audience “Sales Management for start-ups and SMEs”. He is passionate advocate for the professionalisation of sales and has deep knowledge of how companies can adapt their sales approach according to their context and products / services.
Bhavesh Vaghela is a highly accomplished Product Leader with over two decades of experience spearheading digital transformation and product-led growth within the startup ecosystem and large organisations. His expertise lies in taking products from conception to market dominance. Bhavesh possesses a unique ability to blend strategic vision with hands-on execution, resulting in a proven track record of significant growth and transformation across various industries from defence, banking, cybersecurity, travel and now sports. As the CEO and Founder of Ethita.com, Bhavesh is at the forefront of a startup committed to making a difference. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Bhavesh also serves as the CPTO (Chief Product and Technology Officer) at the London Marathon. His leadership is characterised by a global perspective, a blend of technical prowess, and a strong customer centricity.
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Panel Discussion 2pm – 3pm
Digital Marketing and Consumer Engagement for Entrepreneurial Ventures
Digital marketing and consumer engagement are essential for entrepreneurial success, helping businesses build brand awareness, connect with customers, and drive growth. Join us as we explore how entrepreneurs can leverage digital tools and engagement tactics for business success.
Mark Hart Professor of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Policy – Enterprise Research Centre, Warwick Business School Professor Mark Hart is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Policy, and is Academic Lead of the UK Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme and curriculum consultant for the French programme. He was appointed to the Expert Advisory Council for the Government’s Help to Grow Management Programme. A 2014 recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, he has played a national role in promoting enterprise skills and supporting entrepreneurs as well as advising government on small business and entrepreneurship matters. He is Deputy Director of the national Enterprise Research Centre and has as its mission to understand the drivers of small business growth. Mark leads on business growth and productivity research to understand the dynamics of the private sector over time and the role of SMEs as well as contributing to the work on growth ambition and access to finance. He also manages the GEM UK national team for GEM Global which is the only international source of annual evidence on entrepreneurial attitudes, activity and aspiration.
Panel Moderator Laura Meadows Alumni Engagement Manager, Professional Networks – Warwick Business School Laura Meadows is the Alumni Engagement Manager for Professional Networks at Warwick Business School, where she leads initiatives to strengthen connections among alumni through sector-specific networks and events. Since joining the Global Alumni Engagement and Rankings team in 2023, Laura has played a pivotal role in curating in-person and virtual experiences that foster professional development, lifelong learning, and meaningful engagement across industries. With a focus on cultivating communities around shared professional interests – including finance, technology, sustainability, and more – Laura empowers alumni and students to leverage their networks for career growth and collaboration. Her work supports WBS’s mission to build a vibrant, values-driven alumni ecosystem that continues to deliver value long after graduation. Laura brings her expertise in strategic communications and alumni engagement to explore how entrepreneurs can harness digital tools to build lasting customer relationships.
Sunny Deo Founder & CEO – rightvybe ltd WBS Alum
Sunny is a builder at heart – whether it’s teams, ideas, or ventures. With a career spanning the UK, MENA, and APAC regions, Sunny has led award-winning creative teams, earning over 100 international accolades, including the first-ever Cannes Lions for Leo Burnett Dubai. But beyond the trophies, Sunny’s proudest achievements lie in mentoring individuals and empowering colleagues to overcome personal challenges and unlock their full potential. In 2019, Sunny joined Accenture with a mandate to co-create London’s first in-house creative strategy unit for deal pursuits. The result was a high-impact team that, through storytelling, new methodologies, and creative leadership, helped boost Accenture Europe’s win rate from 56% to 85% in just three years. Today, Sunny is channelling two decades of global creative and strategic experience into entrepreneurship – launching a purpose-driven fintech start-up rooted in innovation, impact, and bold ideas.
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Luke Battye Managing Partner – Sprint Valley Luke Battye is a behavioural scientist and founder of Sprint Valley, a strategy and innovation consultancy that helps organisations tackle complex challenges and unlock commercial growth. For over seven years, Luke and his team have supported leadership and operational teams at brands including Nike, Intel, McDonald’s, Virgin Atlantic, Scottish Power, and The Red Cross – generating an average return of £11 for every £1 invested, and maintaining a Net Promoter Score of 9.4. Sprint Valley specialises in helping companies shake off legacy ways of working and modernise how teams collaborate – so they can grow sales, increase margin, and become more valuable to customers. Their approach blends behavioural science, design thinking, and test-and-learn experimentation. They catalyse action through research, shape strategy with the teams closest to delivery, and build momentum by prototyping and scaling what works. Whether the challenge is falling customer loyalty, siloed innovation, or declining margin, Luke’s team works fast to turn insight into impact – driving transformation from the inside out. At the core of the work is a belief that when people leave work proud, they arrive home happy.
Katie Clift CEO & Founder – may:be agency WBS Alum
Nicola Benjamin CEO and Founder of Project Management Global Nicola Benjamin is the CEO and Founder of Project Management Global, a specialist media and marketing platform sharing online news, insights and development advice for project professionals. Nicola is also a Senior Associate with the Global consultancy firm Ove Arup Ltd. Where she is a Rail Sector Business Lead and is also a Skills Leader. Overseeing the professional development of project consultants in the UK, India, Middle East and Africa. Nicola has over twenty years’ experience in project management delivery specialising in technology, major projects and utilities. She has worked in both the public and private sectors leading numerous Transformation and Change management programmes. In 2019 Nicola qualified as a Chartered Project Professional, she also holds an MBA and Diploma in Strategic Leadership from Warwick Business School. Nicola has built a considerable network across the project industry having worked closely with several of the main industry associations, educational, training and research providers. She is a regular guest speaker at conferences and industry events. Nicola began publishing articles on career development in April 2023 and has since written over 150 articles and produced over 100 guidance documents. She grew her subscriber base to over 6000 professionals globally before formally setting up Project Management Global in 2024. A
passionate communicator and advocate for life- long learning, Nicola remains at the forefront of the project profession.
An MBA scholar of Warwick Business School, Katie has worked internationally on both sides of communications – in the media and as a PR, spokesperson, and corporate affairs executive – for both the private and public sectors for 20 years. She has 15 years of experience as a moderator and commentator, presenting sessions, interviews, and press conferences globally, from the World Economic Forum in Davos to the Union for International Cancer Control’s World Cancer Congress, Warwick Business School Panels, international webinars, podcasts, and various in-person and online events. Katie was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in her 30s, and after 18 months of active treatment, returned to life and work more determined than ever to bring counter-cultural PR to the forefront, upscaling communications for organisations globally. Katie founded maybe at its core to be counter-cultural PR. maybe is actually two words: a contraction of “what may be”. It’s bold, definitive and results driven, and so is her agency. Her team is focused on pushing the boundaries of true possibility in PR, moving the needle from an outdated industry narrative of “maybe it’s possible, maybe we can do it…” to “let’s see what may:be.”
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Interactive map
Ground floor
1st floor
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E MBAConference@wbs.ac.uk
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