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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MBA Alumni Conference
warwickmba.com
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