Scotland’s next generation of business leaders head Stateside

25/09/2019
(top left to bottom right): Pooja Jain, Cognihealth, John Robertson, Drinkly, Barry Leaper, LiberEat, Ross Mcleod, Intebloc, Scott Weir, Pillow, Scott Cunningham, MyWay Digital Health, Calum Haggerty, COCO Chocolatier, Lynne Jhangeer, LINIAN Supply Co Ltd and Tadas Labudis, Product Insight.
(top left to bottom right): Pooja Jain, Cognihealth, John Robertson, Drinkly, Barry Leaper, LiberEat, Ross Mcleod, Intebloc, Scott Weir, Pillow, Scott Cunningham, MyWay Digital Health, Calum Haggerty, COCO Chocolatier, Lynne Jhangeer, LINIAN Supply Co Ltd and Tadas Labudis, Product Insight.

A cohort of 16 Scotland-based entrepreneurial leaders will travel to the States next week (1-8 October) to take part in a programme at Boston’s Babson College, the world’s number-one ranked school of entrepreneurship.

The visit, facilitated by Unlocking Ambition and Entrepreneurial Scotland, aims to help the delegates develop advanced leadership skills and receive business growth training as well as building networks in North America.

The delegates are recognised as ambitious individuals heading-up businesses and projects with high potential to make a significant contribution to the Scottish economy.

Among them are Calum Haggerty of COCO Chocolatier, a producer of ethically-sourced artisan chocolate; John Robertson of Drinkly, an online home delivery service for chilled alcoholic drinks; Scott Weir of Pillow, a property management service for holiday homes and serviced accommodation; and Scott Cunningham of MyWay Digital Health which offers an innovative diabetes self-management platform.

Within the cohort are nine ambassadors for the Unlocking Ambition challenge, the £4 million flagship entrepreneurial development fund created by the Scottish Government. Delivered by Scottish Enterprise and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, forty entrepreneurs were selected for the programme based on the potential economic and social impact of their businesses.

Entrepreneurial Scotland supports the Unlocking Ambition programme by pairing the ambassadors with experienced mentors and offering development opportunities such as the Babson trip. It has worked with the college for over a decade, facilitating access to world-class, international leadership development for entrepreneurs from across Scotland.

Alison Loveday, the Unlocking Ambition programme manager, said: “We’re very excited to be taking another cohort of Scotland’s most ambitious entrepreneurs to experience the unparalleled development and networking opportunities at Babson. Unlocking Ambition aims to challenge, encourage and inspire its ambassadors to continue evolving and recognise the positive contribution they can make to Scotland’s economy and to wider society through sustainable and inclusive growth. The trip to Babson is invaluable in opening up new connections in North American markets and encouraging the delegates to focus on maximising their potential for international expansion, helping equip them for the future.”

Jules Lancastle, Head of Executive Education at Enterpreneurial Scotland, said: “As a Saltire Leadership Programme, the Boston week is designed to equip leaders with the mindset, skills, experience and connections they need to help them take their business to the next level.  Through Unlocking Ambition, the founders of rapidly developing startups can join more established entrepreneurial leaders, all seeking to develop global perspective, international insight and emotional intelligence.  The cohort mix creates a dynamic learning environment and meaningful, legacy connections between near-peers across industries, across sectors and across the world.”

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