Entrepreneurial Scotland's Innovation and Growth: Post Crisis Catalyst, designed in partnership with Babson College, is tailor-made for business leaders who want to do different; embrace world-class learning and develop alongside fellow business leaders in a collaborative cohort environment.
Two months in, we catch up with current cohort Yvonne MacKay, David Provan, David Stott and Neil McInnes on their journey so far and ask how their Catalyst experience is better equipping them to change the game in their market, in the short and long term.
David Stott is the Vice President, Enterprise International at Bullhorn. He tells us more:
"The first phase of the program has been excellent. Jay and the Babson content was perfect fuel for ideas, discussion, and broader thinking. Being able to take these ideas back into a group of like-minded but diverse leaders has definitely helped me think differently about how we grow our business and people. One stand-out takeaway for me has been a new lens to look at our market, our position within it, and using that lens to help chart a path to growth."
Jay and the Babson content was perfect fuel for ideas, discussion, and broader thinking.
Yvonne Mackay is the Operations Manager at Anta. She tells us more:
"The Innovation and Growth has been fantastic so far. The programme has allowed me time out to reflect on the business. Being surrounded by such a great cohort, all facing similar challenges in their daily roles makes you realise that there is always someone to turn to for advice. Jay's teaching helped me focus on looking at our offering, competition and customers. I am excited to work on implementing a strategy that focuses on our key product ranges and picking our battlegrounds for growth."
Jay's teaching helped me focus on looking at our offering, competition and customers.
David Provan is the Managing Director at Pitch Teamwear. He tells us more:
"The programme has been much more than I expected. I’ve enjoyed being in such a rich learning environment and meeting some brilliant people along the way. The learning content from Babson College is challenging but presented in such a very positive and enthusiastic way that you do feel that anything is possible. Sharing the journey with a like-minded group has been a real bonus and the sessions organised by Entrepreneurial Scotland have been first class. Everyone is willing you on to do well and, whether we are small business owners or senior managers in large corporates or everything in between, our innovation and growth challenges are all very similar. I’ve been able to share some of my business goals, for Pitch Teamwear, with a cohort who have given me valuable and honest feedback. I’d have paid a fortune for this with an external consultancy!"
I’ve been able to share some of my business goals, for Pitch Teamwear, with a cohort who have given me valuable and honest feedback. I’d have paid a fortune for this with an external consultancy!
Neil McInnes is the Founding Director at Umega Lettings. He tells us more:
"I've really enjoyed the programme so far and taken so much from it. Learning alongside great people who are facing similar challenges has really helped me see my own situation more clearly from the outside in. Jay has been a whirlwind and taught us so much. One of the key takeaways for me has been the idea of having more than one strategy (going product by product, market by market) and this has opened up more freedom and more options for Umega in how we tackle our different strategic challenges."
Learning alongside great people who are facing similar challenges has really helped me see my own situation more clearly from the outside in.
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The Cohort for our next Catalyst programme Resilient Leadership draws together ambitious leaders from a variety of sectors, with different backgrounds, strengths, experiences and outlooks.
Join a cohort of up to 12 leaders in order to crystalize your definition of resilience, integrate it into your entrepreneurial leadership style, and transform your team’s culture so it can thrive. Challenge and be challenged within a group of trusted peers whilst increasing your own personal 'leadership capital' at a time in which your impact as a leader is more important than ever.
For more information on the programme and its cohort here or email sean.mcgrath@entrepreneurialscotland.com
Scotland needs entrepreneurially-minded people to accelerate growth - but how do we find them? Learn how we find, grow and connect Scotland's up and coming intern talent.
This International Women's Day, we're celebrating the women who are inspiring inclusion in entrepreneurship and leadership.
Entrepreneurial Scotland is pleased to invite CEOs, business leaders and decision-makers to our webinar: “Delivering Results: The Power of Saltire Scholar Interns for Your Business”