News | Scotland Can Do Partners join Catalyst 2021

Scotland Can Do is a national initiative, funded by the Scottish Government, to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation through collaboration, to help tackle our country’s biggest challenges. At the heart of Scotland Can Do is a joined-up, multisector community of over 70 partners who all support entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial endeavours across different sectors, sizes and geographies. Together known as the Can Do Collective, this community of like-minded leaders are on a mission to provide enterprise and skills support that will enable individuals, and businesses of all kinds, to make a positive impact in Scotland and beyond.

One of the key elements for growing a strong and thriving entrepreneurial community is investing in the leadership capacity of ecosystem partners. That is why Scotland Can Do is committed to deepening the skills, confidence and connections of Can Do Collective partners, so that the impact they deliver is amplified and positively influences not only their organisational contexts, but the growth of the wider ecosystem.

Following a successful pilot in Dec 2020 on the topic of Navigating Volatility, this winter the Scotland Can Do programme has launched a bespoke Resilient Leadership Catalyst programme. This unique, immersive learning experience will take place virtually across two cohorts, in November 2021 and March 2022. It has been designed for leaders who belong to the Can Do Collective and are ready to amplify their impact and positively influence their organisations, the entrepreneurial ecosystem and Scotland.

I was very excited about the opportunity to finally go to Babson College, even if only online, through the Catalyst programme and thoroughly enjoyed the interesting, thought provoking and entertaining sessions with Jay Rao. However, of equal if not more value was the chance to reflect on what we’d learned and the challenges we’d faced with my peers in the Can Do Collective.

Evelyn McDonald

CEO, Scottish EDGE (2020 Participant)

Taking part in the Catalyst opportunity, Navigating Volatility with Babson, was a very timely and beneficial experience to me both personally and organisationally. The pandemic brought along so many uncertainties and the programme was able to strengthen existing methodologies of leadership and add value through the insights of the experts on the programme both from Babson and fellow participants. Highly Recommended!

Geoff Leask

CEO, Young Enterprise Scotland (2020 Participant)

The Resilient Leadership Catalyst will provide a blend of structed and self-guided learning across 3-months for 10 Can Do Collective partners. The learning experience will stretch the boundaries of participants’ thinking, and enable them to apply new insight, learning and perspectives back into their organisation and their work in partnership across the ecosystem. The programme will enable the participants to learn from peers, share best practice, and connect with international experts in their field, whilst showcase the breadth and productivity of Collective partners.

Introducing the 2021 Can Do Cohort:

Caroline Wylie, Director of Finance & Projects, Challenges Group
Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director, Converge
Elizabeth Pirrie, Chief Operating Officer, Investing Women
Ghillean Macleod, Senior Project Manager, Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Howell Davies, Sector Engagement Manager, Interface
Kirsty Bathgate, Director, Gearing for Growth
Lindsay Wake, Head of Impact, Social Investment Scotland
Nick Murray, Co-Director, Startup Grind Scotland
Seemab Farooqi, Lecturer, University of Dundee School of Business
Rachel Wallace, Programme Manager, Entrepreneurial Scotland

We asked participants what attracted them to the programme and what they’re most looking forward to.

I am a Saltire Fellow from the 2014 cohort which means I have spent almost 4 months studying entrepreneurship at Babson College. It’s then that my leadership journey started and never really ended. When I heard about the opportunity to join the Catalyst programme as an eco-system leader, I rushed to secure a place. Babson’s approach to leadership is absolutely unique and I look forward to challenging myself once again, to get comfortable being uncomfortable and to progress my leadership journey for my benefit but also for the benefit of my team and the Scottish entrepreneurial eco-system we support.

Claudia Cavalluzzo

Director, Converge

The Resilient Leadership Catalyst has come along at just the right time for me. I had been investigating learning opportunities to enhance my leadership skills, when the email from Scotland Can Do arrived in my inbox and it was exactly what I was looking for. The opportunity to learn through Babson College whilst studying alongside my colleagues in the Scotland Can Do Collective is just the right balance of global outlook and local impact. I can’t wait to get stuck in and see what the 2021 cohort can learn and achieve together

Elizabeth Pirrie

Chief Operating Officer, Investing Womens

Scotland Can Do Partners join Resilient Leadership Catalyst 2021

Entrepreneurial Scotland plays an important role in driving the success of Scotland’s entrepreneurial support landscape by leading and facilitating the Scotland Can Do Programme.

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