This is the perfect opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from successful entrepreneurs. The Bettany Centre Entrepreneurship Speaker Series gives you the chance to hear from a variety of entrepreneurs from across a range of industries.
The speakers will give you an insight in to their journey, identifying their successes and any mistakes that they may have made along their way. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions, allowing you to delve even further in to the backstory of these well-established entrepreneurs.
Attending these events will provide you with a great chance to network with like-minded individuals who share your passion for entrepreneurship.
The events are entirely free of charge and refreshments are supplied (face-to-face events only).
Panel Discussion – Thursday 22 February 2024
Hugo Hickson
Direct Private Equity Principal, Pictet Group, London
Investing in founder and entrepreneur-owned businesses
After graduating from a degree in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, Hugo spent the first 10 years of his career at Procter & Gamble and then McKinsey & Co. working on a strategy project in Europe, the US and Africa. The primary focus of his work was on growth and organisational effectiveness with numerous projects looking at how best to organise for and achieve ambitious growth targets.
In recent years, Hugo has moved into Private Equity at Pictet where the focus of the team is on investing in and supporting entrepreneurs and owner-managers build their businesses as they look to scale and further professionalise.
Nigel Grierson
Independent Non-Executive Director
Nigel has 20 years’ operating experience in the IT industry with positions in product development, marketing, and senior management.
20+ years’ of experience as Managing Director of venture capital funds managing investments of ~$700 million in 70 technology start-up companies across Europe and delivering substantial investor returns.
Nigel also has a career-long track record of developing high-performance management teams, marketing strategy development, and has substantial board director experience.
Alison Cooper
Founder, Alicia J Diamonds
As an entrepreneur and natural innovator, Alison Cooper finds creative solutions to gaps in the market. She has successfully built and scaled several businesses.
Alison sold En Route International, her award-winning multi-million-pound global on-board service business, to dnata (Emirates Group) in 2017, and went on to create Alicia J Diamonds, a specialist bespoke jewellery service. She has also been involved in holiday properties in the south of England and is also a co-director of interior design company Design’d Living, which operates in the UK and Dubai.
Stepan Galaev
Investment Director
Stepan Galaev, a Cranfield MBA alum from 2014, identified a growing demand for small-cap private equity investment services within the angel investment community while managing the investment portfolio of the renowned UK angel investor, Nick Jenkins.
After immersing himself in the venture capital environment for several years, he seized an opportunity to establish an FCA-regulated fund management and corporate finance firm. This firm offers primary and secondary private equity investment opportunities to Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) who share the belief that investing in young ventures can deliver both social and economic returns.
Today, his firm stands as a trusted service provider for prominent angel investors. Offering services along the entire investment journey, from due diligence to exit, the aim is to enhance effectiveness at every stage of a deal, be it negotiation strategy, corporate structure, or portfolio management.
In his investing career, Stepan has managed venture investment portfolios for other Dragons’ Den investors, namely Tej Lalvani and Jenny Campbell. Stepan orchestrated 23 private equity deals and oversaw 10 exits. Most importantly, he built relationships with some of the most influential family offices globally.
Most recently, Stepan submerged himself into the world of turnaround at an innovative personalized card & gift company. There, he led the management buy-in and oversaw organizational and financial restructuring.
Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Stepan serves as a Non-Executive Director at several companies in diverse sectors, including Growthdeck, Dashly, and Splento. Stepan is known for providing alternative and nonconformist views on company affairs and placing utmost focus on sustainable growth and long-term vision.
