Passion in Entrepreneurship (CIMR Debates and Workshops in Public Policy)
When:
—
Venue:
Online
Join the Centre for Innovation Management Research on Wednesday 9th February for our next online lunchtime seminar: Passion in Entrepreneurship. The online debate is part of the CIMR Debates and Workshops in Public Policy series.
Speakers
- James Brook, Founder and CEO of TalentPredix
- Wai Foong Ng, Founder and CEO of Matchable
Chair
-
Alex Till, Chief Executive, MENTA
ABSTRACT
As an emotional construct, entrepreneurial passion (EP) has become deeply embedded in the folklore and practice of entrepreneurship yet remains poorly researched and understood. It is widely believed and reported in the popular press that successful entrepreneurs love the work they do. Entrepreneurial passion has been found to positively impact entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy, their persistence and creativity, the team’s passion, motivation, and even the ability of entrepreneurs to attract venture funding.
In Digital Technology ventures, affective experiences and entrepreneurial passion are likely to be particularly salient to the success of the venture due to the ever-changing, highly disruptive, and competitive nature of the sector.
During this debate, we will critically explore how entrepreneurial passion contributes to our understanding of the creation and growth of Digital Technology ventures with reference to James Brook's PhD research on the topic and Foong’s experience as a Technology entrepreneur. As well as considering the research and a practical case study we will explore the limitations and critique of this fast-growing and important area of research.
Further Reading on the topic is available via the paper: Entrepreneurial Passion: A Review, Synthesis, and Agenda for Future Research
BIOGRAPHIES
James Brook is a leadership consultant, organizational psychologist, and executive coach. He specializes in positive leadership, unlocking thriving workplaces and transformation, and coaching executives and leaders in innovative sectors including Tech, Digital, E-commerce and Life Sciences.
James is currently CEO of Plexus Leadership and TalentPredix Ltd. After holding a number of corporate leadership roles in HR and Talent Management, James has founded several leadership and HR Tech businesses, including Strengthscope®, an global strengths assessment and consulting company which he sold in 2018. James has a Master’s in Organizational Psychology, an MBA, an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching and a Harvard Business qualification in Sustainable Business Strategy. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, the Association of Business Psychologists and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD). He is currently undertaking a PhD in Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck examining the start-up journey of Tech and Digital entrepreneurs.
Wai Foong Ng is the founder and CEO of impact startup, Matchable. Foong was previously a Director at PwC advising on structuring M&A deals. She also founded the blog Suit & Pie and the Suits & Startups community. She read Law with French Law at Cambridge Uni before becoming the accountant her parents always wanted her to be.
In 2019, Foong became the founder of Matchable, an award-winning B2B platform matching companies and their employees to innovative skilled volunteering projects at non-profits and impact startups. Matchable has been named one of the nine techs for good startups to watch by Beauhurst, and Matchable was named the winner of the MSDUK Social Innovation Challenge 2021 and was recognised as one of the Top 100 companies to Escape to in 2021 by Escape the City and one of the Top 10 most flexible companies to work for by Flexa. Matchable is proud to be a B-Corp and was recently recognised as one of the top 5% in the World in its category.
Foong was recently recognised as a Rising Star by Computer Weekly and one of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech. She loves cake, coffee and spinning.
Alex Till is Chief Executive of MENTA the Mid-Anglia Enterprise Agency. Alex’s role enables him to address his passion for enterprise and drive forward the growth of new, emerging, and existing businesses and build on the need for Suffolk to be recognised nationally for the significant work that the County undertakes in skills, enterprise, and employability.
Alex’s role as Chairman of the National Enterprise Network is enabling him to work directly with Government with his primary focus around SME development. This enables him to spearhead the needs of SMEs from an operational perspective into policy directives. Alex’s passion continues into his pro bono work which enables him to support those from disadvantaged communities with direct mentoring and support to those from The Prince’s Trust, prisons, and refugees.
Contact name:
Orla Walsh