- Calendar
- Monday 30 September 2024
- Clock
- 18:00–20:30
Overview
Through detailed accounts of their ventures gone wrong, the panellists will explore the emotional and practical hurdles they faced when dealing with failure, and how they turned those setbacks into valuable lessons.
Topics
- Why their ventures failed and what went wrong
- How they navigated the emotional toll of failure
- The steps they took to reflect on and learn from their mistakes
- Strategies they used to bounce back and apply those lessons to future ventures
- How failure shaped their approach to risk-taking and entrepreneurship
This event is designed to give university students a realistic view of the entrepreneurial journey and destigmatise failure as a critical part of learning and growth. Attendees will walk away with practical insights and strategies for overcoming obstacles and building resilience in their own entrepreneurial ventures.
The event will conclude with a Q&A session, offering students the opportunity to ask the panellists about their personal experiences with failure, how they bounced back, and any practical advice on navigating setbacks in their own entrepreneurial journeys.
Running times
18:00-18:30: Welcome tea/coffee
18:30-19:30: Panel event
19:30-20:30: Pizza and networking
Panellists
Belinda Roberts MBE
Belinda is an award-winning entrepreneur & founder of WeDO Scotland, a leading peer-to-peer learning and support organisation supporting and championing established, high growth entrepreneurs. Having previously exited a company she founded within 3.5 years of inception, and overcome her fair share of challenges on her entrepreneurial journey, her passions are business and people. She was awarded an MBE for services to business and entrepreneurship in 2019.
Brian Williamson
Brian is an engineer, a professional businessman and an award-winning entrepreneur. He has been running companies at Board level for the last 42 years, the last 30 as an entrepreneur.
Brian has lived and worked through five recessions and believes in the philosophy that ‘calm seas never made a skilled sailor’. This experience has added to his belief that running a business requires speed, agility and resilience.
Andrew Parfery
With a strong focus on health and social care, Andrew has founded and built multiple tech and service businesses, with experience in scaling one company to 500 people and raising £12m in start-up investment. After selling these businesses, Andrew has turned his attention to supporting other founders and start-ups through angel investment, mentoring and in non-executive director positions.”