The MBA speaker series aims to give our MBA students and graduates a chance to hear from a diverse group of leaders from different industries who share insights and experiences from their careers and provide valuable new perspectives. The sessions will be in form of industry specific panel discussions featuring alumni in certain industries or senior level solo alumni presentations. The series also aims to connect our current students with alumni who were once in their places and create a strong MBA community for students and alumni to come together and share stories, exchange memories and to further support each other.
In this session join Harry Clarke (FT MBA 1991, Business Growth and Development Programme 2011) who will be talking on the topic "Golden Nuggets - some reflections on early-stage entrepreneurship".
Bookings for this event have now closed. If you wish to attend please email alumni@cranfield.ac.uk
Programme & speakers
18.00-19.00 Presentation - Golden Nuggets - some reflections on early-stage entrepreneurship
19.00-19.30 Drinks and networking
Speaker:
Harry Clarke (FT MBA 1991, Business Growth and Development Programme 2011)
Born in Brentwood, Essex, Harry was schooled locally, studied engineering at Hull and was commissioned into the British Army - a formative and engaging time spent largely abroad & rounded off by mine clearing in wartime Iraq. Demilitarised by the Cranfield FT MBA in 1991, he spent a few unspectacular years in junior UK corporate life before, on presenting a brilliant idea to the board of AA insurance, he was refused. Suitably piqued, he decided to pursue it himself. Unwilling to afford a garage, he hired a portakabin, launching Cobalt Telephone Technologies from it, in 1997, as a bootstrap start-up. It survived and grew, subsequently pivoting into the 'parking industry' to become RingGo, the phone-parking brand now used by over eighteen million UK motorists. Selling out his more than 80% stake in 2012 he remained closely involved, becoming promoted to the main board of the Dutch-based acquiring company. A boardroom clash with their subsequent acquirer, BMW, led to a negotiated career-break followed by a four year spell of strategic international consultancy, within the same sector, for a competitor. Following a brief, off-piste flirtation during 2023, as interim CEO of a weather forecasting firm, he is now greatly looking forward to taking up a chairmanship role back within the parking sector that, rather unexpectedly, seems to have firmly defined his career.
Location & travel details
The event will take place in Building 38 CMRI Gallery, Cranfield University.
Who should attend
MBA alumni, students and prospective students.
Cost & concessions
This event is free to attend.