A powerful new partnership between Cambridge Judge Business School and community interest company Inspire 2 Ignite, which works with people aged 12-24 who aren’t in education, employment or training, brought together Executive MBA (EMBA) students and young people from across Cambridgeshire for a high-impact evening of connection, learning and inspiration.
The event, titled Unlock Your Future, took place at Cambridge Judge as part of the final teaching weekend for the EMBA 2023 cohort. The experience was co-created by Lee Cortez (Cambridge Judge) and Sam Squire (Inspire 2 Ignite), designed to open doors between communities that rarely meet - creating opportunities for real-world conversation, shared values, and mentorship.
Over 100 connections were made between international EMBA students, local professionals, and young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). What unfolded was more than a networking session - it was a social capital exchange that has already led to new mentorships and ongoing opportunities.
The event featured a series of keynote talks from Cambridge Judge EMBA students, covering topics such as entrepreneurial growth, personal brand development, and leadership in global intelligence. Speakers included Prudence Chow, Jonathan Johnson, and Jennifer Swimley, who offered insight into YouTube monetisation, strategic careers, and relationship-building for long-term success.
Attendees also heard shorter “Curious Talks” from both students and young professionals, including Uduak Bassey-Duke Jesuthasan, Gokul Yesodharan, Agnieszka Widłak-Lindsay, from the Business School, and Alex Hughes of Inspire 2 Ignite. Hughes, inspired by Agnieszka’s reflections on how real toughness is found in vulnerability, honesty, and relentless curiosity, built on her message in his own talk - and will now be sharing those insights with young women in prison through Inspire 2 Ignite’s current programme in collaboration with Constructed Pathways.
“Cambridge is often cited as one of the most unequal cities in the UK,” said Lee Cortez, EMBA 2023 Class Representative at the EMBA programme of Cambridge Judge. “Inviting young people into spaces like CJBS is not just about inspiration - it's about inclusion, opportunity, and making sure those spaces are built with them in mind.”
The event was supported by the Executive MBA Programmes team at the Business School, including Dr Jennifer Waller Martin, Jeeva Bostic-Bradley, and Alistair Westwood, and aligns with CJBS’ wider commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Feedback from the evening was overwhelmingly positive. Several EMBA students have already committed to mentoring young people they met at the event. One attendee shared, “Alex, it was a pleasure to meet you and the Inspire 2 Ignite team. Definitely one of the highlights of my last weekend at Cambridge Judge. I think what you and Sam are doing is really important. I had someone believe in me when I was only 16 years old and it changed my life. It just takes one person.”
For Inspire 2 Ignite, the event marks another step in their mission to create real-world opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship, industry experiences, and personal development.
Unlock Your Future stands as a blueprint for meaningful collaboration between elite academic institutions and grassroots youth organisations. Both Cambridge Judge Business School and Inspire 2 Ignite CIC plan to explore further joint initiatives to continue the momentum.
