The making of a successful entrepreneur

Perspectives from Dr Dominic Chan, a Hong Kong entrepreneur, and Dr Joanna Mills of the University of Cambridge Judge Business School's Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning.

Hong Kong is still at an early stage in terms of high technology start-ups, when compared to places like Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv and Los Angeles, according to Dr Dominic Chan, Founder and Chief Consultant at Decisive Consulting.  The ecosystem is evolving slowly, he says, and to be successful entrepreneurs need to know how to find and manage a wide range of resources. Dr Chan is a guest speaker at a learning and networking event organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL).  The event is chaired by Mr Paul Lynch, Director for Trade and Investment, British Consulate-General Hong Kong.

Dr Chan, a Cambridge graduate was formerly a consultant with McKinsey & Company before becoming an entrepreneur.  He has been involved in many hi-tech start-ups including Englishtown (English language e-learning provider), Cedar Audio UK (Digital Signal Processing equipment) and solution) and SpikeCyberWorks (web-solution provider).

“I have been involved in a range of start-ups, some based on research from university, others with a solid tech team coming out from big hi-tech companies, some built the venture from scratch from a business idea, others spun-out from an established company or even listed company.

 “Looking back at these ventures, there is no set-formula for success. In terms of people it is those who don't give up, who are passionate about their ideas and know how to find and manage all sorts of resources.  This could be human resources, financial investment or partners that will stick around long enough so that the company may turn many corners and finally see success down the road.”

Dr Joanna Mills is the Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship at CfEL; she comments that the experiences of other entrepreneurs can be used to increase the success of business ideas.

“Cambridge has developed a mature entrepreneurial ecosystem and as a result there are many entrepreneurs at all stages.  We encourage the involvement of these entrepreneurial individuals as contributors to the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship as they inspire, stimulate and challenge the students.

“ A good idea isn’t enough on its own.  Students are encouraged to develop their business concept as an entrepreneurial project, where they have to validate the idea and build a financial case that impresses investors. This helps build the skills necessary to assess an idea objectively and to improve on the original concept.”

Dr Chan agrees, “Growing a start-up in Hong Kong meets with a lot of challenges. Typical investors in Hong Kong are looking for quick returns as they usually find that in the property and stock market. Hi-tech investment isn't something that everybody understands.

“Entrepreneurs can benefit tremendously by learning from other people's experience successes and failures. But sometimes, you have to be in a certain situation or similar circumstances before you can really appreciate it.  That is when the education and sharing become very relevant, because you are living the same experience.  I think it’s a benefit of the diploma is that it can be taken while people are working.”

CfEL’s new Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, accredited by the University of Cambridge, includes three weeks of residential study interacting with Cambridge entrepreneurs and fellow students.  This collaborative experience continues within a ‘virtual learning environment’, which includes a programme of online lectures, and the chance to develop your own business concept with the support of mentors.

At the event entitled ‘Is Entrepreneurship a Contact Sport?’, which is being run in collaboration with the UK Trade and Investment and supported by the British Council, there will be an opportunity to hear Dr Chan discuss the entrepreneurial environment in Hong Kong and learn more about CfEL followed by networking and refreshments. 29th January 2013, 18:00 – 20:30, British Consulate-General, 1 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong.

If you're interested in attending the event, please register your interest by completing the online form http://www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/diploma/meetus.html#roadshows so we can add you to our invite list and send more information.

 

About the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL)

The Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL) based at Cambridge Judge Business School, UK, aims to spread the spirit of enterprise to both the University of Cambridge community and to wider national and international audiences through the creation and delivery of a range of educational activities that inspire and build skills in the practise of Entrepreneurship.

One of CfEL's key teaching values is that the best people to teach entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs. This philosophy has led to the Centre collaborating with a network of over 300 experienced entrepreneurs, innovators and other practitioners to provide relevant, credible and practical training.

The Centre has developed an enviable track record in the field of entrepreneurship education with a number of flagship programmes designed to provide skills for students, graduates, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and at different stages of the entrepreneurial journey. These programmes are Enterprise Tuesday, ETECH Projects, Ignite, Enterprisers and the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship.

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 766900; Email: cfel@jbs.cam.ac.uk; Web: www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk

About Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge  

Cambridge Judge Business School is internationally recognised as one of the leading providers of innovative, intellectually challenging and practical business management education across a portfolio of undergraduate, graduate and executive programmes. As a fully integrated department of a world-renowned university, Cambridge Judge Business School hosts one of the largest concentrations of interdisciplinary business and management research activity in Europe. Built on an ethos of collaboration, the School is a unique place where policy makers, regulators, industry leaders, not for profit organisations, entrepreneurs and academics can meet, interact and share ideas.

Cambridge Judge Business School delivers business education for the 21st Century networked economy, fostering collaborative leadership skills, developing communities of partners to meet the challenges of the new global business landscape. Ranked 26th in the 2012 FT Global Rankings of business schools, 33rd in the 2011 Economist Intelligence Unit Global MBA Rankings, 10th in the Bloomberg Businessweek 2010 Best International Business School Rankings and 5th in the 2011 Forbes Global Rankings for one-year MBA programmes, the Cambridge MBA sits alongside the very best in the world.

 www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/

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Media contact; Rachel Holdsworth and Nina Beadle at Holdsworth Associates PR Consultancy.  Email: nina@holdsworth-associates.co.uk Tel: +44(0) 1954 202 789

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