2. Background
Amina Nabi
BSc hons in Technology and
Business Studies
MSc Technology
Entrepreneurship
10 years+ experience working
with SME’s, Charities and
various social enterprises
Event management
3. The Saltire Foundation
What is the Saltire Fellowship
Our Fellowship roadmap…
12 month journey
1st stop…
Fast track MBA style 4 months at
Babson College…
4. Babson
Real time experiential teaching by
entrepreneurs
Focus on disciplines of leadership,
disruptive innovation, sales, marketing,
presence, connecting ideas, using real life
case studies
5. Thinking local…
Liberty Mutual
My project
I proposed 4 strategies
One of which was actually based
on a strategy practised in the UK
Next step… Externship B…
…acting Glo
6. Thinking Global…
FreeFlow Global
My project
Initial project… proposed
project…
Neil’s vision
The proposal… what happened…
…acting Loc
9. New start-up
Concept - bringing brands and people
together through the use of powerful word
of mouth marketing through social
mediums
Where it came from…
10. Intercultural Competence
Communication with people of other cultures
Interaction with people from foreign cultures ,
understanding thought processes, respecting
values, tailoring solutions…
Most importantly a desired want and
motivation to continue learning…
Great example HSBC
11. Benefit of being Multilingual
Intercultural competence and the ability to
converse in a local language is very valuable
Everyone speaks English, right?
only 5.6 % of the world's total population
speaks English as a primary language. By
conservative estimates, that means that well over
four-fifths of the world's population does not speak
English
1. Increase global understanding
2. Improve employment potential
3. Sharpen cognitive and life skills
4. Make travel more feasible and enjoyable
12. How do you do it…
Get yourself a mentor…
Sign up to classes or self teach…
Attend networking events that are
happening around you…
Meet new people…
Make your presence valued both on and
offline…
Leverage social media…
More importantly ask lots of questions!
Global businesses want global minds!
13. Learning Outcomes
Remember what you do becomes your
life's resume…
Have a purpose, a plan and act with
intentionality…
Leadership is about: being a maverick,
be strong enough to be able to action
upon making that difference, be able to
initiate change, be value driven and have
14. What you need to be doing…
How can you innovate –
Realize the pain, be reactive and capture the
opportunity
Seek the networks you have and leadership
values within and make that difference
Watch trends – have peripheral vision, adopt a
global mindset, spot, anticipate and adopt
opportunities, aim to become a generalist and
stop being such a specialist, look across
15. The greatest opportunities you will face
and may even lead, haven't yet been
invented!
Jar
Story…
“Leadership and learning are
indispensible to each other” – J F
Kennedy
16. Last thoughts…
…read, read, read – train your brain…
…if you understand death you will understand
how to survive…
…don’t let wisdom be replaced with
stubbornness…
…don’t just study the winners, its just as
important to study the ‘losers’…
…think of a better mousetrap…
…the greatest ideas come from the simplest of
things…
Notas do Editor
Intro Slide
Just introduce myself and the topic that will be spoken about and importance of internationalising business in the 21st century29, born and bred in GlasgowBackground – BSC hons in Technology and Business Studies and MSc in Technology Entrepreneurship both from the University of StrathclydeOver 10 years experience of working with various SME’s, charities and not-for profits. Latterly I was involved with event management where my team and I helped arrange and organise a few hundred weddings in the space of 7 months across the UKThen thought I needed a change, so a friend approached me and said I should look at the Saltire Foundation at the fellowship…So I did, I applied and was extremely fortunate to be 1 of 10 amazing fellows to be selected for the 2010/11 cohort…
A little bit about the Saltire foundation, The Saltire Foundation exists to find, fuel and spark Scotland's human potential, in turn creating the next generation of business leaders.They offer two world class programmes: a one year Saltire Fellowship and an 8 week undergraduate internship - the Saltire Scholarship.FellowshipThe Fellowship is a world class year long entrepreneurial leadership programme designed to create a global and entrepreneurial mindset in Scotland's future business leaders.The Saltire Fellowship is based on three principles:1. Entrepreneurial leadership2. Experiential learning3. Global mindset rooted in ScotlandWho are the Saltire Foundation teamSandy, Katy, Claire, Clive1st part 4 months at Babson College…
BabsonBabson College, Massachussets, identified by the Financial Times as the #1 business school in the world for entrepreneurship.We learnt from real entrepreneurs who provided us with invaluable experiential teaching.Babson proffs provided us with invaluable learnings from their own experiences and real life case studiesCombining experiential learning with academic studies and mentoring, Babson provided a unique learning environment in a risk free ecosystem that allowed us to thriveWe focused on disciplines of leadership, disruptive innovation, sales, marketing, presence, connecting ideas, using real life case studies, which I will come back to in a bit…Following that we were placed in multinational companies across the statesMy placement was at Liberty Mutual…
Liberty Mutual – insurance companyConsolidated Financials$117.1 Billion in assets$99.3 Billion in liabilities$34.7 Billion in revenue82nd on Fortune 500 list (based on 2010 revenue)Employees: Over 45,000Project was to provide a strategy to increase referral and recommendations through Word of Mouth Marketing techniquesMy actual project at Liberty mutual – increasing WOM through referral/recommendation – came to know about BzzAgents, Tremor etcOne of the strategies I proposed was linking my past Scottish experience to an international companyIn essence thinking local (ie Scotland) acting Global (implementing it to an international organisation).. Next step was Externship B…
FreeFlow Global – a family run business that aim to be a design to deliver enterprise, they currently have a subsidery business that is there main breadwinner called FFB which is a retailer and distributer of bicycles, parts and accessories.So when I went to FF I met Neil MacMartin the owner who had set my initial project to be to help make a business plan to start manufacturing in Glasgow, I asked him if it is possible to change my project and he was flexible and willing to do so and gave me a week to familiarise myself with the business and a project. A week later after speaking to Neil about his vision, his ideas and thoughts, it came apparent he was sitting on a golden egg… He had a concept of the ‘greenest electric bike in the world. That looks like a normal push bike and weighs the same too. After discussing the idea further I remembered doing a case study at Babson about Masdar city the greenest city in the world… the worlds first emission free city where no carbon emmitting transport will be allowed, so I said to Neil lets go to Masdar and pitch the idea of a SMART transport Network solution to Masdar (like the boris bikes but with your green e-bike)So in the space of 6 weeks we managed to get enough funds together to get a table top prototype and a business plan and pitches and went over to Masdar. I leveraged my networks in getting meetings with the board sorted and Im happy to say they loved our idea, our bike and our concept and agreed to FF piloting the bikes in their city this September. They also proposed we partner with them on their stand at the WFES in January displaying our bike on their stand.Oh before I forget the e-bike Neil decided to call the Saltire!We are currently trying to get the Saltire pilots across Scotland as a SMART transport network solution to help contribute to lowering carbon emmission for future targets set by the 1st ministerHere is a picture of the bike and a city charge point
Picture of the Saltire
Rendered picture of the Masdar Saltire bikes in situ
What else I have been up to…In america during my project at Liberty I came across a WOM agency and thought what a great idea! I feel there is a huge space for that concept here but with my own twist so decided to partner up with a few folk and get things going…My partners and I decided to call the business Kinnect 2 – derived form the word connect and kinesisOut concept is to connect brands to people and people to brands through powerful WOM techniques through SMAt the moment we are still at an early stage and are working on our website and apps etc We are very excited about this opportunity so watch this space…
Intercultural competence - how does that help business?Intercultural competence is the ability of successful communication with people of other culturesA person who is interculturally competent captures and understands, in interaction with people from foreign cultures, their specific concepts in perception, thinking, feeling and acting. Earlier experiences are considered, free from prejudices; there is an interest and motivation to continue learning.Communication with people of other culturesInteraction with people from foreign cultures , understanding thought processes, respecting values, tailoring solutions…Most importantly a desired want and motivation to continue learning…Great example HSBC – China/Mexico add catering and tailoring for local markets (thinking locally acting globally)
Speaking languages - does this help business - should UK students be doing more of this?Multiple languages… benefits of speaking other languages… my own example… Intercultural competence and the ability to converse in a local language is very valuableEveryone speaks English, right? Well, certainly not everyone speaks English. According to the CIA World Fact Book, only 5.6 % of the world's total population speaks English as a primary language. That means that well over four-fifths of the world's population does not speak English. My ability – English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, limited French and ArabicHow it helped me – America, Masdar, SE Asia, SAfrica"A different language is a different vision of life." - Federico Fellini, Italian film director"No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive." - Mohandas K. Gandhi, Indian nationalist and spiritual leaderLearning another language gives the learner the ability to step inside the mind and context of that other culture. Without the ability to communicate and understand a culture on its own terms, true access to that culture is barred. Why is this important? In a world where nations and peoples are ever more dependent upon on another to supply goods and services, solve political disputes, and ensure international security, understanding other cultures is paramount. If businesses are to effectively compete in a global economy, they must learn to deal with other cultures on their own terms. Companies that plan to do business abroad therefore have a dire need for bilingual or multilingual employees. Businesses that intend to compete internationally need employees who can competently communicate in the locales where they do business. Employees who speak one language can communicate only with people who speak that same language. Because learning a language involves a variety of learning skills, studying a foreign language can enhance one's ability to learn and function in several other areas. C In addition to cognitive benefits, the study of foreign languages leads to the acquisition of some important life skills. And it improves the learner's ability to understand and communicate with people from different walks of life."The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway." - Henry Boye, author
Associate with organisations such as the saltire foundation, attend as many networking events as possible, make you’re your seen as well as heard on social media, make sure your presence is valued on and offlineLeverage social media - – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Kiltr, Pinterest, Youtube…My ability and what I am currently doing…I speak English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, a wee bit of French and a very basic level of Arabic
Characteristics of a great leader –Optimistic, patient, energetic, open, trustworthy, listener, has will power, determined, loyal confident, passionate, modest, focused, driven, creative, gives and takes, team player, has presence, intuitive, understands, percieves, prepares, networks, reflective, curious, open, self aware, can manage uncertainty, not afraid to ask for help…Director of GoogleThink outside the boxYes most definietely
Be relentless in the pursuit of opportunity – create, capture, sustain…How can you innovate – Realize the pain, be reactive and capture the opportunitySeek the networks you have and leadership values within and make that differenceWatch trends – have peripheral vision, adopt a global mindset, spot, anticipate and adopt opportunities, aim to become a generalist and stop being such a specialist, look across industries – there's lots to learn
A professor of philosophy stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls about two inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full.They agreed that it was full.So the professor then picked up a box of marbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full.They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time.The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar. “Now,” said the professor, do you think it is full? The students were all certain it was full untill he pulled out a jug of water…What does this story tell us… have we prioritised our lives to fill in the important parts first or do we do everything in haste and leave gaps?The best way to predict the future is create it
Networking is keyDon’t be shyRelentless in the pursuit of opportunityBe comfortable being uncomfortableOther quotes from my slide at end of babsonNever be afraid of asking questionsRisk free ecosystemHelp others
