“Don’t expect anything from anybody, work hard, put your head down, be good at what you do and good stuff will happen…”
Deborah Meaden, Businesswoman
It’s that moment of high drama and pant-wetting tension. Five infamous and be-suited business moguls scowling at you as you simper, stumble and struggle to communicate a complex presentation, imploring them for their understanding and agreement (as well as their cash…). It’s excruciating. Can you make them believe in you? Does your business case make sense? Or will the grumpy one look at you disgustedly and bark something dismissive like “You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about, it’s an awful business plan, the finances don’t add up – I hate it – and for that reason: I’m out…”, as you redden, mumble your thanks and make an awkward bee line for the door… Is this some kind of nightmare? A bad reality show? The moment when your business brainchild and legacy for your kids is cruelly exposed to be nothing but a castle built on sand?
Well, for participants of the One Planet MBA this was, in fact, a reality. As part of one of their modules (the Entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial Process: Starting Successful New Ventures), Tuesday saw each participant facing a panel of successful business professionals to pitch their own, personal business idea. Continue reading
