The founder of the UK India Business Council, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise and past Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs, Sharon Bamford launched the brand new ‘Business Bites’ initiative designed to offer pupils the chance to meet, and learn from, some of the region’s best business brains.
Now living in Cornwall with her husband, Sharon was the Founding Chief Executive of the UK India Business Council – a Government sponsored body charged with representing business needs to enhance bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India.
An inspiring entrepreneur, Sharon has founded and managed five start-up businesses including a group of Montessori schools and an international drilling company. In 1998, she set up the charity, Challenges Worldwide, which places young people in gap year projects and assignments throughout South East Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
As Director of The Edinburgh Technopole, at the University of Edinburgh, she was responsible for leading, managing and marketing the £100 million science park development while as Chief Executive at The Scottish Institute for Enterprise she led a partnership of 20 Higher Education Institutes in Scotland, committed to developing enterprise and entrepreneurship amongst staff and students.
With a call to make the most of every opportunity and follow their passions, Sharon urged the girls that in a world where they are likely to have at least six careers, five of which haven’t been invented yet, “fake it ‘til you make it”.
Sharon now devotes much of her time to mentoring young entrepreneurs and hopes to inspire the next generation of budding businesswomen to match her success.
Business Studies teacher, Mr Tom Elliott said: “Sharon Bamford has undoubtedly made the launch of our ‘Business Bites’ initiative a resounding success; the girls were enthralled and inspired by her stories of life as a business leader and entrepreneur. We look forward to hearing the advice of other impressive business minds this term and would welcome the opportunity to have Sharon back to offer further pearls of wisdom to our girls.”
The talks will be open to all girls in the senior school who would like the opportunity to find out more about success beyond the classroom.
