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Regent’s CollegeWhere Next?

Green entrepreneurship

Kevin Spacey Foundation

new media Pioneers

Contents

Inner Circle Regent's College London is a registered charity with surpluses reinvested for the benefit of its students. Inner Circle is produced by the Development and Alumni Relations Team to keep you in touch with Regent's College

Edited by Andy Harris and Khen NirnfeldHead of Development & Alumni Relations David Whitaker

Contact Us Development and Alumni Relations, Regent's College , Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NS Tel +44 (0)20 7487 7700 Email alumni@regents.ac.uk Web www.regents.ac.uk

© Inner Circle. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any photograph, text or illustration without permission from the publisher is prohibited. Due care is taken to ensure the content of Inner Circle is fully accurate, but the publisher cannot accept liability for ommissions or errors. This magazine can be made available in larger print or alternative formats for people with visual impairment or dyslexia. Please contact the Alumni Relations Team for further information, on 020 7487 7793 or by e-mail to alumni@regents.ac.uk

Contributors York Zucchi, Elena Sikorsky, Natasha Lipman, Dr Julie Scheiner and Sergei ArsenyevIllustration Eoin Ryan/Agency Rush (Cover), Vicky Scott (Africa) and Thai Padley (Horses)Photography Anna Gordon and Thai Padley

1 New Frontiers

2 News

6 Europe in the World Lecture

8 How Africa Forced us to be Inventive

11 New Media Pioneers

12 HeadCase Sound

14 Alumni Profile Verneda White

16 Alumni Profile Sepideh Dundon

17 Green Entreprenuership

20 Alumni Profile Mia Buerk (née Brnicevic)

22 The Therapy of Kings

23 The Sky is Not the Limit

26 Ahead of the Curb

28 Your News

31 Alumni Events

32 The Big Idea with Doriana Carlucci

The New Year here at Regent’s College has brought us to a new frontier. As we previously reported, the College gained its own taught degree awarding powers in 2012 after rigorous inspection and approval. The award affirms something that our alumni and friends know: we’re a very special place, with innovation and excellence at the core of everything we do. The success and confidence of our growing alumni community is further testament to our shared values and outlook.

University status beckons this year and we will keep you informed every step of the way.

Innovation is at the heart of our alumni community too. In the first issue of 2013 we take you on a journey through the lives and achievements of alumni who are making a real difference to the world around us in healthcare and well-being, advertising and communications, global sustainability and international development.

A further example of innovation that has got us very excited this year is the launch of our Kevin Spacey Foundation Scholarship Programme for BA Acting & Global Theatre. We’re grateful to the Kevin Spacey Foundation for their significant involvement in this course and look forward to seeing Kevin Spacey on campus for masterclasses.

Our shared community grows from strength to strength – testified to by the many submissions for Your News in this issue. Our network of Regent’s Clubs grew swiftly during 2012 to encompass many of the major cities of Europe, as well as New York, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and Singapore. This year we hope to see new clubs supporting our alumni in even more locations. If you’re not already involved with a Regent’s Club in your area drop me a line, and we’ll connect you up!

I’d also like to send out a heartfelt thank you to the many of you who took part in the alumni census 2012. It has been a

great opportunity for us to take a snapshot of our community worldwide – and we’re still getting to grips with all that you’ve told us. A big thank you to all of you who took the opportunity of completing the census to offer internships to our students or to become mentors – helping our current students link into our global community and to enhance their experience at Regent’s. If you haven’t yet volunteered to become a mentor and are five-years or more into your career, I hope you will consider joining the programme. Likewise, those of you with opportunities and internships, I heartily encourage you to consider Regent’s College students, and get in touch!

David WhitakerHead of Development & Alumni Relationsalumni@regents.ac.uk

NewFrontiersin 2013

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As part of an exciting new partnership the Kevin Spacey Foundation is supporting Regent’s College’s innovative BA (Hons) in Acting & Global Theatre. From 2013, six Kevin Spacey Foundation Scholarships will be available to successful applicants.

In spring 2013 applicants will be invited to auditions, in either London or New York, led by the Kevin Spacey Foundation. Regent’s College is also delighted that Kevin Spacey has agreed to run a number of master classes at Regent’s College for all students on the degree course during the academic year.

By 2015 the number of scholarships available will rise to 18 new or continuing scholars studying acting within a global context. Over ten years this equates to a minimum investment of £2.3 million in new acting talent.

The Kevin Spacey Foundation was particularly keen to work with Regent’s College to deliver the degree course as it situates its theatre teaching in a university setting, enabling creative collaboration across academic subjects and engaging students in international dialogue and study.

As well as supporting the audition process, Kevin Spacey intends to commit his time to enhancing the learning experience for actors on the course. He will lead two master classes per year for students, and the Kevin Spacey Foundation will create additional learning events per year with high-profile artists and practitioners.

Future plans include extending the scholarship programme to the London School of Film, Media & Performance’s other flagship undergraduate courses:

BA(Hons) Screenwriting & Producing BA (Hons) Creative Industries BA (Hons) Film, TV and Digital Media Production

Regent’s College London announces major new partnership with the Kevin Spacey Foundation

The College is proud to announce its new partnership with Kevin Spacey and his Foundation. Professor Aldwyn Cooper

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The Foundation particularly identified the holistic approach to performance at the London School of Film, Media & Performance, Regent's College, integrating acting with production, writing, film television and digital media. Additionally the College’s unique focus on entrepreneurialism and internationalised teaching has created a stand-out suite of courses for would-be actors, creative industry professionals and academics.

Professor Aldwyn Cooper, Principal of Regent’s College, said: “The College is proud to announce its new partnership with Kevin Spacey and his Foundation. Known for his critically acclaimed film and theatre roles, Kevin has also made a significant contribution to the London Theatre scene through his leadership at the Old Vic.

“He has shown a strong commitment to supporting the next generation of acting talent, and this is something that Regent’s College is very pleased to endorse and to be associated with through this partnership.

“Delivering the programme at Regent’s College means that acting as a subject is positioned within the whole business of acting. Over the long term, we plan to expand the number of scholarships and extend it to other courses at the London School of Film, Media & Performance.”

Kevin Spacey said: “I am delighted that my Foundation is working with Regent's College to offer scholarships to this exciting degree course. I believe it will be life changing for the recipients ensuring they get the chance to discover their creativity and experience a Higher Education that might not otherwise be available to them.”

Regent’s College London announces major new partnership with the Kevin Spacey Foundation

I believe it will be life changing for the recipients ensuring they get the chance to discover their creativity and experience a Higher Education that might not otherwise be available to them. Kevin Spacey

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I wanted to write in this edition of Inner Circle to let you know about an exciting development which I announced to colleagues and students at the end of February.

Regent's College has acquired the London campus of American InterContinental University (AIU) London. This acquisition is part of our ambitious 2020 Vision to become the leading private non-profit University in Europe.

We are committed to the continuous development of our already first rate resources and facilities available to students, while also expanding the breadth of programmes we offer. This acquisition means that Regent's College will be able to deliver an enhanced learning experience for all students while also providing more space for teaching and

studying. Indeed, the integration of AIUL within Regent's will make us one of the largest campus providers of campus based degree programmes and one of the largest providers of U.S. education in Europe with an even broader range of programmes on offer. It will mean that the College will have a new School of Fashion, Design and Visual Communications which will sit within our excellent faculty of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

While this acquisition will mean we grow in size, our commitment to students and our not for profit status will not change. Class sizes will continue to be small and contact time between staff and students will remain high. Our international approach to higher education will still sit at the heart of our work and this acquisition will enable us to increase further the number of partnerships we have with overseas institutions.

The AIUL campus is located around Marylebone High Street – a short walk away from Regent’s Park. Such expansion, in the heart of London, means that we are able to build further on our excellent reputation. More people will come to understand what a special place this is and recognise the true value of a Regent's College degree.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. In the meantime, I will continue to keep you updated on further College developments.

Prof Aldwyn Cooper

A major new development for Regent's. A message from the Principal and CEO Professor Aldwyn Cooper

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While this acquisition will mean we grow in size, our commitment to students and our not-for-profit status will not change.

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Following the January General Election in Israel we were proud to welcome his Excellency Daniel Taub, Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom to Regent’s College.

Ambassador Taub came to lead an informal discussion on ‘The Challenges and Responsibilities of Negotiating Peace’. The discussion was chaired by Yossi Mekelberg, Programme Director of International Relations at Regent’s College.

With over two decades of experience in Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taub has played a key role in a wide range of diplomatic, legal and political arenas. He was extensively involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, helping negotiate

most of the agreements reached between the two sides, and heading the Israeli side of the Culture of Peace track of negotiations. He was also an active member of Israel’s negotiation team in the Israel-Syrian negotiations.

The Ambassador delivered his personal insight into the complexities of the peace process and the need to overcome seemingly impossible barriers to achieving a lasting peace. During a lively Q&A session he answered questions fully and without shying away from difficult subjects.

Israeli Ambassador visits Regent’s College

In February we proudly opened the doors to Regent’s College as we hosted our version of the BBC TV programme, Dragons’ Den. For the third year running we assembled a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and investors to judge the creative ideas of our students. Our dragons included new dragon - TV chef and food writer, Anjum Anand (EBSL 1994) – alongside Anthony Ganjou (RBSL 2002), Amir Gehl (WGSL 2000) and Hardeep Rai (WGSL 2000).

An audience of alumni and students gathered in Herringham Hall to watch our entrepreneurial students pitch their innovative business ideas to our dragons. The quality of ideas pitched was very high and every one had the potential to become part of a successful business in the future. The winner was

MA Entrepreneurial Management student, Suzan Salem, who was backed by all four dragons with her project, Arabisque.

With the aim of promoting socio-economic progress in the Arab world one business at a time, Arabisque plans to bring goods from creative businesses and entrepreneurs in the Arab world to the global market. Arabisque would use a portion of these proceeds to fund community development projects in the region. You can watch a promotional video for this project at www.youtube.com/user/arabisquedotorg

We will keep you updated on how her project progresses along with past contestants from the Dragons’ Den who have now graduated and are putting their ideas into practice.

Alumni Dragons’ Den

The Ambassador delivered his personal insight into the complexities of the peace process and the need to overcome seemingly impossible barriers to achieving a lasting peace.

Ambassador Taub addresses the audience

Alumni dragons (L-R) Amir Gehl, Anjum Anand & Anthony Ganjou. The student entrepreneurs relax after the event.

‘Over the last decade the transformation that Russia has experienced in pure economic terms has been absolutely enormous. If we put it into numbers, over the last decade, Russia added about a trillion dollars in GDP. To put that into context, over the last ten years Russia created six Irelands and almost 40 per cent of Germany. That was the last ten years. I think what is much is more exciting is the next ten years and the next 20 years and the next 30 years.

I work for Goldman Sachs; Goldman Sachs is an international bank. The stated strategy of Goldman Sachs is to chase GDP growth around the world. So clearly Russia is at the forefront of the strategy. I don’t think we are very original as far as the international, multinational companies are concerned. If you take the next decade, the next couple of decades, the focus will clearly be on Russian growth.

I guess another thing that Goldman Sachs is pretty well known for is its long-term economic forecasts. If our economists are right, over the next eight years between 2012 and 2020, Russian GDP will increase from $1.5 trillion to $3.5 trillion. Those economists may be wrong we all know that but this a pretty dramatic increase in overall economic activity. What it means, again if our economists are right, is that Russia within the next eight to ten years will become the third

For the annual Europe in the World lecture we welcomed the Russian ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko, to deliver the keynote speech. Joining the debate and adding his opinion on strategic issues for economic, political and social policies that will affect us all was Regent’s College alumnus, Sergei Arsenyev (EBS London 1995). The following is an extract of his speech.

Europe in the World LectureThe Russian Federation and the European Union at the Crossroads

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economy in Europe. It should overtake Italy by around 2016 and if you project the current trajectory of Italy probably even faster. It should overtake France in terms of size of the economy by the early 2020s.

That in turn means that Russian GDP per capita – right now Russian GDP per capita is about $10,000 - in 2020, if you take inflation out of the equation, Russian GDP per capita should be around $27,000. Again, to put it into more manageable numbers, the Russian middle class now (if you define middle class as people with an income of $30,000), right now there are 20 million middle class people by that definition in Russia. By 2020 this number will double; there will be 40 million people with an income per capita of $30,000. By 2030 there will be 60 million Russians with an income per capita of $30,000. That could mean an invasion of Russian tourists in the Alps during the ski season and on the beaches in summer. I think the Russians will become the new Germans, fast forward ten years.

However, if you take the broader economy into the equation, the consumer segment of the Russian economy, should grow by around ten per cent cumulatively over the next ten years. In Europe the growth of the consumer segment - and that goes for both consumer goods and consumer services - will be at best flat or may even decrease. Clearly that’s the reason why all of the international

multinational companies are absolutely fascinated by what is going on in Russia and want to get a foothold on this action.

Another thing that is related to that is infrastructure development. That is another one of the GDP drivers alongside consumption. Russia has under-invested over the last 15 to 20 years; the need for investment therefore is absolutely enormous. If we are talking about this GDP increase from $1.5 trillion to $3.5 trillion, at the moment it cannot happen if Russia does not solve the bottlenecks in the infrastructure development. If you add up just the government plans for infrastructure investment over the next five years we are talking about $600 billion infrastructure investment between now and 2016 – the next five years. For any European or global company that is active in engineering or infrastructure-related activity, to be present in the Russian market will be an absolute must. This is something that we see almost on a daily basis in my work. This is the kind of project that we are facilitating between our Western clients and the Russian clients, be they private companies or the government.

All of these developments are making a very profound impact on society and on the Russian way of life. The combination of this very high, super-charged economic growth over the last decade together with the low tax regime - personal tax in Russia is

13 per cent; corporate tax is pretty low at 20 per cent - is dramatic. Russia attracts a very large number of professionals; it attracts a very large number of creative people, not just businessmen. The combination of these things encourages them to release their talents into the wider aspects of life. From what I have experienced in London, the combination of wealth and creativity makes it an amazing place to live. The life that is being created in Moscow is very energetic, high-paced and it is to a certain extent, addictive. I hope that it is something that many of you have experienced or will experience in the near future.‘

I think the Russians will become the new Germans, fast forward ten years.

Europe in the World LectureThe Russian Federation and the European Union at the Crossroads

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How Africa Forced us to be Innovative

How Africa Forced us to be Innovative

I graduated from Regent’s College in 1992 and have lived in South Africa since 2007. My background is predominantly in big business, spending fourteen years working for various multinational organisations around the world. In 1996 I took a leap to become an entrepreneur in Africa on the observation that the eyes of the world were starting to turn here.

After almost five years in Africa, our company is on track to become Africa’s leading healthcare services provider group, employing ca. 1,800 people with a reach across 24 African countries as well as the UAE in the primary healthcare sector. Naturally, there are problems

to overcome, and as an entrepreneur I have had to be realistically positive. Having worked in many countries, my experience is that the grass is not that much greener on the other side.

Take South Africa - it is a country of entrepreneurs where 67 per cent of all jobs are in companies with less than 50 employees. Some big international names are from South Africa, such as UTI, MTN and Sasol. This country just won a big chunk of the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) project, hosted a successful world cup, and is home of the SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation). Entrepreneur, Elon Musk. South Africa is also the first

African country to join the Global Bond Index and has a farming skill set that is in demand in many parts of the world. Its engineering and mining community is asked to tackle some of the world’s trickiest issues, from Siberian oil fields to Chilean miners stuck underneath the ground. Even its airport company’s expertise is called upon to assist in upgrading Brazil’s airport network.

In many ways, Africa is the testing ground of the world’s economy: if you can make your business work here, chances are it can work anywhere. In spite of its disadvantaged starting point, countries in Africa are still under pressure to deliver standards similar to countries with advanced infrastructure. On the financial returns side, the perception is that Africa is much riskier than other markets. If we strip out real estate and mining investments, it is not uncommon to see returns of 15-35 per cent with relatively

To clarify, I used the term ‘forced’ in almost the same way a child is forced to learn new skills – kicking and screaming but reaping the benefits in the long term.

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modest investments. For example, one of our primary health clinics cost EUR6.2m to build, but it generates EUR1.5m a year in net profits.

Our company has been forced into becoming more innovative in Africa. We’ve had to think in much more practical steps. We focus our entire attention towards the actual people and ensuring that the processes and systems are flexible enough to accommodate for Africa’s volatile infrastructure and ad-hoc skillset. We employ approximately 1500 nurses. Realistically we don’t have the resources to up-skill everyone overnight, so we try to introduce technology to create a safety net. For instance, nurses can scan a patient bracelet, scan the medicine box, and the device will warn them if that is the wrong medication for the patient.

African business people are born salespeople. Doing business in Africa has ‘forced’ me into having to do much more due diligence than in many other areas of the world. This is not easy given that there are relatively few sources of due diligence, and

hence why a strong network in Africa is so important.I can’t say we have found the Holy Grail, but the aim is to truly bring back the spirit of unity. We are slowly moving our back office operation for the holding company into the township of Diepsloot, with the aim of having our operations handled there. We currently employ 1,500 nurses, full time and part time. In addition, we are aiming to create a new company that is entirely owned by the nurses and managed by a professional team, along the lines of the John Lewis Partnership model in the UK where 80,000 employees own the company.

Another area where we have had to be innovative is in finding solutions that actually work. Even if you do your research, you find that although there are many great sounding solutions that work in theory, they might not be able to stand Africa’s implementation tax (infrastructure, reliability of services etc.).

In Africa, an entrepreneur’s responsibility to the society around them is all encompassing. You cannot ignore the impact you make on people in the areas you operate in. Until the

government’s delivery on their responsibilities catches up with the rhetoric, entrepreneurs and business need to fill the gap. I hope government embraces our efforts and copies our way of trying to do so as efficiently as possible with relatively minimal resources.

It may sound controversial in light of recent events, but I think Africa’s leaders are getting better at managing resources. Governments are trying to juggle limited resources from a very small tax base to service a growingly better informed population demanding better services. The gap between reality and perception in Africa is substantial, making it an ideal playing ground for entrepreneurs. In Europe, a lot of people’s views on Africa are based on information a few years out of date or focused on generalisations based around a few troubled hot spots. I guess it is time to refresh one’s perspective... to use a new set of eyes, or as Marcel Proust once suggested “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes”.

It may sound controversial in light of recent events, but I think Africa’s leaders are getting better at managing resources. Governments are trying to juggle limited resources from a very small tax base to service a growingly better informed population demanding better services.

Until the government’s delivery on their responsibilities catches up with the rhetoric, entrepreneurs and business need to fill the gap.

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York ZucchiEBSL 1992

Looking to take her International Political Forum project to the next level, Natasha shares how travel eastwards opened up new opportunities…

‘I arrived back to London from a very busy few days in India. Chosen as one of the five Virgin Media Pioneers (young aspiring entrepreneurs), I was invited to join a larger trade mission to India to celebrate the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s new London-Mumbai flight route. We spent time in both New Delhi and Mumbai and I was inspired and extremely motivated having met entrepreneurs from both the UK and India. Naturally, I was also especially excited to be able to pick the brain of Pioneer-in-Chief, Sir Richard Branson!

I don’t come from a conventional business background – my website focuses on youth engagement and political responsibility – but

I now find myself on a journey to learn how to turn my project into an innovative and sustainable business. Having the opportunity to travel to India has taught me so much. Not only did I explore the Indian way of

doing business, but I also learnt a huge amount about young people and entrepreneurship – an unsurprising interest area for me. During the trip, many people spoke of India as “the birthplace of entrepreneurs” and, by the end of the trip, I seemed to have come across proof of this around every single corner. From the children in the markets, to the fruit vendors, to the huge number of technology start-ups, the cities I visited were buzzing with warm entrepreneurial spirit.

Whilst walking the streets of Mumbai, a fellow Pioneer shared with us the fact that India recycles a huge amount of its waste – about 60 per cent in fact. The evidence of this was everywhere too. From the collection, sorting, transporting and eventual recycling, all rubbish in India goes through a series of people who make their livings as cogs in a very efficient machine.

India’s PioneersThe one thing that has really stuck with me from the trip though, is that 50 per cent of the world’s population under the age of 25 live in India.

That number is almost inconceivable and, in order to provide training and education to all of these people, India would have to build one university every week for the next ten years! Whilst presenting unprecedented opportunities and resources, such a youthful population also means India could be heading for a demographic disaster. After all, a huge catalyst for the Arab Spring was the disaffected and under-supported youth population across the Middle East and North Africa. To overcome this challenge, it became clear to me that Government, Business, and Non-Governmental Organisations need to work together to provide education, training and jobs for this huge number of young people.

The entrepreneurial spirit of India is undeniable, but despite its growing economic strength, the success or failure of India’s expansion will be primarily decided by the way it engages with and supports its booming and young population. The increasing disparity between rich and poor is already at a crisis point. Through the use of social innovation though, entrepreneurs from within and outside India have the power to create (much-needed) positive change and plug the gaps where the Indian government needs support.

I can’t wait to start working with the many young people in India, and I really hope that in my (very small) way, I can help share their stories and aspirations for the future of their country!’

New Media Pioneers

Natasha Lipman is the Founder and Director of the International Political Forum, Huffington Post blogger and Regent’s College alumna. Natasha has also been nominated as a Virgin Media Pioneer and as part this project she went to India Sir Richard Branson.

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I arrived at Regent’s College in September 2005 and quickly fell in love with the teaching style. The fact that many of my Business classes were practical, coupled with a vast choice of languages to study, make EBS London a very attractive school in my eyes. I studied both Russian and Mandarin and after a long decision making process of weighing out the pros and cons, Beijing became my destination of choice for a one-year exchange program.

Going to China really opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities China has to offer. It wasn’t long after my graduation in 2009 that I decided to go back there to start my own export company. Starting a business isn’t easy work. It’s time-consuming, frustrating, and stressful in the sense that it makes you doubt every step you want to take. But it has also taught me how to source, do quality controls, and ship products ‘Made in China’ to anywhere in the world. Soon enough I wanted to create my own

product and thanks to serendipity, I met Joshua Fairborn who has the same idea. Joshua had learned the ropes of sourcing products and branding them for the North American market, and was now thinking of producing a pair of headphones that would rival the best ones on the market while being very affordable. After visiting countless electronics factories in south China, we narrowed it down to six with each producing a specific part. For example, the speakers are produced in the same factory that produces the Sennheiser and Bose speakers.

It was around the same time that I started reading books by entrepreneurs such as Tim Ferriss. It taught me how some young entrepreneurs feel helpless thinking they don’t have enough cash to start their own product, while contractors from India would do all of their designs for a small fraction of the price. We eventually bootstrapped ourselves into incurring minimum costs while still producing the best quality designs

for our headphones and launched our campaign on Indiegogo - an international crowdfunding platform to raise money.

Not only do our headphones come in five sleek and sexy matte colors, but we also use sales to make a difference in the world. Each color of our headphones is teamed up with a powerful charity. We have created metrics with each of these organizations to help fight global poverty.

After our IndieGogo campaign comes to an end we will accept the next round of investment to push us through our chain distribution channels and continue selling via our e-commerce website at www.headcasesound.com

5 HeadCase Blue sold = 1 health kit for 2 children in need 1 HeadCase Yellow sold = 10 pairs of shoes 25 HeadCase Black sold = 6 days of aftercare for victims of human trafficking 1 HeadCase Red sold = 5 vaccinations for polio 40 HeadCase White sold = 1 pump for farmers in Kenya

Website www.headcasesound.comFacebook www.facebook.com/headcasesoundTwitter @headcasesoundInstagram @headcasesoundSupport www.indiegogo.com/headcasesound

Our #MoreThanMusic campaign is raising social awareness through a pair of headphones that are looking to mix things up. Find out more on out YouTube channel

Going to China really opened my eyes to

the amazing opportunities China has to

offer. It wasn’t long after my graduation

in 2009 that I decided to go back there to

start my own export company.

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Samantha BruandetBA International BusinessClass of 2009, EBSL

What are your favourite memories of studying at Regent's College London? Do you remember any key lectures or inspiring members of staff? I continue to cherish my time at Regent’s College. What I appreciate now is how my experiences then have become a part of a journey. It has afforded me to be connected to friends of all backgrounds, living in different places around the world. It still fascinates me to think of all those times sitting around the lunch table with classmates from places as diverse as Portugal, Russia, Korea and India. In America, you don’t experience this level of diversity daily, even though I live in New York City.

On the academic side, I have great memories of all my course leaders on the MBA programme. I give credit to the entrepreneurship lectures for enabling me to develop a fully fledged business idea for what has become my current business.

What ambitions did you have for your career during your time as a student? Coming into the MBA programme, I already knew I desired to complete my degree as a foundation to my future work. What I did not realise when I began my studies, was that I would also develop a desire to become a Social Entrepreneur and an independent Event Director. My experiences as a student expanded my social outlook even beyond the classroom. Opportunities such as the working production at London Fashion Week helped shape my next steps. These experiences gave me a broader view and encouraged me to pursue a non-traditional career. At EBS London I developed my leadership and team working skills and learnt to have a clear understanding of my strengths and weaknesses.

What have you been up to since you graduated? Since leaving Regent’s College I have had the opportunity to live out many of my dreams and impact the lives of others through my charity-driven, premium apparel brand, HUMAN INTONATION®. HUMAN INTONATION uses fashion as a platform to raises social awareness while donating 20% of each sale to a number of non-profit partners. Today HUMAN INTONATION is a national platform running events, community programs, speaking engagements, and four apparel collections targeting the revitalization of New Orleans, educating children in Darfur, the re-birth of Haiti, and HIV prevention (which is our main focus). It is very important to us that HUMAN INTONATION tees, tanks, and dresses are made from our own original patterns and use 100 per cent organic cotton, sourced and produced in

the U.S. As part of my work, I was recently asked to start writing for the Huffington Post, and I received the Daily Points of Light Award from President George H.W. Bush for innovation in service.

Likewise, I spent the last few years as the Project Manager of Special Events for a celebrated non-profit here in New York which prepared me to go out on my own as an Event Director this past summer.

Alumni Profile Verneda White

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What made you want to set up your own business? My family’s personal experience with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was the initial catalyst to starting what is HUMAN INTONATION today. When the storm first happened I remember I had just moved to New York City and I had to figure out how I could help and contribute to the relief efforts in my family’s home of New Orleans, LA. I started designing t-shirts along with a co-worker, Evina Scott, to raise money for a non-profit called Hands On New Orleans (HONO) that was really in the trenches with volunteers helping to rebuild, and was supported by R&B artist Usher Raymond at the time. The name HUMAN INTONATION did not exist back then and it was all very grass

roots because we started out hand painting the tees. I used those tees as an incentive to get people to donate to the relief efforts and after raising a couple thousand dollars I shortly realized I really liked this idea of "The NEW Purpose of Fashion" and wanted to do more. This led me in part to EBS London, after which I launched HUMAN INTONATION as it exists today in July 2008. The loss of my very close first cousin Wesley to AIDS would

have a later influence on Human Intonation’s focus.

What is your next goal? Where would you like to be in five years’ time? My next goal is to become self-sustaining as a freelance Event Director and to continue to expand HUMAN INTONATION’s reach in the community. I would like to see us become the ‘go to’ brand for private and non-profit organizations looking to raise awareness around HIV Prevention and to produce innovative t-shirts for an expanded network of organizations. I would also like to see our collections expand into other product categories such as lounge wear.

How has networking helped you develop your business? In truth, networking has been the backbone of much of my outward success with HUMAN INTONATION. From the celebrity support we have received, to gaining great exposure from high-profile publications – these have come about as a result of me and our champions getting out there and meeting people who were willing to elevate the work that we do. Internal successes then come as people see who has supported Human Intonation, allowing for more opportunities to bring our programs and workshops (such as our H.I. Empowerment Tee Workshop where we connect with teens on the link between self-esteem and HIV Prevention) to a broader audience. At the end of the day, networking is extremely important for any entrepreneurial effort.

Do you feel there is an entrepreneurial spirit at Regent's College? I do feel that entrepreneurship is encouraged and promoted. I certainly left the program feeling that I could start my own business and am grateful to have seen that come to fruition.

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Verneda WhiteMBA International BusinessClass of 2008, EBSL.

Alumni Profile Sepideh Dundon

Why did you choose to study at Regent's College? Regent’s College was recommended to me through friends and family as having an international base of students spanning all continents around the world. When I chose to study International Business Management at EBS London I immediately knew that it would be a perfect balance between theoretical knowledge and an opportunity to learn about different cultures in a relevant environment. At Regent's College you are able to study alongside like-minded individuals who have had exposure to various cultures and ways of life, which is fantastic at broadening your horizons. When I visited the college for the first time, I immediately fell in love with the stunning campus and the beautiful surroundings of Regent’s Park.

What is the most important lesson you learnt while at Regent’s College? The most important lesson was the value of connections, and the importance of having an extensive network of friends and family from different backgrounds that you can turn to for advice and guidance. Since leaving Regent's College, I have had to make some important life decisions, and having a trusted network of individuals to rely on for advice has really helped in ensuring I am making the right choices.

What was your most memorable moment as a student? I have lots of great memories from my time at Regent’s College. The most memorable would have to be the strategic management weekend which was part of the MA course. This provided me with an amazing opportunity to be able to grow and learn in terms of working in teams and learning from others in a pressurised situation. The

experience of working with fellow students from different pathways, such as entrepreneurship and marketing allowed everyone to gain a perspective on the various aspects that are involved in a business and what each person can bring to the table.

What have you been up to since you graduated? After graduating I pursued an internship in a management consulting firm. This gave me an opportunity to work with a host of international clients in developing strategic solutions for their digital presence. I then started to explore the prospects of continuing in management consulting and the world of online marketing. I got a job at LinkedIn, where I’ve now been working for over a year, supporting a busy sales team with insights and research. I love working on challenging new pitches and having opportunities to meet decision makers in multinational organisations around the world.

What is your next goal? My next goal is to become fluent in Mandarin. I have been studying Mandarin since my Bachelors degree and continued to do so whilst at Regent's College. I often travel to Asia and have a passion for Chinese language and culture. The rise of China as an emerging market has played a key part in my motivation to learn Chinese and to one day work in that market.

What advice would you give to current Regent’s College students? There is a lot of competition out there. Make sure that as a student you do something to stand out from others. Internships and work experience can be a great way to apply what you have learnt during your course.

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Sepideh DundonMA Management (International Business Management) Class of 2010, EBSL

Cynical businessmen in megalopolises have been caught red-handed. Sustainability has infected the minds of the most prominent entrepreneurs who run The City. Elena Sikorsky (MA in Entrepreneurial Management, 2012) finds inspiration in green entrepreneurship. Can a venture be green and profitable at the same time?

In theory, unless you are the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi and sustainability expert like Adam Werbach, your weekly office recycling might seem like a distraction from sales targets. However the reality is that even small actions like this can have a meaningful impact.

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Unconventional brands designed in an eco-friendly manner are beginning to lead others onto the ethical fashion path. For example, the new designer brand Valenme has stepped out to reinvent ‘valenki’, the favourite traditional boots of many Russian speaking countries from the 18th century. “Environmentally friendly brands cannot purely rely on the green factor for sales, but require a differentiating selling point” says Karina Stevens and Katerina Chausova of Valenme. “Our boots are organic, healthy and recyclable as well as resilient to serve a long life. No wonder ‘valenki’ were passed down generations in Russia! Modern brands should not give up promoting sustainability and enhancing authentic values that change the mass market mind.”

Green entrepreneurship is about building sustainable models and demolishing the existing mediocre ones. At the forefront of eco-fashion stands Livia Firth, the creative Director of Eco Age. The ‘Queen of Green’ was recently appointed UN Leader of Change for her work on sustainable fashion, which included the ‘Green Carpet Challenge’ where she stepped out in a dress designed by Henrietta Ludgate. The Scottish Young Designer of the Year states that, “Being environmentally friendly does not mean that you necessarily compromise on profit. There is money to be made in both fast and slow fashion. The bigger market for fast fashion is due to the entry point being low and the customer buying a large number of styles. It is the quantity over quality debate.”

Henrietta Ludgate’s brand supports the local British textile industry, reviving authentic skills through the employment of local communities. She has pioneered the slow fashion, a sustainable fashion movement. According to Ludgate, “Fast fashion - one hit wonders - are not designed to last any longer than a season and to achieve that price point there are often issues with quality and questionable working conditions. I choose slow fashion as I believe in the traditional skill of making clothes of exceptional quality, using fine craftsmanship, to produce not only durability but also elegance. Quality of course costs more so you buy less but higher value for longer.”

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Green entrepreneurs aim to create profitable products whilst using sustainable production techniques and minimising the business’ environmental impact. I have discussed the notion of profitability while maintaining planet-friendly equilibrium with Artem Stavenka and Kiryl Chykeyuk of Old Bond London, who won three fierce investors on the BBC Dragons’ Den in 2012. They maintain that “it is possible to generate profit and have a sustainable business. The 20-20-20 targets of the EU strategy are achievable by all entrepreneurs working for it.” Their company offers cutting-edge technology for outdoor advertising with messages being transferred onto bike wheels. Brand awareness is generated through a healthy and happy ride across town. No fuel is consumed and no air polluted. “We decided not to embark on sustainability, as our innovation needs technology and production although exercises an eco-approach. It is crucial to stay honest and keep green initiatives transparent for investors and customers.”

Elena Sikorsky MA in Entrepreneurial Management (Class 2012)Blueprint Shell Step Enterprise programme alumna, MSc Marketing, MA Journalism Emerging designer brands venture entrepreneur, Twitter @Elia_Sikorsky

One of the freshest examples of combining ethics with revenue is K-9 Angels, a dog-rescue company founded by singer Pola Pospieszalska, model Victoria Eisermann, and TV wildlife presenter Anneka Tanaka-Svenska. “We started with no capital but raised enough to re-home about 200 dogs this year as well as save hundreds more. We invite every person to become an angel and save a life of a creature that would be otherwise killed.” K-9 is non-profit and their celebrity endorsements include Simon Cowell who promoted the venture on the Britain’s Got Talent final.

It has becomes trendy for businesses to think green. A publicity stunt for some, a serious life matter for others – the inclination to express caring about earth and its health gradually has become a feature in many businesses. Being green for businesses has become a synonym for common sense.

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What are your favourite memories of studying at Regent's College London? I truly loved studying at Regent’s College. From the first day I felt that I’d entered into a world of real opportunity; the teachers were worldly and insightful, and the students were all of a very high calibre, and everyone was motivated to learn. I valued the way that subjects were taught in a very open and inclusive environment. This allowed me to really grow academically. I particularly loved strategic management. Working on real life case studies was an excellent approach to learning about challenges in business. These are the sort of things I now face on a daily basis. I would have to mention Kofi (Dr. Kofi Orleans-Lindsay), who is not only a great teacher, but the way he pretended his marker pen was a cigar will always remain in my memory! And, of course, all the great friends that I made (including my husband) and continue to socialise with.

What ambitions did you have for your career during your time as a student? I knew that I wanted to go into marketing, but I wasn't exactly sure which area I wanted to pursue. My sister was working in advertising and I would read her campaign magazines from start to finish to swot up on the subject. My internships were at an advertising agency and in PR, but in-house. I felt the in-house environment was a bit limiting in terms of challenges and career development. So by the time I graduated I knew I wanted to work in an agency environment where I could work across a number of different brands and products, and from there find an area to specialise in.

What have you been up to since you graduated? I started working a few weeks after my final exams. I managed to get a job at Freud Communications which is one of the UK's leading PR agencies. It was very hard work and badly paid at the beginning but I threw myself into it and managed to forge a niche, specialising in PR for international consumer brands. From an early stage I was responsible for developing global PR strategies for the likes of Pepsi and Lynx. Because there was no precedent set for this role, I managed to develop and carve it into what I wanted it to be. My job was a mix of creative development, shoot and event production and strategic input. Because I was working on international work my clients were all quite senior and it gave me an exposure to Marketing Directors and CMOs from early on in my career. This really paid dividends in terms of my career development, and I was made a Board Director at the company at the age of 30. After ten years there, I took the opportunity to work in an agency where I could truly develop my passion for international brands, managing teams across a global network. I have been a Director at Ketchum for the past four years working on major international business such as P+G, Philips and Diageo. I now have a family and they have been extremely supportive in terms of allowing me to further my career while enabling me to spend time with my daughter. I don’t feel at any time that I am sacrificing one for the other.

Alumni Profile Mia Buerk (née Brnicevic)

PR is a lot about networking. But that doesn’t mean going to lots of parties and lunches – the ‘ab fab’ days ended in the early 90’s! I still network with lots of EBS London alumni and we have referred business to one another. Networking is pretty much a daily part of my life.

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Mia Buerk (nee Brnicevic)BA International Business StudiesClass of 1997, EBSL

What is your next goal? Where would you like to be in five years’ time? I am hugely passionate about my career in marketing, developing brand strategies for big multinational brands and the challenges that come with it. With the digital era and the convergence of media, PR is just one set of tools within marketing communication. My experience with global brands to date puts me in a great position to capitalise on that and grow into a broader more strategic role - whether that ends up being within an agency or part of my own set-up, only time will tell.

How has networking helped you develop your business? PR is a lot about networking. But that doesn’t mean going to lots of parties and lunches – the ‘ab fab’ days ended in the early 90’s! I still network with lots of EBS London alumni and we have referred business to one another. Networking is pretty much a daily part of my life. Regent’s College taught me you that networking is key to success, and I have used it to my advantage throughout my career.

Do you feel there is an entrepreneurial spirit at Regent’s College? I remember during my first week, meeting people who had started businesses of their own when they were sixteen. It’s the lifeblood of the College. I think it breeds that type of person and it has always stayed with me.

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The Therapy of Kings Dr Julie Scheiner’s love of horses inspired her doctoral research at Regent’s; the alumna investigated Equine Assisted Pyschotherpy – using horses as therapists to you and me. Here she explains how horses are used to heal.

It is well documented that dogs, used to help the deaf and blind, have also shown great emotional intelligence when helping those suffering or recovering from mental and physical illness. But, whilst not entirely new in its practice (a horse's therapeutic value was documented by the Greeks in 600BC), horses are now being lined up for service, with celebrities such as Sophie Anderton and Robert Downey Jr taking up the reins.

Having completed her doctoral research on the matter at Regent’s in 2011, Dr Scheiner now divides her time between the NHS, the Priory Healthcare Group and her own private practice. She explains why animals, horses in particular, make great therapists.

“Although there has been much research conducted into animal therapy and its success, much of the literature supporting the burgeoning of animal assisted therapeutic programmes is based on case studies, survey responses, or theoretical literature,” explains Dr Scheiner.

“Nontheless, animals can teach us much about ourselves. For example, in 1699 John Locke advocated children having “dogs, squirrels, birds or any such things” to look after as a means of encouraging them to develop tender feelings and a sense of responsibility for others. I am often asked why I am interested in equine assisted therapy (EAP). My answer lies in my love of horses and the difference in our relationship with them compared to other animals. It is a field of science and practice in which horses act specifically to enable emotional growth and learning. EAP utilises tasks such as caring for the horse, which in turn forms bonds as a means of establishing trust, respect and responsibility.” Whilst scientific research in this particular field is not well documented, the psychological benefits of

using horses is being recognised by more therapists who work with children and adults with mental and physical conditions, such as autism and depression.

“Equine therapy is practised outside most of our everyday lives and can be challenging for some clients. However, equines give freely of themselves as well as acting as a ‘container’ for clients feelings and projections, and this is can be a wholly different experience to conventional talking therapy,” says Dr Scheiner.

“My research sought to discover the benefits of equine therapy and why it worked. Being prey

animals makes horses more vulnerable to attack but also form strong friendship groups. Therefore, resonance is a way of explaining the effect of a horse’s genetically hard-wired desire to form attachments to another in the

therapeutic process. When a client approaches a herd of horses, not only have they formed attachments with other members of the herd but are also interested in forming attachments to those around them. They appear to be naturally interested in people but again having an awareness of those around them.”

And there are many charities in the UK who subscribe to this; in Scotland, for example, HorsebackUK is using horses to help rehabilitate injured or traumatised soldiers. So, whilst there may not be enough scientific evidence as to the value of using horses as therapists, there are many individuals who have clearly benefitted from the comfort of an equine friend. Or, as Ronald Reagan said: “There's nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.”

Whilst scientific research in this particular field is not well documented, the psychological benefits of using horses is being recognised by more therapists who work with children and adults with mental and physical conditions,

such as autism and depression.

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Dr Julie Scheiner, Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Class of 2011, SPCP

The Sky is Not the LimitSophia Petkar graduated Regent's College in 2005 with a BA in Media Communication. She is now working at British Sky Broadcasting as a Producer for Sky News. Jeanne-Marie Hudson recently had the pleasure to welcome Sophia back to Regent's College for a conversation over a cup of coffee at the Brasserie.

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Sophia was proud to tell me about the impression made on her by her tutor Leslie Viney.

From University to News ProductionSophia attributes her ability to succeed in her role in an international media environment to the skills she acquired at Regent’s. “Because this is an international school, you learn about other cultures, and you understand people better. I now work for an international news channel, and interacting with my colleagues is so much easier because I’ve met so many different people during my time here. I didn’t live on campus, but the amount of time I spent here, it became my home”

She testifies that getting a job as a Producer for an international media organisation requires her to constantly ‘keep on the ball’.

“I left Regent’s College in December 2005. In 2006, I became an intern at CNBC Europe through a contact from Regent’s College. I sent my CV, but it was a very big challenge to convince them that I wasn’t just a schoolgirl with no experience. I had to really work hard. A few months into that role, I was offered a role at Sky News. But it’s very difficult; you have to constantly prove yourself.”

“Even today I still have to show them I haven’t lost my touch - I am very aware of my surroundings, aware of the news and aware of world issues. You can’t let someone ask you, ‘Do you know what’s happening in Libya?’ and you haven’t got a clue. You can’t allow that to happen. Even when you are on holiday…”

Her role as a News ProducerHer work routine as a news producer is far from being the usual 9 to 5 typical working day.

“You come in and straight away look at your agenda for the day - home news, foreign news, where your correspondents are, who is covering what, what might happen in the day, things you may have to be aware of. And throughout the day, the agenda gets updated, so if you look at it at 5am it may not have a particular item, but at 2pm somebody will come up to you and ask ‘Are you ready for that?’ And you’ll have no idea what it is unless you’re constantly looking at the updated agenda.”

“I’m usually the first person in from my team, I’ll look at what’s happening in the world, write the new straps, rewrite the news ticker because by about 5am some news can be out of date. You have to consider things like sports stories - Do you leave them up for the sunrise program? Do you take them off? And you have to always think ahead. If Barack Obama is speaking overnight - how do I

promo it? What goes on my social network? What goes on my ticker? Do I have graphics for it? - Everything is interwoven. So chaos is a very apt word to describe a typical day in my life.”

According to Sophia, working for a major media organisation has its perks.

“You meet the most random people. I met JLS at 7 o’clock in the morning, and I was absolutely giggly. I couldn’t function until we went on air! I absolutely loved them and they were absolute sweethearts.”

But Sophia reserves a special place for London Mayor Boris Johnson. “He lights up the room when he comes in. He’s a nice person. You know, he plays on his personality of being kind of ‘bumbling mayor’, but if you listen to him talking, he’s an intelligent man. He’s just happy. When you look at him, you think ‘he knows

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“You meet the most random people. I met JLS at 7 o’clock in the morning, and I was absolutely giggly. I couldn’t function until we went on air! I absolutely loved them and they were absolute sweethearts.”

what he’s saying’ So I have a lot of respect for him. People love him. And I do think he’s up there as one of the most interesting people I’ve met. I meet a lot of pop-stars as well, which is quite nice.”

The Future of Journalism

As the popularity of print media declines

and the popularity of amateur journalism

and blogs, such as the Huffington Post rises,

Sophia praises the role of social media in relation to her role as news producer.

“I see Twitter as the future of journalism. I think that’s the way forward now. A lot of people go to social media, so I guess I wouldn’t say it’s only Twitter. With social media it’s very easy to find information quickly, sometimes before it gets to a news channel. So if you’re driving down the motorway and you’re in standstill traffic, a quick look at a social network and you find out why you’re stuck. At the same time, I might be sitting in the newsroom thinking “A lot of people are tweeting about the M4 being blocked. I wonder what’s going on…”

“I recently tweeted about two policewomen who were murdered in Manchester, and within thirty minutes, it had 750 retweets. That line made me realize the power of social media. You don’t have to read a blog article or an online newspaper - All the information you need is in one line.”

Memories from Regent’s College Sophia talks about her time at Regent’s College with a sense of nostalgia for a place that for her had become more than a school. “It was a very happy place to be. You spent a lot of time within the school compounds, whether it’s in class, the library, socialising, and even relaxing. It was my home for a very long time. I especially loved Oktoberfest activities and the Christmas carols. Many of my memories are of social activities – I had a very extensive social calendar!”

When it comes to skills, studying at Regent’s College has helped Sophia to apply what she calls ‘social awareness’ in her work as a Producer.

“Because this is an international school, what you learn about other cultures, you genuinely apply into your working life. You understand people a lot better: I work now for an international news channel, and interacting with my colleagues is so much easier because I’ve met so many different people during my time here… When you’re doing news, you know how to handle the sensitivity of different cultures that you’re dealing with. When you meet guests, you understand them better.” Sophia was proud to tell me about the impression made on her by her tutor Leslie Viney.

“She helped me to develop as a person. I was very shy when I joined her class, and she brought out the best in me. She could see where my skills were, and she turned me to a very happy and chatty young lady. She was wonderful. A friend as well as a

professor, and I really enjoyed her classes.“

When asking her about her role models I wasn’t surprised to hear Sophia talking about her lovely mother whom I had the pleasure meet. “She’s superwoman. She works about eighteen hours a day, there are some days I don’t see her at all. She’s still the perfect mum, the perfect wife; her house runs like clockwork…”

Looking forwardSophia is clearly passionate about her work in news broadcasting. When talking about her future career goals, Sophia doesn’t hide her ambition to move to the front stage.

“I want to be a television presenter. I presented for an Asian channel for a little while. I presented news and I used to do thirteen news bulletins a day. I even had a little fan page! It was really exciting. I used to go out to restaurants, and people would recognise me and say ‘Isn’t that girl from television?’”

“I’m really happy being a producer, but if I had a chance to present, I’d grab it. There’s a lot of competition within presenting so it is really a stroke of luck. I had a producer friend who just happened to be at the right place at the right time. She came in for her night shift and there was the presenter was unwell, so someone said ‘Look, can you do it?’ and she’s now a fulltime reporter for the network. When the opportunity arises I’ll be grabbing it and running off with it.”

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AHEAD OF THE CURB Anthony Ganjou, founder of CURB Media, has come a long way since selling hot-noodle vending machines to universities and youth hostels. These days, the RBS London graduate is working with commercial giants, such as Nokia, Microsoft and Sky. His work has even made an appearance in the White House. The creative entrepreneur shares the secret behind his success.

With a turnover of more than £2.5 million, Anthony’s creative agency is behind some of the world’s leading brands and advertising campaigns. Specialising in huge outdoor spectacles, including Sony Music’s re-launch of Michael Jackson, Ganjou’s inspiration came from a chat down the pub with his fiancée.

“I saw Innocent advertising on the side of a bus and thought ‘why on earth are we being preached the natural mantra on a dead tree on the side of a bus?’ My fiancée, sat opposite, raised the point that there was probably no natural media so (after a bit of Googling and finding a lack of sustainable and creative media inspiration) we launched CURB.”

SKYWRITERS AT MEDINAHCurb offers brands and agencies natural and sustainable advertising media. “The agency will come up with the message, and we will quite literally bring it to life,” says Ganjou. “Our approach focuses on delivering extraordinary, emotive and viral brand engagement through innovation and non-traditional media.”As well as giant posters of Michael Jackson and portraits of Barack Obama (which famously now sits in the White House), the company has come up with some weird and wonderful PR stunts, including living rooms made out of grass and hay, used for a National Trust campaign; this stunt involved creating the world’s biggest sofa made out of natural materials. The team also got to cause havoc at the Ryder Cup in Medinah. Using a squadron of skywriters and technology, CURB was able to tweet live messages in the sky above the course on behalf of Paddy Power to support Team Europe.

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FACIAL RECOGNITIONThe agency’s latest work will see the agency launch a new audience measurement system for experiential marketing. Using cutting-edge facial recognition technology, they will determine the exact number of demographics of audiences being engaged by a campaign in real time.

Of course, this is all in a day’s work for the Regent’s alumnus, who has also found the time to found Pleasecycle, an online portal which serves as a one-stop-shop for commuter cycling, and Cycle Hub, rewarding cyclists for mileage. Ganjou has also set up SeedPaper, a unique green print which can be planted and grown into anything from vegetables to flowers.

Winner of the UK Young Communication Entrepreneur Award in 2009 for his Curb Media venture, Ganjou says his proudest moment was breaking and (as a result) sharing a Guinness World Record with Michael Jackson. “Creating the biggest poster in history next to Heathrow airport and, in Sony's words, delivering the biggest stunt since they sailed the statue down the Thames, is probably one of my biggest achievements.”

DRAGONS’ DENIn between his business ventures, Ganjou has found time to give feedback to current students at Regent’s College. In February this year he has reprised his role of the one the Dragons at the Alumni Dragons’ Den to pass on his wealth of experience as an entrepreneur. He takes part because he enjoys having ‘the chance to listen to and help students who have a drive to be successful in business’.

So, what’s next for the creative entrepreneur? Anthony has no desire to stand still and explains where he wants to be and how he wants to get there.

‘We plan to be a £100,000,000 business by 2020 inspiring billions of people around the world. Innovation is how we will get there! I plan to carry on growing and double or treble that target by 2025’.

A warning for all his competitors to mind the Curb.

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2007 Elena Vasileva RBSL I have set up my own executive search boutique called Fervidus in Singapore.

2007 Nikolina Kotur EBSL I am currently working for a British company called William Grant & Sons. I am very happy to be working there and feel that I have a great career ahead of me. I could never have got this position if it wasn't for the great understanding of the British culture that I gained through studying all those years in London.

1989 Marc Flettner WGSL I’ve patented several environmentally friendly products and devices since 2002 which are sold worldwide through my company. In 2009 I founded DATOWER GmbH as the world wide unique 100% chemically free complete water treatment system for open and half open cooling tower systems. In 2011 it has attracted a very large investor to DAT called SKion and since then we are expanding considerably. In 2014 I will have been self-employed for 25 years!

1990 Linda Stacey SPCP I was delighted to hear about Regent's being on track to become a University, and I'm hoping to do a UK accredited doctorate in English at Regent’s in due course.

1992 Judy Cooper SPCP I have a busy private practice and I’m also writing and teaching professionally. Life is hectic as usual with work, family and socialising.

1993 Mortimer Schulz EBSL I am studying part-time for a Masters in Renewable Energy at the Vienna University of Technology.

1993 Naoaki Shimada EBSL Last year, I have participated, for the first time, in a literary translation project, from Japanese into Spanish. The book, my first literary translation work, is entitled “El Samurai Barbudo”. It contains 2 stories: “El Samurai Barbudo” and “La Pagoda de Cinco Pisos”, works of the Japanese writer, Koda Rohan. The English versions of these two stories are already available, but this is the first time this Japanese writer’s works have been translated into Spanish.

1993 Barbara Cardus SPCP I moved from counselling to become a Family Support worker in schools. Since I retired I have written booklets and leaflets on parenting issues.

1994 Jennifer E Fenderson RACL I attended Regents College for spring semester 1994 while obtaining my degrees in English Literature back home at Stonehill College in the US. A semester abroad was an experience I'll never forget. I'm now planning to take my 16 year old son on his first trip to Europe and hope to visit Regent’s while in London - maybe he'll be inspired to spend a semester abroad as well!

2004 Nicklas Bjurström EBSL I’ve Co-founded Systematic Capital(www.systematiccapital.com), an asset management company in Stockholm.

2006 Estefania Villaespesa EBSL I've been working in the Marketing and Advertising sector both in Madrid and London. I am now looking to expand my Marketing experience at an international level.

2007 Ahmad Abdel-Hadi RACL Since I left Regent's College, I have completed aMA degree at Kingston University London. I am now embarking on a PhD research in Durham University on the topic of National Identity in Jordan: a Political Study of a Middle Eastern Country which I hope to complete by March 2014.

2006 Manohar Suresh RBSL After several entrepreneurial stints, I have started my own venture capital firm (www.hrisos.com) in Bangalore (India’s Silicon Valley) to accelerate innovative start ups in India.

1988 Nathalie Cagnat RBSL After living in Brazil and Mexico, I’m now married and working for a Relocation company in South Africa.

Your News

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2007 Shahnoor Mistry RBSL After graduating from RBS and Webster, I came back to India and started working for STAR TV channel in the area of Advertisement Sales and Marketing. After working there for four years, I changed my job and currently working with Business India Group of Publications as Senior Manager Advertising Sales.

2008 Mayva Oropeza RBSL Since I graduated, I have been working for various companies in Europe, got married and have moved from London to Singapore, where I have been living for 2 years. I have set up my own business, an online store (www.coralsecret.com) and a distributor in Asia Pacific of exclusive swimwear with internationally recognisable wear brands from South America. I was glad to learn that Regent’s College has a Club in Singapore!

2009 Adina Luca SPCP I started a business analytics and management consulting company in 2010. My company is now working with some of the biggest retailers in the UK, such as Stillae Ltd (www.stillae.com)

2008 Francesco Capotorto WGSL So many things changed in my life since I finished my MBA at Regent's College. I bought a property, I twice changed my job, I got married in 2011 and I had a son! I still live in London and I still enjoy opportunities to network and meet people.

2009 Alexis Daniel Boehning EBSL I am Founder and CEO of Orpheus, the global fashion intermediary (Berlin & Dubai).

2010 Emine Karli WGSL I am now giving private English lessons while looking for a new job.

2010 Sergio Moreno RBSL Since completing my MA in Global Management (Finance) in Sumer 2010 I have continued to develop my professional career. I joined the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in September 2011 under their UK Retail Graduate Leadership Programme. I have been given the opportunity to work within their vast branch banking network. I have worked within Implementation and Change Team to help design and implement a new process that was launched throughout the whole of RBS. My career continues to grow and develop and I look forward to remaining with RBS to develop my career. I still live in London and have recently married my partner of five years. We had our reception at St. Pancras Grand and Champagne Bar last June. I look forward in hearing from fellow alumni!

2011 Arne Christoffer Svensson EBSL I have joined the graduate programme in the world leading chocolate producing company Barry Callebaut. I will be traveling around the world in the next two years to gain expertise in different origin and production countries.

2011 Oliver Joseph Vaughan David-Griffiths RACL Since I left Regent’s College I have worked and lived between the UK and Greece. I have been married for the last eight years and living in a suburb of Athens (Glyfada) Greece. I now run a family shipping company with my wife in Piraeus.

2012 NaRoo Kim EBSL I started working as an Analyst at JKL Partners, a Private Equity Firm in Korea.

2012 Sonja Heinrich EBSL I’m currently studying for a MA degree at Munich Business School, Germany.

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Your News

2012 Mara dos Santos Mello tomas RBSL I am studying for a MA in Global Business Management & Marketing, at Regent’s College!

2012 Priyaank Lodha RBSL I joined the family business in manufacturing of diamonds and jewellery.

2012 Paulo Gaspar EBSL I’ve started my advertising agency working with brands like Heineken, MTV, and Diageo.

2012 Bjorn Kloster RBSL I am now studying for MSc International Business and Emerging Markets at The University of Edinburgh.

2012 Robyn Kriesel R ACL I’ve moved up in the Target Company from Food Service to Hardlines. I’ve also work for another company called TransWorld Entertainment at a small branch called FYE (For Your Entertainment).

2012 Max Dekkers EBSL I moved back to Monaco and started to work for John Taylor, a real estate network that specialises in prime properties in Europe.

2012 Rajiv Bhimrajka EBSL I am now managing my family business and looking to add new projects to the portfolio.

2012 Stefania Antoniadou EBSL I am currently studying for a MA Global Ethics & Human Values at King's College London.

2012 Linda Amadi WGSL I have just started up my business called PANACEA Headhunting & Business Solutions (www.businesspanacea.com).

2012 Dr Bonnie S Wims SPCP I have founded my private practice with four locations in London. My main therapeutic approaches are Existential/Integrative. However, my training as a counselling psychologist allows me the flexibility and creativity also to draw on a wide range of psychological theories and clinical evidence and to integrate other therapeutic models to the individual needs of the client. Currently I am developing a course designed for expatriates to explore areas of self within our culture and how to encourage flexibility and creativity in those definitions.

2012 Martin Valentin Traaseth RBSL I am now Candidate for M.S. in Real Estate Finance & Investment at the Schack Institute of Real Estate, New York University.

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Alumni Events

Event Launch of Regent's Club Geneva

When Wednesday 24 April 2013 Time 18:00

Where Capocaccia, Rue de la Confédération 8, Confédération Centre, 1204 Genève

We are delighted to invite all alumni to the launch of Regent’s Club Geneva, our second club to launch in Switzerland. This meeting will take place at the restaurant, Capocaccia, a refined yet relaxed haven in downtown Geneva. Geneva is one of the latest groups to join our international alumni network run by alumni based all over the world, and we are delighted to welcome Geneva to our growing numbers of Regent’s Clubs across the globe. This event is being hosted by the Alumni Co-ordinator, Jerome Arthur. After this first meeting the new club will meet on a regular basis to help establish a strong club for networking, socialising and more. If you would like to attend the Geneva launch meeting, please email the alumni team at alumni@regents.ac.uk

Event Regent’s Club Zurich Meeting

When Thursday 25 April 2013, 18:30

Where Terrasse Bar, Limmatquai 3, 8001 Zürich

Following the first meeting of 2013 in Feburary, Regent's Club Zurich is on a roll, and will be meeting again on Thursday 25 April. We are pleased to invite all Regent’s College Alumni to this next meeting – part of our international alumni network run by alumni based all over the world. The meeting will be hosted by Alumni Coordinator, Reto Joerimann in the Terrasse Bar, a firm favourite of the club. This event gives all alumni living and working in Zurich and the surrounding area a chance to meet in an informal, social setting. The club meets on a regular basis to help establish a strong club for networking, socialising and more. If you would like to attend the April meeting please email the alumni team and join the group on Linkedin.

Event Alumni Golf Tournament

When Friday 3 May 2013

Time 09:00 Where Highgate Golf Club, London

All alumni, staff and students are invited to our third annual Regent's College Alumni Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held at Highgate Golf Club, a friendly members’ club next to Hampstead heath in North London. The 18-hole course stretches to 6,000 yards (5,400 for the Ladies) and is the nearest 18-hole course to central London. Highgate really is London’s best kept golfing secret as despite being over 100 years old, the existence of the course still raises eyebrows.

Tickets £45 per person including lunch a round of golf

Booking www.regents.ac.uk/alumni/alumni_events.aspx

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Tell us a little about yourself?I come from a self-employed family and I strongly believe that all us are born with an entrepreneurial spirit. Since I was little, my passion was managing people and raising money for funding challenging projects. Determination and passion have allowed me to graduate with a first in Business Economics and then study Entrepreneurship management at EBS London. I set up my first little company in 2010 after a meeting with a Business Angel at Regent’s College, I joined with my valuable business partner we combined our ideas and launched Mind the flat Ltd.

What’s the big idea? We have been analysing in details the London rental market for more than a

year, during this period we figured out a massive customer pain for both Landlords and Tenants. We have one simple aim: to

match tenants looking to rent in London with the right property and the right flatmates. Dealing with estate agencies, landlords or letting agents can be confusing and even intimidating. When you throw potential flatmates into the equation, there can be all manner of things that might go wrong!

That’s where we come in. Mind the Flat is much more than just another property search site. Not only do we help people find a room or flat in London that meets their needs, we also help them connect with flatmates with a similar outlook and give them all the useful information and tools that can make easier and more convenient the flatsharing experience.

What made you want to become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurs have the power to make changes; they are able to make their customers lives easier. They can see before others the big picture of new challenging projects; they have the abilities and skills to organise people, motivate them and create something new. What makes me become an entrepreneur is the passion and the willpower of creating a service

that could add value to our clients and makes their life easier. Plus the incredible feeling of working for something that I personally consider my little baby. The hours I work and the working pressure doesn’t matter, it belongs to me and I am sure that this feeling will last forever.

Do you think there is an entrepreneurial spirit at Regent’s College? Regent’s College has taught me a lot and I have learnt how to challenge myself with others and open my mind. Regent’s has given me the possibility of practically learning how to start my career as an entrepreneur. I still remember what my entrepreneur teacher told me the first day at EBS London, if you are not willing to work longer hours than normal, without breaks even on Saturday and Sunday and you have not got the passion and the determination, you are in the wrong place. Regent’s College has allowed me to empower my entrepreneur spirit and face immediately the real life issues. Therefore, I will definitely say that Regent’s College has an entrepreneurial spirit and it is certainly able to teach and communicate it.

The Big Idea with Doriana Carlucci

Regent’s College has allowed me to empower my entrepreneur spirit and face immediately the real life issues.

We are proud to present the new ideas of our entrepreneurial alumni as they launch their ideas out in to the world. We caught up with Doriana Carlucci (pictured on the right with her business partner) to find out more about her new and innovative property search website.

Doriana CarlucciMA Entrepreneurial ManagementClass of 2011, EBSL

Website www.mindtheflat.co.uk Twitter @MindTheFlat

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"The MSc Oil & Gas Trade Management programme at Regent’s College London has been well designed to equip students for a career trading in the oil and gas world. It covers the background to the industry and the markets that every player needs to be familiar with, and offers a grounding in the essential commercial features of the downstream world.” Stephen Hodge, former CFO - Royal Dutch Shell

T +44(0)2074877505E exrel@regents.ac.ukW regents.ac.uk/ebsl

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I continue to cherish my time at Regent’s College. What I appreciate now is how my experiences then have become a part of a journey.

Verneda White, EBS London, MBA 2008