CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
£5K TO £10K
'The best speaker we have seen.'
Vantis
WIKIPEDIA
TOPICS
Economic Overview
SPEECH TITLES
Entrepreneurial leadership: a fighting mentality
BIOGRAPHY
Luke Johnson made his name by growing Pizza Express from 12 to 250 outlets. He now chairs numerous businesses - from Giraffe restaurants to DWS vehicle repair, via fashion and parking equipment. He's also co-founder of the new think tank: The Institute of Entrepreneurs.
Luke first showed an aptitude for business when he started running nightclubs while studying medicine at Oxford. After a spell as an analyst with the investment bank Kleinwort Benson, he acquired, expanded and floated Pizza Express - increasing its market capitalisation to £500m. He went on chair Signature, which owned famous establishments like Belgo and The Ivy, and more recently Borders, Channel 4 Television and the RSA.
'Cool Hand Luke' brings all his experience to bear in presentations. He debunks investment myths, upholds the basic principles of capitalism, owns up to his mistakes (including Borders) and demonstrates his fighting mentality. He believes there's no magic formula for leadership: "It's simply about domain knowledge, hard work, charm, judgement and having the ability to motivate and delegate."
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Q & A
JLA: Is the priority in 2011 to batten down the hatches or invest in growth?
LJ: Overall we are investing and planning for expansion - the economy will be tough, but there remain opportunities.
JLA: Is there an all-purpose formula for beating the competition?
LJ: I don't believe there is a magic formula. It's about domain knowledge, hard work, listening skills, an ability to motivate and delegate, charm and judgement.
JLA: Would you rather be first to market, or learn from others mistakes?
LJ: Being a pioneer can be painful. Often it is easier to replicate an idea but execute more effectively.
JLA: How do you ensure a business stays entrepreneurial as it matures?
LJ: It is very hard - one way is by splitting up divisions into small groups, perhaps even physically in separate premises, and creating a sense of ownership within each discrete element.
JLA: How can you rescue a company in a declining industry?
LJ: Cost-cutting and reinvention - easier said than done!
JLA: Do you have a tried and tested strategy for attacking new markets?
LJ: Copy the techniques they have used in the US. JLA: What tips can you offer SMEs looking to develop export markets? LJ: Build a truly world-beating website.