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Shailendra Vyakarnam

Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship, Cranfield University

Passionate about entrepreneurship education and development for over 30 years. I am presently Visiting Professor at the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship at Cranfield University, having had the honour of being its Director for four years. Previously, for fourteen years, I was founding director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning at the University of Cambridge. My current role entails growing entrepreneurship education, mentoring and inspiring new generations of entrepreneurs. I also supervise doctoral candidates.

My latest co-authored book is the Scale-Up Manual. It follows on the heels of Camels, Tigers and Unicorns: Rethinking science and technology enabled innovation. My co-author is a thought leader in innovation. The Scale-Up Manual is designed to help teams navigate their way from early to mature stages of growth through understanding of the three chasms they will encounter on the journey as well as learn of the 12 vectors they can use to help overcome the challenges of the chasms.

My last book with Neal Hartman, Unlocking the Enterpriser Inside. A book of why, what and How takes readers into the practicalities of how to create courses and learning in education FOR entrepreneurship.

I am active in several stages of business development from start-ups through scale-ups and growing businesses as educator, mentor, and coach. Typically involved in strategy, boardroom dynamics, team building and assisting with getting teams ready to pitch to investors. My passion is for science and technology enabled businesses.

As a result of these experiences I have been invited to provide policy advice and executive education for larger firms that want to embrace entrepreneurial thinking.

On the advisory board of several early stage companies. Trustee of GEN Initiative providing education, income generation to small rural communities in India.