Previewing a CISI webinar hosted by Gillian Roche-Saunders MCSI, partner at Adempi Associates, taking place on 2 July 2020
Fresh ideas and the ability to think outside of set parameters are essential for any workplace if it wants to innovate and stay ahead of the game. But it can be hard to know where to start with encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset.
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"So many definitions limit the concept to a type of personality or organisation, and I think it's important to think wider than that – entrepreneurial thinking is something we can all develop. I define entrepreneurial thinking as the ability to
spot opportunities, to create and select ideas that meet the need identified and to draw in the right people and resources to turn the idea into a commercial reality," says Gillian Roche-Saunders MCSI, partner at Adempi Associates, a financial services
regulatory consultancy.
Gillian and her Adempi co-founder, Dena Chadderton, will be sharing their wisdom on entrepreneurial thinking for people working in regulated firms in a CISI webinar on 2 July at 3pm. "What we'd like people to take away from the webinar is that while there
are some common talents and traits connected with entrepreneurialism, there is no one way of being entrepreneurial. Harnessing your own unique qualities, your understanding of your market and your audience will get you a long way."
"I define entrepreneurial thinking as the ability to spot opportunities, to create and select ideas that meet the need identified and to draw in the right people and resources to turn the idea into a commercial reality"
Before co-founding Adempi last year, Gillian founded the venture finance division of Bovill, another financial services regulatory consultancy, and established a compliance consultancy within law firm Bates Wells Braithwaite. She is currently a mentor
at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, where she helps female entrepreneurs in emerging countries. At every point in her career, the ability to think like an entrepreneur has been key. "Whether your business is looking to grow, to be known as the
best in what you do, or to keep up with the competition, spotting opportunities and turning them into a reality will be at the heart of your success. The more people within your business who are able and motivated to do this, the stronger your
business will be," she says.
According to Gillian, culture is important in developing the entrepreneurial spirit within the workplace: "You need to take steps consciously to create a framework within which you show that entrepreneurial thinking is not just welcomed on paper, but
truly supported at all levels."
But for team members, rather than management, it can be harder to kickstart an entrepreneurial way of thinking. "If you find that you are a step ahead of your peers and managers in wanting to innovate, you're right to think about how to go about it in
a way that will be most palatable," says Gillian. "Leading by example is great but leaving people shell-shocked won't secure your long-term aim." She suggests finding a problem where a solution would be universally welcomed – a new product,
department or business line are always great areas in which entrepreneurial thinking can be brought to the forefront – or to develop a solution that would bring such an immediate positive change that it would be more likely to be welcomed and
accepted.