Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs with Professor Louisa Huxtable-Thomas

Join host Kim Mamhende and special guest Louisa Huxtable-Thomas in discussing the future of entrepreneurship in Wales and beyond. As Lead for Enterprise, Partnerships and Innovation for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Swansea University, Louisa is passionate about sparking inspiration and self confidence in aspiring entrepreneurs and young people.

Louisa asserts that the drive behind entrepreneurs is often rooted within a deep determination to make improvements to the wider community, and that a substantial number of students share this commitment. Meanwhile, Louisa emphasises that it is paramount that people lift each other up, in order to motivate one another.

About our guest:

Dr Louisa Huxtable-Thomas: Professor, and Lead for Enterprise, Partnerships and Innovation at Swansea University

Louisa’s role in encouraging student and staff entrepreneurship is predominant in generating ideas and innovation not only for people within the university, but also for Wales more broadly. She emphasises that entrepreneurship involves a vast range of projects, including services that could be fundamental in tackling some of the acute social challenges existing today.

She contends that a fundamental part of her work involves building confidence in students, to enable them to realise their potential. Being the first in her generation to attend university, Louisa recognises how crucial it is to have supportive and encouraging people at one’s informative ages, and the role educators have in shaping young minds.

At the beginning of the episode, Louisa discusses the ways in which it is important to inspire student entrepreneurs in Swansea. She argues that there is a lot of room for student entrepreneurs to take their learning outside of the university. Meanwhile when students are asked to consider what is important to them in their surrounding community, they can be enabled to realise their entrepreneurial spirit. Crucially, she emphasises the importance of building each other up as a crucial means to enabling everyone to reach their full potential.

Following on, Louisa discusses the ways in which entrepreneurs, leaders and anyone can stay motivated. Here, she argues that it is important for everyone to frequently reflect upon their sense of purpose and direction. Equally as important, she stresses that people should reward themselves for all of the small accomplishments that they make. More broadly, Louisa argues that successful entrepreneurs are driven by values and commitments that extend beyond themselves, such as a concern for the wider community.

Subsequently, Louisa discusses the ways by which entrepreneurs can become more inclusive. For instance, she argues that it is important that everyone is given an equal voice, and that everyone within a team has opportunities to take lead. Finally, Lousia briefly talks about the ways in which artificial intelligence may have an impact on the future, before finishing with her own Welsh Dream.

Time stamps:

00:00: Start

1:54: Introduction

14:44: How to stop the brain drain in Wales

24:54: Purpose being at the heart of entrepreneurship

32:16: How to inspire self-confidence and motivation

45:20: Importance of supporting each other

59:40: How to overcome indecisiveness

1:05:56: Importance of communication (as a leader)

1:21:14: Inspiring new leaders

1:30:32: How artificial intelligence impacts the future of business

1:42:09: Louisa’s Welsh Dream