I-LEAD Centre at King's Business School

The Challenge: A Vice-Dean had a vision for a business education research centre, but lacked the resources and capacity to turn it into a fundable reality.

My Approach:

• Co-designed a stakeholder engagement strategy, embedding co-creation from the start

• Built credibility through three strategic proof-of-concept initiatives - roundtables, a workshop, webinar

• Developed the case for support that secured philanthropic investment

The Results:

• I-LEAD secured £300,000 in philanthropic funding.

• The centre successfully launched and has been operational since 2025.

• I-LEAD transformed from a paper concept into a fully staffed, mission-driven centre.

BS 25700 Modern Slavery Standard – Dr Gabriela Gutierrez Huerter O

The Challenge: An academic co-author of a British Standard on modern slavery needed to distinguish her individual contribution and demonstrate the real-world impact of her research for her research assessment submission. Her work had potential but lacked the network and strategy to reach industry adopters.

My Approach:

• Co-developed a corporate and non-profit engagement strategy, identifying potential early adopters

• Designed and delivered strategic roundtables connecting senior leaders from construction, investment, legal, and anti-slavery sectors

• Sustained the strategy over three years, culminating in early adopters presenting their implementation experience

The Results:

• An official partnership was established with the British Standards Institution (BSI).

• The client co-hosted a major BSI event: "From Risk to Resilience" (November 2025).

• The client's profile significantly raised and the contribution was distinguished among co-authors.