We are launching a new feature, so that each month you can get to know the team behind Strathclyde Inspire a little better! In the first of our series of ‘Get to Know the Inspire Team’, we speak with Fiona Ireland, Head of Enterprise. Fiona tells us a little bit more about herself, her role…and shares her thoughts on whether pineapple on pizza is an absolute yay or nay.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I am a Strathclyder. I studied IBML here, graduating in 2002. I then packed a bag and went travelling before coming back to start my Strathclyde career in 2005 (I remember the interview vividly and to this day have no idea why I was offered the job after embarrassingly announcing (quite falsely) that I was a little ray of sunshine!).
I’m a mum of two beautiful and energetic wee girls who make me laugh and scream (silently, mostly) in equal measure. I live in the Southside of Glasgow but hail from Fife.
I love travelling, eating, running (required often due to previous point), walking, drinking cocktails, the sunshine, being outside, talking (didn’t realise that until I was forced to sit on my own all day every day) and spending time with friends and family.
What is your role at the University of Strathclyde and what are your main responsibilities?
I am currently Head of Enterprise and since joining the University in 2005 I have worked with a wide and diverse range of supportive and fabulous colleagues to grow our support for entrepreneurship at Strathclyde from a short-term externally funded project to what is now an institution-wide entrepreneurship strategy, Strathclyde Inspire.
Since rolling out Strathclyde Inspire, my focus has moved to leading specific aspects of its implementation, including our sector-leading Entrepreneurship for All approach which will provide, for example, all Strathclyde students with access to entrepreneurial learning opportunity by 2025.
I have the privilege of managing our Senior Enterprise Fellows – an impressive network of extremely intelligent and very successful entrepreneurial leaders – who are helping to shape and deliver the strategy, as well as the Strathclyde Inspire Steering Group, chaired by the Principal.
What is your favourite thing about working at the University?
I love a challenge, as does Strathclyde! It’s an institution which sets the bar high and likes to succeed which both motivates me and challenges me. It’s a very ambitious organisation which isn’t afraid to be different and because of that it is constantly evolving, which creates endless opportunities for the whole Strathclyde community.
Why should University staff, students and alumni join Strathclyde Inspire?
Entrepreneurship is the future. And I don’t just mean starting a business. Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset is going to be so important as we emerge from the pandemic.
I am not an entrepreneur in the sense that I have started my own business but I try to practice all of the attributes of The Entrepreneurial Strathclyder (which for info are: collaborative; purpose-driven; creative problem-solver; resilient & resourceful; effective communicator; socially and commercially aware) - and those skills have served me well both professionally and personally.
We want to give all students and staff the opportunity to become more entrepreneurial, so sign up to receive updates on how our sector leading approach to Entrepreneurship for All is developing.
For those students, staff or alumni who do want to start a business or commercialise research we can provide support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey from idea generation to scaling a business, so don’t delay and do something about it today!
Finally…pineapple pizza. Yay or nay?
Absolutely yay – who wouldn’t want to tick off one of their five a day while tucking into Hawaiian pizza (obviously accompanied by a generous serving of fermented grapes 😉)
