The talk
Join a panel of expert alumni as they speak about how to start an online or digital business, and provide personal insight, advice and useful resources to help you make your business a success.
Topics covered will include:
The panel’s journeys from developing to launching an online/ digital business
The importance of branding, and how to find and retain loyal users and customers
The tech, digital, media and other skills that have helped them along the way
Practical advice, useful resources and key takeaways
The panel will also answer questions during the Q&A after the discussion.
This event is organised in partnership with our Creative Enterprise Centre (CEC). The CEC run an award-winning programme of workshops and events to aid students, graduates and alumni to develop transferable enterprise and employability skills, and to gain practical and first-hand industry insights and networks. You can browse and book onto any of the upcoming CEC workshops and events via Engage and Eventbrite.
This event is free, but you must register your place in advance.
About the speakers
Dilraj Athwa, Marketing and Brand Strategy Consultant for various private and public sector clients (BA Hons Business Studies and Marketing, 2010)
Dilraj is a seasoned marketer, having spent the best part of the past decade leading the UK agenda for the UK’s and world’s biggest brands. Since graduating from the University of Westminster in 2010, Dilraj started his marketing journey in consumer insight at Unilever’s Global Research & Development Centre in Leeds. Dilraj then went on to brand management roles at Unilever, both globally and in the UK, most notably leading the Lynx brand re-stage and implementing an influencer and ambassador model still used today by the brand. As well as working in consumer goods at Unilever, Dilraj spent time at tech giant Samsung and digital publisher JOE.co.uk as Brand Director. Dilraj is now a Marketing Consultant working with organisations across home, music, arts, consumer goods and public sector industries.
Ethel Tambudzai, Founder & CEO of TAMBU GROUP (BA Hons Development Studies & International Relations, 2018)
Before graduating with her BA in Development Studies and International Relations in 2018, Ethel was Vice President of the Students' Union, based at the School of Social Sciences. Some of her achievements include the introduction of the Student Parents Policy and facilitation of the working group to support students of sexual harassment and violence. Ethel founded TAMBU GROUP in March 2018, with the aim of introducing investors to projects in renewable energy and infrastructure. Through TAMBU GROUP, Ethel also consults for small charities supporting the development of their partnership engagements, volunteer recruitment and fundraising strategies. She is working with partners in Georgia to bring investment for their renewable energy sector via hydropower and solar projects.
Paras Fatnani, CEO & Co-Founder of Honey Twigs (MA Marketing Communications, 2010)
In December 2014, Paras co-founded Honey Twigs, a brand that aims to help consumers adopt healthier lifestyles by making small changes in everyday eating habits by offering easy to use healthier alternatives in convenient and innovative packing solutions. As CEO, Paras oversees business vision and growth, while driving the company’s global marketing and new business strategy. Until July 2020, Paras was Global Marketing and Communications Director at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, an international company serving the higher education sector. In this role, Paras oversaw global candidate acquisition, engagement, social media marketing, and event marketing for all of QS’ Business-to-Customer (B2C) products, and he controlled operations that directly reached over 70 million aspiring students annually. Paras has also contributed business strategy and marketing expertise to several entrepreneurial and non-profit ventures over the years.
