The University of Stirling Management School has appointed a leading light in Scotland’s business investment landscape as its latest Entrepreneur in Residence.
Gillian Fleming is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the women-led angel investor group Mint Ventures, which is making angel investing more accessible to women.
As an Entrepreneur in Residence, Gillian joins three others in supporting students, staff and alumni with practical advice and mentorship for their business ambitions. She also becomes a member of Stirling Management School’s International Business Advisory Board.
Gillian, a saltire fellow, has been nurturing and advising successful science and technology start-ups for more than 20 years, helping them build teams, develop strategy and raise funding to grow.
Gillian said: “We need more gender diversity in equity investment to enable more women-led and diverse teams to have access to capital, particularly in underfunded sectors where women are more likely to start their businesses. Encouraging more women to consider entrepreneurship and investment as a career will help develop more sustainable companies.”
She added: “With an investment background and being immersed in the start-up ecosystem, I’m excited to be bringing my perspectives and philosophies to Stirling Management School and honoured to be part of its excellent Entrepreneur in Residence programme.”
Professor Kevin Grant, Dean of the University of Stirling Management School, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gillian as our latest Entrepreneur in Residence, a programme that goes from strength to strength. She brings unrivalled expertise to Stirling Management School, its staff and students, thanks to working so closely with business start-ups and the entrepreneur community in Scotland and beyond.”
The University of Stirling Management School is renowned for its close ties to business and teaching, with research which impacts business and society. It is ranked second in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for Economics and first in Scotland and second in the UK for Marketing and Public Relations (The Guardian University Guide 2023); and in the top five in Scotland for Economics (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).
The School is one of a select number of Scottish partners delivering the Help to Grow: Management course which helps boost an SME’s performance and growth.