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Jim Lawn

Profile
Jim Lawn
Location
London
Region
London
URL
http://www.polecatting.com/

Jim Lawn is the co-founder of Meerkat, a not-for-profit organization which engages multiple voices, celebrates the heroes and encourages investment in online innovation for social good. Jim is also co-founder of Polecat Ltd, a not-just-for-profit company providing innovation acceleration support and services for not-just-for-profit start ups.

Until recently, Jim worked for Microsoft as Head of Innovation in the UK, working with the software development industry, entrepreneurs, investors, academia and Government to help Microsoft build its role as a key enabler for innovation in the UK.

Q&A

  • Why is getting connected important to make things happen?

    Successful business and innovation stems from:

    • the right ideas matched with

    • the right money and

    • the right people.

    • If you are missing one or two of these attributes (and I don’t know any successful businesses or innovations that haven’t), then you need to connect.

  • What is the best connection you have made or received?

    Bringing Bob Young (founder of Red Hat Linux) to keynote at a Microsoft Innovation and networking event.

  • What are your top tips for making great connections?

    Do as you would have done to you. Give and share without expecting return (See ‘Love is the Killer App’ Tim Sanders) - don’t try to stay part of the conversation - you don’t have time. Think outside the box - so long as the connection has enough relevance, people like meeting different people.

  • What makes your network different or special?

    I have had a very varied career which gives me a varied and interesting network:

    From fast jet to radar to communications in the Royal Air Force - constantly travelling around the world - often in diplomatic circles, one of the youngest senior engineering officer in the RAF; Managing Consultant at Deloitte - Congestion Charge etc

    A wide variety of roles at Microsoft - consultant, top salesman, software developer strategy, Head of Innovation at Microsoft working with the UK’s top entrepreneurs, academics, govt officials and software/internet companies;

    Founder of a number of companies - not least Polecat Ltd - amongst other things building a conversation amongst a large and diverse audience of Social Commentators, Sustainability Experts, NGOs, Academia, Entrepreneurs, Web 2.0 experts etc

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