Elevate & Exchange - Where Ideas Rise With The Sun (Chapter 8)

Speaker 1 - Stephanie L. - International Marketing Lead at Ardent (mKTP Associate) & Hima Sharma MSc Management & Marketing Graduate at Leeds Beckett University.The Ardent KTP project, which finishes on 13th November 2025, has embedded a comprehensive international marketing strategy, identifying new market opportunities, developing a growth strategy for expansion into new sectors, and successfully transferred knowledge and capabilities across the organisation. These impressive achievements have been underpinned by a cultural shift at Ardent toward innovation and proactive leadership. Part of the delivery of this project included Stephanie's management of 16 post-graduate students across 6 consultancy projects to identify new markets for Ardent - these included Middle East fire suppression market, Indian markets and European markets for induction loops. The students contributed high-quality, insight-driven strategies which have aligned with Ardent’s strategic objectives. At Elevate & Exchange, Stephanie will share her KTP journey and the project’s transformative impact on Ardent, joined by Hima, who will reflect on the postgraduate experience and the opportunities this collaboration created.

Speaker 2 - Nandar Bhone Zaw - Sales & Marketing Associate at MEDASIL SURGICAL LIMITEDEstablished in 1974, Medasil Surgical Limited is a specialist manufacturer of silicone tubing and surgical devices used in operating theatres. They supply products to the N.H.S., private hospitals and specialist clinics in the U.K as well as exporting worldwide.At Elevate & Exchange, Nandar will share her new role at Medasil and how her marketing & digital strategy skills are used in the medical world. She will look back on her time as a Masters Student at Leeds Beckett University which lead to her completing the course with a Distinction. Finally, Nandar will reflect on 2025 working with The Knowledge Exchange and how building knowledge & expertise with business connections in our community helped her unlock the next chapter in her career.

Speaker 3 - Professor George Lodorfos - Dean of Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett University.Professor George Lodorfos is the Dean of Leeds Business School and an experienced senior leader, educator and researcher with more than twenty years working across UK and international higher education. His expertise spans strategy, leadership, innovation, technology management, entrepreneurship, SME growth, resilience and organisational change. He is particularly known for connecting academic insight with real-world organisational impact, and for developing leaders who can navigate complex environments with clarity and confidence. At Elevate & Exchange George will explore the role of Leeds Business School as an anchor institution within the region. The session will provide an overview of the School’s strategic approach to business engagement and its collaborative work with organisations across the Leeds City Region and beyond.He will share insights into how the School builds and sustains relationships with businesses of all sizes, creating opportunities that span skills development, innovation, applied research, and pathways for growth.This session will also highlight the mutual benefits of Leeds Business School’s anchor role, demonstrating how the School supports regional economic development while offering students meaningful experiences that help them develop, progress, and succeed.

Speaker 4 - Owen Clater – CEO, Becks & Clates. We are delighted to welcome back Owen Clater, returning for his second appearance at Elevate & Exchange. This time, we go deeper into Owen the Entrepreneur, the story behind one of the UK’s most dynamic young business leaders. Owen will share his remarkable journey, from working at Subway at age 16 to becoming a CEO and serial investor by 19, earning recognition as the UK’s youngest employer.2025 has been a milestone year for Owen. His rapid rise took him from Hull to Miami, where he spoke at the Global Family Office Investment Summit, and he was recently named one of the Top 5 Young Entrepreneurs in the UK at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025.We are thrilled to welcome Owen back to Leeds Beckett University. His story is a powerful source of inspiration for entrepreneurs of all ages, a chance to meet, listen, and learn from someone reshaping what early-career success can look like.