ENU Alumni and Industry professionals are invited to join us at this springtime Enterprise Exchange Forum focusing on Data and AI smart solutions - for small businesses! Hosted by Dr Abhishek Agarwal, Associate Professor and DBA / MBA Lead, he is delighted to welcome our guest speakers:

Sam Mathew, Industry Director, Global Energy Team, Microsoft.

Sam Mathew is an experienced Energy industry professional with 18+ years experience in industry, technology and advisory in the Energy sector. He is currently an Industry Director in the Global Energy team at Microsoft, where he leads work focused on driving AI, cloud and technology driven transformation for UK Energy clients. Sam has a passion for net zero and focuses on helping clients make their operations more sustainable and pivot to a low-carbon business. He holds a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering, an MBA in Oil and Gas Management, and is a certified Scrum Master and Project Management Professional.

Data and AI - Driving insights and bottom-line for businesses

Sam will discuss the ongoing transition in businesses from simply utilizing data to actively leveraging insights, facilitated by the advancements in Data and AI technologies. He will also highlight the impact of GenAI in accelerating this shift, enabling businesses to drive significant value to their bottom line. By harnessing the power of GenAI, businesses can gain a competitive edge and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Samantha Rhynas, Director & Chief Operating Officer, effini

With extensive technical & strategic experience, Sam works with organisations to build data, AI and automation into their core strategy, establishing best practice for governance and management. Sam sits on the Scottish AI Alliance Leadership Circle, focusing on Scotland’s AI Strategy. Passionate about diversity within the technology sector, she leads Girl Geek Scotland.

Strategic Data and AI Insights for SMEs

Understanding the needs of SMEs is key to how we genuinely integrate Data and AI into small businesses, one size does not fit all. Sam will share some of her findings from working with start-ups, scale-ups and established SMEs as to the challenges they face, and how we can support them through the use of data and AI, to grow and innovate.

Find out more here

Nanik Ramchandani, Edinburgh Napier University Entrepreneur in Residence

Nanik is an entrepreneur with over twenty-years experience in the financial services industry, managing wealth, and advising families on global investments. Passionate about building solutions to solve the biggest challenges of our time, he is a strong believer in 'technology for good' and its impact in shaping a better world.

AI and the impact on small businesses - The Good, Bad and Ugly

Nanik will walk the audience through some AI tools to help business owners become more productive and efficient. As the usage of the tools becomes common place, he will talk about some of the resulting challenges and risks, and end with the dark side of AI.

Following our guest speakers' presentations, a Q&A will take place.