A Fireside Chat – The Accidental Entrepreneur
About
Join us for a Fireside Chat with Professor Ian Gordon, entrepreneur, educator and proud Lancaster University alumnus.Ian describes himself as a “deliberate engineer, accidental entrepreneur and accidental academic.” After leaving school with no qualifications, he travelled the world as a Merchant Navy radio officer before building and selling award-winning businesses in the Lake District and beyond.
From buying and transforming Wray Castle into a globally recognised telecommunications training centre, to navigating the highs and lows of retail entrepreneurship, Ian’s career has been shaped by risk, resilience, reflection and reinvention. Alongside his business ventures, he has advised major telecoms organisations, completed an MBA and PhD at Lancaster, and held senior roles supporting entrepreneurs and executive leaders across the UK.
Ian brings a rare ability to bridge academic rigour with real-world experience - helping leaders navigate uncertainty, complexity and growth.
Expect an honest and thought-provoking conversation about failure, reinvention, lifelong learning, and what it really means to build a life and career on your own terms.
Registration: 5.15pm - 6.00pm
Fireside Chat: 6.05pm - 7.30pm
Date
Thursday 12 November 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (UTC+00)Location
Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 4YX
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A Fireside Chat – The Accidental Entrepreneur
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