When two worlds collide. Karl McConville and I often go to great lengths to ensure our professional worlds remain largely separate. This weekend we were honoured to be invited by Lady Canarvon to be her guests at the amazing Highclere Castle history festival. I absolutely love history so there was little resistance on my part to being a ‘plus 1’ (not a familiar place !).
However, it occurred to me walking around the castle, the grounds and the cellars that the history of Highclere is one of entrepreneurship and innovation. From the 5th Earl of Carnarvon demonstrating amazing leadership, expertise and risk in his expertly co-ordinated, scientifically researched, cost intensive and adventurous expeditions that led to the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb on one last role of the dice, to the relatively modern day pivot (a concept familiar to so many entrepreneurs) of Highclere embracing and welcoming the Downton Abbey franchise and the resulting international profile (we counted 5 nationalities within 10 metres of us in the queue).
It is easy for tech lawyers like me to think of entrepreneurship and innovation being the domain of universities and labs - however we have so much to be thankful for to those pioneers, and the generations who follow them, who have faced, and continue to face, many of the same challenges as current entrepreneurs- insatiable curiosity and drive, financial and commercial juggling/ bootstrapping, the ability to pivot, sacrifice on many levels, the importance of the right team and sheer hard work and determination.
May be our worlds are closer than I would care to admit.
