Vision of one man brought massive benefits to region

Aug 21 2009 Advertisement Feature

FROM Steve Jobs and Richard Branson to Rupert Murdoch and Roman Abramovich, the most influential business innovators shape the world around us, forcing us to change our thinking, revise our prejudices and powering change on many levels.

The economy needs innovators and influential people in order to thrive and David Goldman, a founder of iconic software company Sage Group plc, felt that this was something that could be nurtured by powerfully combining the worlds of education and business to make the region sustain healthy economic growth.

After his untimely death in 1999, as part of the Goldman Endowment at Newcastle University Business School, his family created the post of visiting professor to bring the great innovators and influencers of the region’s business community into contact with students and their lecturers for the benefit of both.

Daniel, son of David Goldman and a successful businessman in his own right as managing director of Goldrock, a growth capital fund, said: "Inviting the region’s top business performers to share their invaluable experiences with the academic fraternity both at grass-roots level – in terms of the student body as well as their academic masters – has proved an excellent way to inspire others to strive to achieve their own goals."

It has certainly provided insight into the diversity of what constitutes the make-up of influential business innovators in the region. The post of David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation continues to provide a platform for experienced entrepreneurs to pass on their experiences to the keen minds at Newcastle University Business School through a series of workshops, lectures and seminars and events.

Including the current incumbent, there have been six visiting professors – each one sharing a highly successful career trajectory but differing in how this corresponds to their influence and impact in the North East.