CAMentrepreneurs: Interview, news forthcoming events

In the context of our co-founder Peter Cowley’s death from cancer we are working on longevity so that CAMentrepreneurs will no longer be as dependent on the work of a few individuals as at present. This is both to honour his memory and because what are are building is getting more and more valuable.

Website

Many thanks to Oleg and Tom for their service.

Speakers If you want to speak, at an event, we have a speaker/panelist nomination process. We now have guidelines for speakers. Do note that nominating yourself simply makes your details available to Chapter leaders, and does not guarantee a slot.

Sponsors

CAMentrepreneurs Greece Launch 8th September led by Victoria Kimonides & Richard Lucas. Details/Sign up here

September

CAMentrepreneurs Munich Launch 23rd September led by Ian Walker & Richard Lucas Details sign/up here

CAMentrepreneurs New York, NY: Cambridge | Oxford | Columbia: Bio & Health Tech Pitch Competition

London CAMentrepreneurs London/Crick Science Entrepreneur Network Fireside chat + networking 25th September led by Andrew Shailer-Smith and Rabia Shirazi details/sign up here

CAMentrepreneurs Malaysia Launch 30th October led by Karol Szlichcinski, Dash Dhakshinamoorthy & Richard Lucas Sign up and details here

Role in CAMentrepreneurs

Richard: What inspired you to take on your role with CAMentrepreneurs in Poland, and how did your involvement begin?

My involvement with CAMentrepreneurs began through a combination of personal interest and professional alignment. I have a deep passion and interest in entrepreneurship and as a Cambridge alumnus (I was a postgrad student at St John’s College) I was naturally drawn to the CAMentrepreneurs network.

I am based in Warsaw, and I knew Richard (who was then based in Krakow) for many years. I was an early supporter of CAMentrepreneurs from when it was founded in 2016 (10 years ago next year), and I became more actively involved in 2020 when I stepped down from the Board of the Universities of Oxford & Cambridge Alumni Network in Poland having served for almost 9 years. This freed up some of my time to dedicate to CAMentrepreneurs.

I saw Richard’s passion and Poland’s dynamic and fast-growing startup ecosystem – together this presented an exciting opportunity to contribute by helping to be the bridge between innovation and entrepreneurial energy in Poland and the global experience and network of Cambridge alumni.

I currently lead the Warsaw network and manage engagement and community building globally. What has inspired me the most was the potential to create a meaningful impact and to be part of that journey.

Richard: Can you describe your main responsibilities and objectives for CAMentrepreneurs?

My main responsibilities are varied. I run the Warsaw network, and we are looking forward to a relaunch in early 2026. I am also responsible for engagement and community building – this involves managing the LinkedIn pages and Mighty Network and supporting the international network leaders with marketing and promotion activities around events.

My professional role requires a significant level of networking therefore I am naturally able to reach out to founders and entrepreneurs, engage with business leaders and entrepreneurship organisations to support the building up of CAMentrepreneurs. Some of my clients are Series B tech startups, specifically disruptive innovators in all industries and sectors and where there is a social impact, and I find part of my client base fits naturally with CAMentrepreneurs.

My objectives for CAMentrepreneurs are simple and that is to stay true to our original mission defined by co-chair Peter Cowley: to be a global network of investors, students and business leaders who work together, supporting each other, to support business and social entrepreneurship among Cambridge University alumni, current students and others.

One of my key goals is diversity and inclusivity – we want to break down walls and barriers to create access. If someone has an idea and they have an entrepreneurial spirit, they have every right to be here!

Richard: Share a highlight or favourite moment from your work organising activities for the Warsaw chapter. What made it stand out to you?

There are many in my 10-year journey with CAMentrepreneurs. I am passionate about building communities – seeing people turn ideas into action, helping others grow, gain confidence, and build something from scratch is deeply rewarding and being able to say I was part of that.

I really enjoy bringing people and ideas together, building bridges to drive collaboration, creativity and strategic growth.

During the global pandemic lockdown, we held global online events. Personally, I would love to come back to these even if it’s just once a year. It’s an opportunity for everyone to come together in one place to listen, to share stories and celebrate successes.

Richard: What are your goals for CAMentrepreneurs in Poland for 2025/6.

My goals for CAMentrepreneurs in Poland and globally for 2025 are to further develop growth and build a sense of community, raise our visibility and our brand, support our student and young entrepreneurs by connecting them with people who can support them in the early stages.

Richard: Tell us about Executive Performance Partners. What is the company’s mission and what differentiates it in the executive search or advisory industry?

I had an early career in strategy consulting and moved into senior level executive search in the 1990s. I worked for 20 years for leading global firms that included GKR (now Korn Ferry), Odgers and Heidrick & Struggles. Together with a bunch of business partners we set up EPP in 2011 as an alternative to the top-tier global companies.

Who are we: we are a top-tier boutique senior level executive search, leadership and strategy advisory firm based in Warsaw working throughout Central & Eastern Europe. Geopolitical tensions and armed conflict have had a significant impact on our business in key markets therefore we have moved westwards and we’re now operating in a number of new markets in northern Europe.

In 2018 we were the only boutique firm ranked as a leading recruiter in private equity in emerging markets by Hunt Scanlon and in 2021 we were described as like “a top set of barristers chambers but where everyone’s a QC” by EY.

Our mission is to transform organisational performance through finding exceptional leaders and helping organisations build exceptional leadership teams that shape the future.

Executive Search

We work at senior executive and board level. We place C-level executives (CEOs, CMOs, CCOs, CFOs) within some of the most impactful organisations in the world.

Our clients include private and stock exchange listed companies, private equity funds and their portfolio companies and businesses working in a regulated environment. We also work with entrepreneurs; family offices and investor groups and we have strong relationships with VCs throughout the UK and Europe.

The best part of this work for me is working with experienced C-level executives who are beginning to explore board opportunities, working with them on defining their goals, motivations and values. Supporting these guys to build a portfolio of non-exec board roles can be deeply rewarding but it requires preparation, focus, and the right mindset. From defining goals to growing a network, the journey is as much about self-awareness as it is strategic planning.

Advisory

This involves supporting CEOs and boards with strategic processes and cultural change processes and connecting the two together.

We provide traditional strategy consulting, organisational design, post-M&A integration (people, processes and technology), team and organisation acceleration (accelerating the integration of leaders transitioning into new roles) and succession planning. This supports the building of high-performing leadership teams, enhances board governance and reshapes organisational culture.

What makes us different: we strive to develop deep, long-term, and meaningful relationships with our clients, we are more hands-on, and partners are directly involved in every stage of the search process. We are strategic which means our people have a deep understanding of specific industries, functions and markets and have stronger candidate networks. We are agile, we don’t have bureaucratic structures so we can adapt processes to client’s needs, move fast and pivot more easily. We have fewer off-limits restrictions therefore greater access to talent at competitor organisations and a stronger commitment to outcomes – we have a high success rate that builds trust and long-term relationships.

Richard: How do you approach building high-performing teams or supporting leadership development within your business clients?

There is no single way to look at this however we approach building high-performing teams and supporting leadership development through a holistic, data-driven, and tailored methodology. We combine senior executive search, leadership assessment, succession planning, and culture shaping to address organisational, and leadership needs in a unified way.

Richard: Looking back at your career, what are the most valuable lessons or experiences that shaped your approach to entrepreneurship and business advisory?

Early in my career I interviewed a serial entrepreneur, and I remember this meeting well. We met quite early in the morning, it was still dark, there was deep snow, and it was -20 degrees C. We worked from a small office on one of the backstreets in the centre of Warsaw. This guy had worked for 3 to 4 businesses and each one had failed – it was a disaster! What struck me were the valuable lessons and learning experiences that had shaped him over a decade; he knew exactly what the issues were and how he would do things differently if he had the chance again. Fast forward several months I was looking for a CMO to join a startup e-commerce business (these were not so well known or popular in those days and difficult to attract people due to the risks). I presented it to him and it was a success. Under his leadership the company grew into the largest e-commerce platform in Central & Eastern Europe. In 2023 the company posted revenues of Euro 2.6b.

What have I learnt:

Failures are often the greatest teachers, and failure is not the opposite of success – it’s a critical part of it.

Listening and telling: empathy and active listening help drive better decisions.

The ability to pivot and adjust quickly is more valuable than having all the answers upfront.

Being honest: trust and reputation open doors.

Failure has taught me resilience, how to get up after setbacks, how to adapt, and how to try again with more insight. Failure has humbled me, made me more empathetic, more patient, and more focused. It has also clarified what really matters to me and why I am doing what I’m doing.

I have won more business by talking about my failures and what I can’t do than telling what I can do.

Motivations and Personal Purpose

Richard: What core values drive your work, both within CAMentrepreneurs and in your own business ventures?

I am passionate about building communities and networks that work towards supporting each other. Leveraging these networks, partnerships and teams can create a lasting impact.

Trust is the foundation of a strong business community and a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. For me it’s important to stay true to your mission and being honest in all matters as this helps develop long-term relationships.

I am committed to growth and lifelong learning. I look to continually learn from peers and colleagues, mentors and critical feedback from people (who are different from me) and clients.

I am passionate about helping others to develop and grow through mentorship programmes, events or just simply by sharing knowledge – which is a core value of CAMentrepreneurs.

Richard: In your view, what is the key purpose of business—beyond profit? How do you ensure this is reflected in your work and mentoring?

Simple: creating value for society. This value can come in different ways such as creating meaningful employment and contributing to the well-being of communities. I always look to encourage others and motivate others, working to ethical standards of transparency, fairness, accountability and inclusion.

I encourage personal growth and encourage people to look beyond their title or status in society and to focus on purpose and where they might have a positive impact.

Four times a year (all together as a company) we offer services to the Warsaw community. In the past we have worked in foodbanks, orphanages, care homes and on deprived estates feeding homeless people. Spending time with people who we might not necessarily meet in our daily lives, people who are different from us and listening to their stories has been life changing for everyone involved.

Richard: What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs about staying motivated and identifying their own purpose in a volatile world?

The world is volatile – if you’re waiting for the right moment, my advice would be to get started now and get on with it. Last month I met a bunch of young tech entrepreneurs in Kyiv (Ukraine); that night Kyiv was subjected to the most intense drone and ballistic missile attack since the start of the war. It was scary as I watched Kyiv being hit from my balcony. Two days later I was walking through Hanover Square in London – a surreal experience. These tech guys are not unfazed, they test, adapt and move! Just get on with it as you don’t have any clue where you will be in 5 or 10 years from now.

Take small steps every day especially when you don’t want to or feel like it. A setback is feedback – the faster you learn, the fast you grow. You can wait for motivation; it comes from momentum.

Build resilience and focus on what you can control – what feels aligned now. If something no longer excites you, it’s ok to evolve!

If anyone wants to know more – please do reach out. The best way is through LinkedIn or Mighty Network.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomnolanwarsaw

Our social network
Linkedin Group
Linkedin Page
Official Listing site
Our website
Mentoring platform

Youtube Being a City Leader “about CAMentrepreneurs” here

Richard Lucas, CAMentrepreneurs Founder Linkedin About richardlucas@richardlucas.com