The Academic Adventures Podcast

Hosted by Converge

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2025

Language

About the show

This podcast is all about the journey from teaching, research and innovation to real-world solutions. In season 1 we heard from people who embraced the opportunity to combine their academic work with entrepreneurial ventures. In season 2 we are joined by experienced founders who work alongside university staff and students to help create and support a culture of enterprise on campus.

Listen to episodes

22 recent

October 28, 2025Episode 1137 min

‘We need to get clear on what a commercial champion is’ with Rachel Connolly, Chris Jones and Elad Katz

This special episode was recorded at a live event in Edinburgh on 2 October 2025. We gathered to discuss the role of external experts in commercialising research and how to recruit and support a more diverse pool of experts. Elad Katz is the co-founder and chief technology officer for Navigate Precision Biology, a spinout from University of Dundee. Rachel Connolly is an Enterprise Executive at Heriot Watt University specialising in deep tech commercialisation. Chris Jones is Chair and Non-Executive Director for a portfolio of life science companies and an experienced commercial champion.The panel talks aboutThe need for flexibility and matching the right experts with the right project at the right time How the current role descriptors and expectations might be attracting the wrong peopleAddressing the lack of diversity amongst the current pool of external expertsWhy relationships, commitment and drive can be more important than experienceConnect with our guests on LinkedIn - Chris Jones, Elad Katz & Rachel Connolly To receive a copy of the report ‘Widening and formalising Executives in Residence (XiR) in Scotland’ by Hamish McAlpine and Britta C Wyatt, get in touch with Orla Kelly

October 21, 2025Episode 1032 min

“Commercial champions are the secret sauce.’ With Nicola McMillan

Nicola McMillan leads the High Growth Spinout Programme at Scottish Enterprise. The Programme provides funding and support to help commercialise research which has the potential to make an impact globally. A core part of this programme is matching potential companies with commercial champions.Sarah and Nicola talk aboutWhy commercial champions are the ‘secret sauce’ What makes an excellent commercial champion (and why it might not be what you think)The challenges of attracting the right people and why that is currently creating a bottleneck in the spinout processHow all partners can work together to help fill the commercial champion pipeline Connect with Nicola on LinkedInFind out about the High Growth Spinout ProgrammeFollow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedIn This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

July 22, 2025Episode 933 min

“Their mandate is to be disruptive and that can create tensions.” With Hamish McAlpine

Hamish McAlpine is Director of Policy & Engagement at innovation consultancy Oxentia. Hamish is working on a report, due out in September 2025, which explores how Scottish universities currently work with external experts to support research commercialisation and what could be done better in the future.Sarah and Hamish talk aboutThe inherit tensions between how entrepreneurs think and how universities operateHow entrepreneurs in residence are recruited, inducted, supported and deployed across universitiesThe myriad reasons why the pool of experts lacks diversityWhy Scotland is well placed to make system-wide improvementsConnect with Hamish on LinkedIn Visit Hamish’s page on the Oxentia websiteFollow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedIn This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

July 8, 2025Episode 827 min

"The spinout process is definitely not an easy one" with Nanik Ramchandani

Nanik Ramchandani is an entrepreneur with over twenty-years’ experience in the financial services industry all around the world. Now based in Edinburgh, Nanik has worked with Edinburgh Napier University for many years. He was an Entrepreneur in Residence in 2023/24 and helped establish the Scottish Centre of Excellence in Digital Trust. He is now working alongside academic co-founder Zakwan Jaroucheh to spin out cybersecurity company Lasting Asset. Sarah and Nanik talk aboutHis entrepreneurial journey and why he got involved in research commercialisationThe unique challenges of launching a university spin-out compared to a typical start-upWhy spinouts need support to get beyond proof of concept and land their first customerHow universities might attract and incentivise more commercial champions Connect with Nanik on LinkedInFind out about Nanik’s new spinout business Lasting Asset Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedIn This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

June 24, 2025Episode 731 min

“You can build anything you want if you conspire together.” With Mark Logan

Mark Logan is an entrepreneurship advocate and advisor. Formerly Mark was the Chief Operating Officer of Skyscanner and Chief Entrepreneurial Advisor to the Scottish Government. He now supports entrepreneurship education at the University of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.Sarah and Mark talk aboutHow a love of building things evolved into a love of building teams Why ‘scale-deep’ businesses need more recognition and supportEncouraging universities to take economic impact as seriously as teaching and researchThe untapped potential in Scotland's world-class creative arts sector Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedIn This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

June 10, 2025Episode 630 min

“Students are rarely taught about the social enterprise landscape.” with Kirsty Thomson

Kirsty Thomson is a charity and social enterprise consultant. She has founded several organisations including The Circle and was recently CEO of The Big House. Kirsty is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Dundee and Chair of the university’s Business School advisory committee.Kirsty and Sarah exploreHer professional journey from academic to founder and back againThe support that charity founders need to be financially sustainableWhy university students rarely learn about third-sector business modelsHow professional role models can help bridge the gap between theory and practiceConnect with Kirsty on LinkedInFollow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedIn This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

May 27, 202528 min

“How do we, as a nation, commercialise the innovation that happens in our universities.” with Polly Purvis

Polly is Chair of Converge and the Digital Xtra Fund as well as being a board member of Edinburgh Science. This follows a long career in banking, economic development and digital technology. Polly has an honorary doctorate from the University of Abertay and an OBE for services to industry.Polly and Sarah discuss:Why she has always enjoyed working at the leading edge of innovationThe challenges universities and academics face when commercialising researchHow Converge supports academic entrepreneurs across all of Scotland’s universitiesWhat Scotland might learn from looking to other countries Connect with Polly on LinkedIn or BlueSkyVisit the Converge website See the comparison of European universities DeepTech spinout value that Polly mentions.Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedInThis podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

May 13, 2025Episode 431 min

“We need bolder strategies and greater ambition.” with Mark Zwinderman

Mark Zwinderman is a strategic advisor who specialises in helping high-growth technology companies. He is CEO of SAS Environmental Services (which started as a university spinout), runs the Moonshot Factory programme at the Higgs Centre for Innovation and is a commercial champion at the University of Strathclyde. Mark shares his thoughts on:Why people and business culture matter more than the technology or productLonger-term support and mentoring for foundersWhere Scotland currently excels, but could do even better with bolder and more ambitious strategies How to recruit and better support more commercial championsConnect with Mark on LinkedInVisit the Moonshot Factory website Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedInThis podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

April 29, 2025Episode 326 min

“If the barriers aren’t broken down, we’re missing out on a lot of talent and potential.” with Diana Gormley

Diana Gormley is the Founder of business consulting firm Danu Solutions Ltd, as well as being an Entrepreneur in Residence at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.Diana explains why she wants to break down barriers and get more people involved in entrepreneurship including:The Women in Business course that helped her transition from engineering to running her own companyMaking entrepreneurial concepts and language accessible and relevant How universities can make good use of their Entrepreneurs in ResidenceWhy she thinks university staff need more access to support and opportunitiesConnect with Diana on LinkedIn or via emailFind out more about Danu Solutions Ltd Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedInThis podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

April 15, 2025Episode 231 min

“I’m able to identify pitfalls and bottlenecks.” with Christopher Leburn

Christopher Leburn is the Technology Exploitation Director for the Photonics & Quantum Accelerator (PQA) programme based at the University of Strathclyde, but working across Scotland’s central belt. He focuses on supporting and mentoring academics to boost research commercialisation.Christopher shares his vision for filling the spin-out pipeline with exciting opportunities including:Why Scotland’s central belt is perfectly placed to translate more photonics research into innovationGetting academics to think more like entrepreneursHow he champions great ideas and helps to smooth the path to commercialisationJoining the dots from research to real jobs through place-based partnerships Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn or XVisit the Photonics & Quantum Accelerator website and follow the programme on LinkedIn or X @PhotonicsQA Follow the Academic Adventures podcast on LinkedInThis podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.