Name:

Neil McLean

Organisation and role:

Social Enterprise Academy - Director

What do you like most about your current role? 

The variety of the role and meeting people interested in learning - seeing the change in people who engage in the transformational learning that is available on Academy programmes.  For some people, it's life changing stuff and it's just a privilege to share in it.

You successfully set-up your own social enterprise 'Quit&Save' to encourage smoking cessation.  Do you have any top tips for people who are thinking about becoming social entrepreneurs? 

Quit&Save wasn't ultimately sustainable, but I'm still glad I did it.  There was some huge learning along the way and I met some remarkable people.  I think my top tip is to go into it with your eyes open - find out how your strengths match the needs of the business, and go about finding the best way of filling the gaps.  There's lots of excellent support out there, but don't neglect your own personal development.  Carol Dweck talks about a "Growth Midset" (google it!) - you need one of these to set-up and run a social enterprise.

Working in the Academy you must see many success stories of people turning creative ideas into established social enterprises.  Can you share one of your favourite examples of this? 

Which song or piece of music would you want to end your funeral with?

Melancholy Blues by Queen

Who would you consider to be your all time hero?

Richard Greenleaf - combined amazing business knowledge with the principle of 'servant leadership'.  A bit geeky, but hey ...

If you had a pistol with one bullet, who or what would get it?

Bigotry of any flavour.

Which one book would you take to that desert island?

Some complete work of Chinese philosophy through the ages ... a) because it would take ages to read and b) hopefully I could find some way of managing the solitude in all that wisdom).