Ken Valledy

Speaker

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Bio

Ken Valledy is a seasoned entrepreneur and author of The Startup Lexicon, a must-read guide for navigating the language of startups. After a successful career in senior marketing roles for some of the biggest brands, Ken founded his own business. His company specialised in forging meaningful, world-wide, partnerships between cutting edge start-ups and large corporations, including Mercedes, P&G, Kimberly-Clark and Haleon. That company was acquired by the Anthesis Group in October 2023.

Beyond his corporate-startup expertise, Ken is a dedicated mentor, providing guidance across multiple accelerator programs such as Techstars, BlockDojo, and EASI. A sought-after speaker and panellist, he frequently shares his insights at leading business and start-up conferences.

Before venturing into the world of startups, Ken had over 15 years FMCG/CPG Brand Marketing experience and was a former Brand Director / Consumer Connections Director (Western Europe) at ABInBev. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. In 2022, Ken's first book, The Startup Lexicon became a bestseller.

Ken bridges the worlds of corporates, startups, innovation and inspiration - having worked with some of the biggest brands in the world - including AB InBev, Barclays, Amazon, Google, O2, American Express, P&G, Mercedes, GSK and many others.

Speaking Topics

The Great Escape

Many people with ideas for a great business stay stuck in an unfulfilling corporate job, waiting for retirement to arrive. They’re trapped on a gilded treadmill of salary, status, and perks. They fear that stepping off will crash their lifestyle or their credibility and will be too much of a financial risk.” That’s why Ken has launched “The Great Escape”, a bold new initiative designed to help mid-career professionals take back control of their futures and start their own businesses, either as a side hustle or a full-time venture, without putting their financial future at risk. With his infectious personality, quick wit, and real, pragmatic solutions, he makes the journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship both exciting and achievable.

Ten Words That Will Shape Your Future

In this thought-provoking talk, Ken will delve into the fundamental tech words that are pivotal in comprehending the intricate landscape of the future. As we hurtle towards a world driven by technological advancements, it becomes increasingly crucial to grasp the language that underpins these transformative innovations. From artificial intelligence to blockchain, quantum computing to virtual reality, the future is being shaped by an array of cutting-edge technologies that demand our attention. During this enlightening session, he will demystify these complex concepts, breaking them down into accessible language that empowers individuals to navigate the future with confidence. By understanding these tech words, we gain a valuable lens through which we can interpret the transformative changes unfolding around us, enabling us to make informed decisions, embrace new opportunities, and actively participate in shaping the world of tomorrow. Sessions can be tailored for specific industries or requirements - from finance to CPG and beyond.

When Startups Meet Corporates

Ken has seen the good, the bad and the very ugly when it comes to collaboration between innovative startups and scaleups with large corporates. In this engaging talk, filled with practical examples, tips and pitfalls, he will talk about how founders and executives can prepare themselves to work together in a more coherent and cohesive way - with a real focus on tactical tips and suggested timelines to help both sides realize their goals. Attendees will come away with a new appreciation for how to think about these types of partnerships, whether they should even think about them at all and crucially - how to think about KPIs, the quirks on both the startup and corporate side of things and how to start with the end in mind to ensure a successful outcome.