OPEN London - launch event
20th of October was OPEN-London's chapter launch, a resounding success. 240 individuals came together to bring about an evolutionary leap for the London Chapter of OPEN global; a not-for-profit organization, whose focus is promotion of entrepreneurship and professional growth.
A secular and non-political organization with prosperity and growth as its raison d'être. 57% of all registered delegates attended, 42% of whom were students and 124 professionals representing British economy across the board; the NHS, BBC, Deutsche Bank, KPMG, Citigroup, BP, Oliver Wyman, Telereal Trillium, Vodafone, CPA Global, Deloitte, Marriot, Saudi Aramco, StudentFunder, BPP and the list goes on and on.51% were women; including the founder of CARE Foundation, partners at law firms, consultancies, doctors, startup entrepreneurs, teachers in London, educational reformists to OFSTED employees. From hijabs, traditional garbs to skirts and suits.
On day zero in June 2011 it was four near strangers at Smith and Nephew's offices on Adam Street in London, this past weekend it was 240 representing technology, finance, social transformation and the healthcare sector. From industry leaders, rising stars, established, growing to wobbling entrepreneurs, a former prime minister to a Hollywood star the entire spectrum was covered.
Though LA, Washington DC, New York, Manchester, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Canterbury were represented it was mostly a London affair.Keynote speakers included Seema Aziz of Care Foundation; educating 150,000 children studying in 225 schools, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Shaukat Aziz and Faran Tahir; of StarTrek, Elysium, Iron Man and most recently Escape Plan fame. There were four separate breakout sessions covering social entrepreneurship, technology, finance and healthcare with an equally impressive line up of panellists. The Alexander Fleming building of the Imperial College London was a fitting venue for the launch, Pioneers of sorts hosted in a building named after an epic pioneer himself.
OPEN London - to learn, share, connect, improve, seize and grow; individually, as a community in London and beyond.
