to thewind? Caution - University of Edinburgh Business School

editor’s commentcontentsThe School ishere to help20Welcome to the second issue ofAluminate featuring the new brand ofthe School. Many thanks to those ofyou who got in touch following the Octoberissue. It was great to get such positivefeedback from readers. It was also rewardingto receive external feedback earlier thisyear when Aluminate was shortlisted forBest External Magazine in the BritishAssociation of Communicators in Business(CiB) Scotland awards.Over the past few months, an increasingnumber of you have got in touch, both herein the UK and overseas, to let us know theimpact that the current recession is having on‘IT WAS REWARDING TO RECEIVE EXTERNAL FEEDBACKEARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN ALUMINATE WASSHORTLISTED FOR BEST EXTERNAL MAGAZINE INTHE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNICATORSIN BUSINESS SCOTLAND AWARDS’Jane Crawfordyour careers. It is obviously a difficult time formany of you, and the School is always happy tohelp, particularly if you are facing uncertaintyor redundancy. The career and personaldevelopment team here in the School are ableto continue to offer support both in personand over the telephone. This can range fromone-to-one career advice through topsychometric testing and diagnostics. Furtherdetails can be found on page 17.For those of you who have already chosento leave a company and perhaps set up onyour own, securing an investment for yourbusiness is likely to be tougher than ever, sohave a look at the article by Malcolm Good(Class of 1997) on page 24 on delivering thebest pitch. The feature includes tips from ourEntrepreneur in Residence, Gavin Don.Equally, taking some time out may prove tobe an option for some of you. Ellen Crabtree(Class of 1995) did just that when she movedher life from Edinburgh to Johannesburg toIf you no longer wish to receive future issues of thismagazine, please contact the Alumni Officer:University of Edinburgh Business School, 7 BristoSquare, Edinburgh EH8 9AL. Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 9840Email: alumni@business-school.ed.ac.ukThe views expressed in Aluminate are not necessarilyembark on a period of volunteering withVSO. Working at the Reproductive Healthand HIV Research Unit at the University ofthe Witwatersrand, she immediately put herMBA skills into use. She is enjoying the job somuch, she has already committed to stayingfor a third year. Read her story on page 28.Given the economic situation, it is ofcourse a difficult time for our currentMBA students hoping to secure internshipsand subsequent employment following theirstudies. We were therefore grateful to anumber of alumni who recently came intothe School to give presentations to thestudents about their experiences in threeindustry sectors: finance, consultancyand oil and gas.Companies represented included BaillieGifford, Scottish Investment Trust, Deloitte,Prudential, Cap Gemini, BP and MelroseResources. Feedback was very positive fromthe students and we hope to run similarsessions for the new intake in the autumn. Ifyou are based locally and would like to beinvolved, please get in touch.Following on from the feature in the lastissue on the business impact of climatechange, this time the focus is riskmanagement, again a topic of particularrelevance to all of us at the present time. Turnto page 20 to learn more. My thanks to thealumni who were interviewed for the feature.The School has launched a new Masters inFinance and Risk with the first intakeexpected in September. Despite the economicdownturn, the Director of the programmebelieves that there will be plenty ofopportunities for graduates from theprogramme, as companies restructure toincorporate more relevant risk positions.Wishing you all stability in your careers inthe months ahead.Jane CrawfordEditorthose of the University of Edinburgh Business School.Magazine design by Connect Communications.The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body,registered in Scotland, with registration numberSC005336.‘I DON’T FEEL LIKEA VOLUNTEER“IMPLANT”,BUT RATHERCOMPLETELY ATHOME, AS IF THISIS WHAT I’MMEANT TO BEDOING. I HAVE THEMBA TO THANK INPART FOR THEEASE WITH WHICHI’VE MADE THISTRANSITION’Ellen CrabtreeSee page 28SCHOOL NEWSHead of Schoolreport 4News 5Events 10INTERNATIONALAlumni groups 12An insider’s viewof Singapore 14Where in theworld – Dubai 15PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENTKeeping in touch 16Keep your networkalive from the otherside of the worldThe art of givingeffective feedback 18How focusing on the softerside of feedback can paydividends with staffBUSINESSDEVELOPMENT14‘REMEMBER THAT THE UNLIKELY CANHAPPEN AND IF IT IS CATASTROPHICYOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH IT’Peter DalzielSee page 20Perfect pitch 24How effective preparationand delivery can helpsecure investment31SPECIAL FEATURESRisky business 20As the economic outlookchanges, companies willneed to rethink theirapproach to riskMaking abig change 28One alumnus downshiftsfor a fulfilling role inSouth AfricaRESEARCHNews andpublications 26Emotional finance, casestudy success and newbooks from School staffPEOPLEOn the ball 31An alumnus balances hiswork and home lifewith refereeingTogether again 32Old friends arebrought together atthree reunionsObituaries 33Where are they now? 34Wedding bells 37New arrivals 382 | aluminate | april 2009 www.alumninet.man.ed.ac.ukwww.alumninet.man.ed.ac.uk april 2009 | aluminate | 3