Every year, 27 June marks Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Day, which raises awareness for the importance of SMEs in both global business and the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. According to the United Nations, MSMEs account for 90% of businesses and 50% of GDP worldwide and are crucial to societies around the globe.
To commemorate the day, we’re shining a spotlight on UCL MBA alumnus Matt Gascoigne, who founded Thrive Consulting only 1 month into the programme in 2023. Thrive Consulting supports leaders and senior managers in unlocking the potential of their workforce through tailored support and workshops.
In this blog, Matt tells us all about his corporate background and the path that led him to entrepreneurship, as well as his experiences studying the UCL MBA. For Matt, the programme helped to significantly improve his confidence, helping him to take the leap into entrepreneurship. While Marketing Science and Strategy and Engaging Digital Customers were his favourite modules, Matt tells us that there isn’t a single module that he hasn’t carried forward into his business.
can you tell us about your background?
I spent 20 years in large, global corporate environments, where I cut my teeth delivering on large strategic initiatives that demanded innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship and had the budget and resources to bring these to life.
In this environment, reporting and stakeholder management were essential skills to learn and develop but the need to collect and assimilate ideas was also critical. I wanted to develop the lived experience that would allow me to offer advisory support to a portfolio of clients an ultimately progressed into the space in early 2023 when I set up my own consultancy, Thrive Consulting.
what is thrive consulting?
Thrive Consulting works with organisations to help release the potential within their workforce. We support business of all shapes and size to create the conditions, the strategies and the ways of working to deliver on strategic goals be that transformation, productivity or commercial growth.
I founded the company a month after starting my MBA (which was interesting!) in part because the MBA rekindled my passion for the entrepreneurial and gave me the confidence to get on and do. The main strategies for driving growth have been to be clear on mission and purpose, to delight our customers at every opportunity and to build up a strong ecosystem of alliance and partners where we all support each other to succeed.
do you think the ucl mba supported your entrepreneurial ambitions?
Yes, 100% it did. From a practical perspective, the programme content gives many tools, perspectives, and case studies to support entrepreneurial ambitions. This is incredibly well supported and amplified by the amazing faculty members who are quite inspirational.
Alongside that, I felt the inspiration and support from my cohort of fellow students who have and still are achieving amazing things. Having the opportunity to discuss ideas and activity with them has been worth its weight in gold.
were there any particular modules or skills from the programme that stayed with you after graduation?
The core methodology discussed in business strategy helped with the set up and focus of Thrive but equally helped build tools and ways of working that we deliver to clients.
In particular, the Marketing Science and Strategy and Engaging Digital Customers were brilliant for developing external presence. Leading Global Teams, Accounting and Finance, and Critical Leadership Decisions were crucial in best practice ideas for day-to-day operations. That said, there is not one module that I haven’t carried something into Thrive from.