Samantha Graham joined Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP as Enterprise Network Manager in September 2024. As the newest member of the team, we asked her a few questions to learn more about her.
- What does your role involve?
My role is all about supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs based at Norwich Research Park on their journey to gaining access to seed funding. I’ll be setting up various programmes, that will involve increasing opportunities to connect and collaborate with other start-ups and cofounders, support providers and business advisors.
- What is your favourite thing about your role?
I’ve been in the role for just 3 weeks, but I can already tell that I am going to love so much about this job. I love to meet new people and to build genuine connections so I’m really enjoying getting to know the businesses on the park and understanding their challenges. I’m really looking forward to collaborating with providers and advisors and putting in place initiatives that will make a real difference to the start-ups based here.
- What is challenging about your role?
The needs of every business I support are very different, so my challenge is to find common threads between them and to implement initiatives that are going to make real impact. I’m also not a scientist, so you’ll often lose me when it gets too technical.
- Where have you worked before?
Before coming to NRP I spent 20 years working in marketing and brand management for large corporates, including 3M, Twining’s and Johnson & Johnson. I’ve always enjoyed bringing new products to market and developing the marketing strategy for the portfolios I’ve managed. More recently I’ve worked at the UEA Norwich Business School in the MBA team.
- An interesting fact about yourself?
I spent the last 2 years studying Art and Design part-time – I paint, sculpt, draw and print, taking inspiration from nature and people. I’m happiest mooching around a gallery, or painting in the company of other artists.
- What do you like to do outside of work?
I love hanging out with my family and friends, playing with my 2 young children and our labrador puppy. You’ll often find us out on our bikes, or on foot, in the forest or by the sea. We have a camper van called Rosie Re and take her out on plenty of adventures. I love to travel far and wide and experience as much of the world as possible.
