Doug Richard

Doug Richard

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Entrepreneurs
Leadership Speakers
Technology Speakers

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Doug Richard Biography

Doug Richard is a hugely popular business speaker, motivational speaker, inspirational speaker and when the mood is right, an amusing anecdotal after dinner speaker. His wry, candid, practical and upbeat courses in how to start a business quickly, with a minimum of outside investment and how to market and grow a business efficiently make him a sought after speaker.

Background and career

A successful entrepreneur with over 20 years' experience in the development and leadership of technology and software ventures, Doug featured in the first two TV series of Dragons’ Den. He is an active angel investor, the Founder of School for Startups, was Chairman of the Conservative Party Small Business Task Force, is non-executive director of BrightPearl Software Love2scoot . Between 1996 and 2000 Doug was President and CEO of Micrografx, a US publicly quoted software company. Prior to that he also founded and subsequently sold two other companies: Visual Software and ITAL Computers.

Doug holds a BA in Psychology from University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor at the school of Law, University of California at Los Angeles. In 2006 Doug was the first American to receive The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, in 2007 he became a fellow of the RSA. In 2009 Doug received an Honorary Doctorate of the University of Essex for his contribution to entrepreneurship education. In 2010 Doug was awarded Enterprise Educator of the Year. In 2010 and 2011 he was a guest lecturer on Entrepreneurship at Cambridge University for the Nanotech Masters and PHD programme.

Doug has always been a champion for startups and small businesses. Even before founding School for Startups he actively mentored, coached and supported many entrepreneurs. In 2008, after teaching a one day class in entrepreneurship, Doug decided to found an enterprise dedicated to helping people start better, more profitable, businesses. Since 2008 he has taught thousands in face to face and online classes across the UK.

Doug runs wry, candid, practical and upbeat courses in how to start a business quickly, with a minimum of outside investment and how to market and grow a business efficiently make him a sought after speaker.

In the words of Doug, “Entrepreneurship can be taught and must be learned.”

Speaking Topics

• The successful entrepreneur
• How to build a business that lasts
• The future is a Teenage Girl in Tokyo
• The Biggest Mistake I Ever Made (How he made his fortune, lost it and made it back again)
• Everything You Need to Know to Start a Business in an Hour (Think: Reduced Shakespeare Company for Business)
• What Comes Next (The next big things in technology, media and the Internet
• How to Make Social Media Stand Up and Dance for You (Tip,Tricks and Insights into how social media can be exploited to grow a business)
• The Five Best/Worst Business Pitches

For further information or to book Doug Richard, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Read full biography

Doug Richard Video

Doug Richard Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Doug Richard. For more information on Doug Richard please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Doug Richard News

A selection of relevant news related to Doug Richard, After Dinner Speakers and Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Entrepreneurs, Leadership Speakers and Technology Speakers stories. For more information on Doug Richard or details as to how to book Doug Richard for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Peter Jones, Claire Young and Luke Johnson Attend Entrepreneur Festival

22nd September 2011

TV Dragons and keynote speakers Doug Richard and Peter Jones CBE are inspiring young entrepreneurs at the MADE festival in Sheffield, alongside Apprentice star and entrepreneur Claire Young. The UK’s premiere festival for entrepreneurs is set to make the business stars of tomorrow.

Doug Richard focuses on the creative sector in new programme to help entrepreneurs

8th August 2011

Doug is launching a new programme to mentor entrepreneurs in creative industries in London at part of his School for Startups social enterprise. It is the first time he has focussed on a specific industry and location.

A New Era of Coalitions - Keynote speakers who speak together

13th May 2010

In this new era of coalitions, Speakers Corner could discuss the potential dawn of a new phase of politics but we prefer to take a look at some of our favourite speakers who have joined together to create excellent double speaking acts for any conference or event

Young entrepreneurs find innovative use of security system and the backing of Dragon Doug Richard

19th October 2009

Two young entrepreneurs, Pilgrim Beart and Adrian Critchlow founded the security company Alertme in 2006. With the backing of Tudor Investments introduced by BBC Dragons' Den Doug Richard, they have now entered the domestic energy efficiency market. With the envirnomental and sustainability message becoming more prolific, this could prove to be a very lucrative move

Dragons Den returns for a sixth series

22nd July 2008

As Dragons Den returns for its sixth series, we at Speakers Corner thought it would be good to do a quick recap on what happened in all the previous series.

James Caan steps into the new Dragon Hot seat

16th October 2007

Captains of industry are again preparing themselves as Dragons' Den returns to our screens

Reality TV making celebrities of entrepreneurs

7th November 2005

Thanks to the lure of TV and a keen audience for reality programmes, a growing number of Britain’s entrepreneurs are discovering that it is possible to have fame as well as fortune.

The Apprentice Returns for 2013

8th May 2013

The 2013 series of The Apprentice has begun and Lord Alan Sugar had this year’s hopefuls selling a host of items including toilet roll, high visibility jackets and Chinese lucky cat statuettes.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins Fifth World Title

7th May 2013

Snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins to win the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Self-Help Books; A Billion Dollar Industry

30th April 2013

Self-help books are increasingly popular among the British public than ever before and an increased number of us are turning to self help books in the hope that they will solve lives problems.

Doug Richard Reviews

Doug Richard has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Doug Richard for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Doug Richard for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Very entertaining, especially evident as the last speaker of the day and he had everyone listening and laughing throughout his session. Out of 29 evaluation forms he was rated either very good or excellent on both speaking ability and topic rating. Doug did state at the start of his speech that he was going to veer from his briefed subject topics slightly and I think it was an excellent decision as delegates were too tired for a heavy learning session. Doug's experience as a speaker definately showed through and I would have no hesitation recommending him.
Out There Events

Doug went down a storm this morning - everyone really enjoyed his speech and he was a real asset to the event. And so nice! I was expecting to be a little bit afraid of him having seen him on Dragon's Den but he really was lovely!
Morrow Communications

Doug was fantastic and the sponsors and students were all delighted to meet him and hear his views etc. So please pass on my sincerest thanks for all his input. It was really great.
Enterprise Ireland

Just to let you know RBS were delighted with Doug’s presentation yesterday, they felt it hit the right note for the techies and non-techies and was thought provoking. They also thought he was a very nice person.
RBS

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank Doug and yourself for supporting our Exec Briefing event. Doug was brilliant. He was so well received. His speech was engaging, relevant, substantial and humorous – he delivered our message perfectly. We are extremely grateful.
Microsoft UK

Our coaches were very interested to hear about your successes, including the highs and lows of your own entrepreneurial career. Thanks for coming to share your experience in a straightforward and inspirational way.
UK Sport - Elite Coaches Programme

Q & A with Doug Richard

Doug Richard answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Doug Richard for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Speakers Corner: How did working in the corporate sector start?

Doug Richard: Well, I graduated from Berkeley with a degree in Psychology, and then subsequently from UCLA with a degree in law. Throughout my school years I took a bunch of odd jobs, ranging from ice cream truck man to yacht delivery guy. In the process I discovered I really disliked having a boss. Words cannot express how true that statement is. So after school I and my brother Ken decided to start our own business which we called ITAL Business Computer Systems. We subsequently became one of the largest CAD resellers on the west coast. That dovetailed into Visual Software, which I subsequently sold to Micrographx. I quickly became CEO of that company and then sold it to Corel. So, depending on how one defines "working in the corporate sector" I either started with Mr. Frosty or with my brother at Ital or at Micrographx.

Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?

Doug Richard: I've been running businesses for so long, and I've been asked to speak so often, that I don't really think I can. I'm sure it must have been when I was running ITAL. I can say that as Founder of School for Startups I'm fortunate enough to speak several times a week and to many thousands of people every year.

Speakers Corner: And your last event?

Doug Richard: I just ran a series of boot camps for entrepreneurs in Wales that taught entrepreneurs how to market their businesses more effectively online.

Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?

Doug Richard: That's like asking a father which of his children he likes best. I'm in the enviable position of being able to spend every single day doing work I enjoy very much and that I'm deeply passionate about.

Speakers Corner: How would you describe the entrepreneur's attitude to risk?

Doug Richard: That question makes me smile. One of the reasons I love entrepreneurs is that they are usually too driven to take much account of risk at all. When they are very young they ignore risk completely as they probably should. As they age and take a tumble or two they get better at assessing where a venture might run off the rails and learn how to take steps to prevent that. But, generally speaking, entrepreneurs can't wait to get into the lions den. That's one of the reasons I like working with them so much. Helping entrepreneurs build better, stronger, more profitable businesses lets me work with very daring, very innovative, very hard working people every single day.

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