Scotland has been a place known for and associated with innovation for centuries. It is a history that we are proud of and want to preserve, but in its very truest sense that means we need to embrace the new and look to the future.
This is a premise that resonates across Saxton Bampfylde in our approach to leadership development, talent identification and cultural growth. We are very proud to be working more closely with a number of leaders and organisations in sectors which are innovating and bringing positive, sustainable approaches to more traditional industries, as well as new and emerging areas of potentially seismic change, such as AI.
In this context we have selected two interviewees for this edition who we believe reflect this innovative mindset and are striving to embed new ideas, practices and technologies into their industries. Paddy Fletcher is a entrepreneur, who alongside his co-founder Ian Stirling, has most definitely aimed high in the whisky industry. With the completion of Scotland’s first vertical whisky distillery in 2023 – the Port of Leith Distillery – a huge milestone was achieved, after a long journey to secure investment. He shares the origins of the business, challenges along the way, his commitment to shared values, and why more should be done to support entrepreneurialism to enable innovation.
We also had the opportunity to hear from Isabel Parker, Chief Innovation Officer at White & Case, as she shared her thoughts on the significant transformation potential of AI for the legal industry. Isabel provides an honest and considered view on various different scenarios arising from AI and technology more broadly across a typically traditional sector, and presents really interesting potential outcomes.
Earlier this month, we enjoyed shining the spotlight on another great passion in Scotland; rugby. We had the pleasure of welcoming guests to hear from former Scottish rugby internationals Chris Paterson MBE and Stuart McInally, both of whom captained the national team a decade apart, to learn from them about leadership styles, on and off the pitch, and how they have transitioned their careers beyond sport. This event, hosted by Saxton Bampfylde’s Siân Brown, was held in partnership with Switch the Play Foundation – a charity which supports professional athletes moving into new careers post-retirement from national and international sporting careers.
And lastly, but certainly not least, Mary Few, the newly promoted Head of our Scotland office reflects on her career to date, ambitions for the Scotland team and support for clients, existing and future, to support innovative and expanding industries across the region.
We do hope you enjoy this edition and welcome any feedback you may have.
Mary & Siân
