Heading back to college, to talk about the future of entrepreneurship

There's something slightly surreal about standing at the front of a classroom you were sitting in just months earlier. That was my experience returning to Preston College recently to speak with current students about entrepreneurship, getting into the tech industry early, and what the jump from education to career actually looks like when you skip the conventional route.

Why I went back

Since finishing at Preston College, things have moved quickly. I've continued building my career at Knowunity, gone deep on automation and product development projects, and relocated to Germany. That trajectory — from college student to working internationally at a startup serving millions of users — happened in a timeframe that still doesn't quite feel real.

When the college invited me back to share that story, it felt like the right thing to do. Not because I've got it all figured out (I very much don't), but because the things that actually helped me get started are things that current students can act on right now.

What I talked about

I ran sessions covering three main areas.

The first was getting your foot in the door early. The conventional advice is to wait — finish your education, get qualified, then start applying. That works for some people. But if you're the type who learns by doing, waiting can actually be counterproductive. I talked about how I found opportunities before I had any credentials on paper, and what actually convinced people to give me a chance.

The second was pushing beyond the basics. College teaches you foundations. That's valuable. But the gap between "I understand this concept" and "I can build something useful with it" is where the real learning happens. I shared some practical examples of how I bridged that gap — not through formal courses, but through building things, breaking them, and iterating.

The third was making the most of your time at college. This sounds obvious, but it's easy to coast through without realising the opportunities sitting right in front of you. Societies, projects, connections with staff who have industry experience — all of it compounds in ways you don't see until later.

The best part

The highlight was getting students hands-on with Knowunity. They tested features, explored the platform, and gave feedback that was genuinely useful — not polite, performative feedback, but specific, thoughtful observations about what worked and what didn't. The calibre of questions in those rooms was impressive. Sharp, curious, and not afraid to challenge assumptions.

College gave me the foundation to make everything that followed possible. Seeing the students coming through now, I'm genuinely excited about what they'll go on to do.

Thanks to Preston College for the invite and for continuing to develop talented people. If any students from those sessions are reading this — keep building, keep asking questions, and don't wait for permission to start.