About Oli Barrett
Bio:
Oli is a founder of the Co-Sponsorship Agency, helping companies and causes around the world to create social action projects. He started Make Your Mark with a Tenner, the scheme which has challenged over 50,000 school pupils to see what they achieve in a just a month, starting with £10. Described by Wired Magazine as “the most connected man in Britain”, he brought Speednetworking to the UK and has hosted events in 12 countries. He leads regular trade missions to San Francisco, helping British companies to pitch for funding and explore business opportunities. Oli’s earlier entrepreneurial career included a student headhunting business, an international language practice website (sold in 2008) and a sock subscription website, which now ships to more than 15 countries. He spent two years on the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action, has written for various publications and blogs on his own site at OliBarrett.com.
Quick Links
Web Mission and Clean and Cool Mission
Wired Magazine article (‘The Most Connected Man in Britain’)
Brief background
- Co-Founder of the Co-Sponsorship Agency (2010-present)
- 2 years on the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action (2007-2009)
- Co-Founded Web Mission and Clean and Cool Mission (sponsored trade missions to Silicon Valley)
- Founded Make Your Mark with a Tenner (UK enterprise scheme loaning school pupils £10)
- Brought Speed Networking to the UK and hosted hundreds of events in 12 countries
- Became a shareholder in several start-ups including language practice site Friends Abroad (sold in Nov 2008) and product subscription site SockRush (still shipping to 20 countries)
- Have written for publications including The Daily Telegraph, Spectator Business and Growing Business Magazine
- Co-Founded The Rainmakers (ventures and consultancy)
- Launched first business at University (student headhunting and events company, Amazingyou)
- Started at two universities (Edinburgh and Leeds)
- Became a Butlin Redcoat (Summer Season, Minehead, UK)
- Work experience in TV (BBC and Hit Entertainment)
- Worked at Disney World in Florida on Cultural Representative Programme
- Fellow of the RSA
- Fellow of the British American Project
Things I love:
- Connecting people and ideas
- Hosting events
- Photography
- Listening to music (and making playlists of dubious quality)
- Playing the piano (preferably surrounded by friends)
- Working with teams of passionate, dedicated people to make things happen.
- Creating cross-sectoral partnerships which solve big problems in new, imaginative ways
Testimonials;
From Speed Mentoring event, designed and facilitated for NABS -National Advertising Benevolent Society – (November 2010)
“Thanks to Oli Barrett and the Co-Sponsorship team, the advertising industry’s first ever Speed Mentoring event was a huge success. His leadership and motivational skills encouraged a broad mix of delegates to trial a new format in business networking with 20 mentors and 100 mentees asking questions across a breadth of subjects in timed breakouts. Feedback from the evening included plaudits from Tim Brooks (Media Guardian) Moray Maclennan (global CEO at M&C Saatchi) and many others commenting on the breadth of questions and fresh insights gained by all. Oli’s facilitation of the evening was a key catalyst ensuring the right balance of socializing and learning.”
Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive, NABS
From Speech (‘How To Build an Effective Network’) to Coutts clients and staff (December 2010)
“We’ve had such positive feedback from your session that I wanted to feedback to you.
Here are some of the comments received…”‘Oli was a fantastic speaker and his words of wisdom were timely and extremely helpful’
‘Oli was an amazing speaker, full of interesting pointers not just for work but for life too’
‘Oli’s talk and advice is very useful for my job’
‘ The evening really was such fun and we thought Oli was great! Very insightful and encouraging!’
’Oli was a great speaker and got the room involved very well.’
From Facilitation work with the British Council (2010)
“From 20-25 June 2010 as Master of Ceremonies for the British Council’s Transatlantic Network 2020 summit in Chicago, Oli struck the perfect note. Managing a group of 100 people is difficult under any circumstances, especially one as diverse as the members of TN2020. Oli managed them incredibly well during a 6 day long, challenging, multi-dimensional programme. He is personable, flexible, willing, and highly competent – in short, he did a terrific job, as feedback from the TN2020 members themselves attests. We highly recommend Oli, and would not hesitate to work with him in the future.”
‘Oli Barrett was an important element and driver of the activities and the moments of this summit’
‘Bring back Oli! The summit wouldn’t have been the same without his energy – he really embodied the spirit of TN2020 – he was so approachable and sweet!’
‘Oli Barrett was a fantastic facilitator’
‘Oli really made the difference and to me contributed to make the magic happen during this week. His positive energy, his humbleness, his expertise and skills allowed us to connect on a very human level; he managed to make us feel equal and optimistic and curious about one another, which is what a facilitator must do. I learnt a great, great deal watching him and talking to him and I will definitely use some tricks he came with during the sessions. Thanks Oli ’
From WebMission (trade mission to San Francisco)
“Web Mission 2009 was a tremendously valuable and insightful week, packed with an agenda that led some of the UK’s most exciting B2B web & mobile companies to the global hub of our industry. Oli planned and directed the mission with extreme professionalism and purpose and ensured that we all maximized the many opportunities that greeted us on the trip. Oli’s drive is inspiring, his energy levels contagious and his rolodex the envy of many an entrepreneur! Oli is the Richard Branson of networking and he is relentlessly dedicated to, and unerringly successful at, making great things happen at work.”
David Cruickshank, Co-founder of Business IT Online
From Clean and Cool Mission 2010
“Oli was a fantastic communicator and a real asset to have on the 2010 Clean and Cool Mission. He not only helped our team socialise, but has followed up after the event with valuable connections and insights.”
Gavin Starks, Founder and CEO, AMEE
From Compering and Speed Networking Hosting, 2010;
“Oli compered an event for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization in support of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Without a doubt he was a huge contributor to the success of the event. He struck the perfect balance of humour, thought-provoking questioning of our panelists, and encouraging audience participation. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Oli again, and recommend him unreservedly!”
EO (The Entrepreneurs Organization , November 2010)
“Everywhere he goes, people know Oli. It’s astounding. It is easy to assume this is because Oli is officially the ‘most connected man in Britain’, and this may be true. But it’s more than that. Oli is the consumate networking professional: highly personnable; thoroughly engaging; immensely entertaining; and, through noteable research and education, incredibly thought-provoking. Whether as a connection-maker, compere, key-note speaker or ‘man with ideas’, Oli is someone everyone should know. And most do.”
Simon Lewis, founder, Only Marketing Jobs
From hosting Speed Networking at a major Government event;
“At Civil Service Live Oli Barrett provided powerful networking opportunities over the three days. Some delegates and visitors said this was the most valuable feature of the event. Oli’s professionalism, advice, contagious enthusiasm and intelligent understanding of his audiences’ needs and objectives means he really does make networking happen for anyone.
Oli’s creates an environment that breaks down barriers both across groups and roles. The most senior engaging with the most junior, making sure the conversations were always lively and engaging.
We would like to thank him for his important input to this high profile event. I would recommend any organisation wishing to get there audience to network to use Oli Barrett.”
Kevin Sorkin, Managing Director, Civil Service Live
See more testimonials on Linkedin
