Mike Southon
Mike co-founded The Instruction Set, a training and software business which grew from three to 150 people in five years and was then acquired by Cap Gemini Ernst and Young. He then worked on two start-ups which eventually both went public, and a number which didn't. Since the first publication of The Beermat Entrepreneur in 2002 he has spoken at over a thousand events all over the world and provided free, face-to-face mentoring to over 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs.
When he's not being The Beermat Entrepreneur at live events, Mike helps any type of company refine their elevator pitches, test their sales models and grow their sales.
"Mike is more than Quite Interesting. He spreads insight and cheerfulness in equal measure, like an ambidextrous chef icing two cakes at once." - John Lloyd, producer of QI, Not the Nine o'Clock News, Spitting Image and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Chris West
Chris is a professional writer. His first book, Journey to the Middle Kingdom, was published in 1991, and he has had over 20 books published since, in various genres. The Dragon Awakens is a quartet of crime novels set in 1990s China. Eurovision! tells the story of modern Europe through the lens of the Eurovision Song Contest. Perfect Written English is a guide to good, clear writing. he is co-author of the Beermat Guides to sales, finance and marketing for small businesses. He has also worked in the City, in marketing and PR for the Norwich-based MK group, and has advised start-up enterprises.
Chris works with subject-matter experts to turn their knowledge into lively, accessible books. He is a member of United Ghostwriters, a group of top professionals in this field.