“Students are rarely taught about the social enterprise landscape.” with Kirsty Thomson

Jun 10, 2025
30 mins

Episode Description

Kirsty Thomson is a charity and social enterprise consultant. She has founded several organisations including The Circle and was recently CEO of The Big House. Kirsty is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Dundee and Chair of the university’s Business School advisory committee.

Kirsty and Sarah explore

  • Her professional journey from academic to founder and back again
  • The support that charity founders need to be financially sustainable
  • Why university students rarely learn about third-sector business models
  • How professional role models can help bridge the gap between theory and practice

Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn

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This podcast was a collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, Converge and Sarah McLusky, working in partnership with Ross Tuffee and The Connect-Ed Network. The podcast team includes Orla Kelly, Adam Kosterka, Jen Black and Sarah McLusky. This season of Academic Adventures is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

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