Mike Southon
The Beermat Entrepreneur, Author & Keynote speaker
Mike Southon is the Beermat Entrepreneur and is a mentor, best selling author, and keynote speaker on sales, business growth, creativity and entrepreneurship
Mikes best-selling books on entrepreneurship include – The Beermat Entrepreneur’, ‘The Boardroom Entrepreneur’ (about entrepreneurship), ‘Sales on a Beermat,’ and ‘Finance on a Beermat.’
In the 1980s, Mike Southon co-founded The Instruction Set and turned it into Europe’s leading open systems consultancy and training business, before selling the company to Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in 1989. In the 1990s, he worked with 17 start-ups, two of which, RiverSoft and Micromuse, later went public.
Mike is one of the most experienced business speakers in the world, speaking at 100 events every year, for the last ten years. He presents both in the UK and abroad to every type of audience – from start-ups to multinational corporations.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Mike’s keynote presentations explain how to be enterprising, whether you are starting a new business or work in a large organisation. Keynotes include –
• Something About The Beatles – Mike uses The Beatles as an example of how to be creative and entrepreneurial, explaining how to overcome the challenges you will face along the way. Something About The Beatles is highly inspiring, entertaining and informative keynote presentation. The presentation is full of great music, and practical learning points from Mike’s twin careers as a highly successful serial entrepreneur and professional musician, all delivered with energy, style, and humour.
• Something About Sir Richard Branson
How the UK’s most successful entrepreneur turns good ideas into great businesses
Combined with his extensive research and in-depth interviews with key members of the Virgin Group, Mike has developed a unique perspective on the successes (and failures!) of the UK’s most famous entrepreneur.
• Sales on a Beermat (Sales for Non-Salespeople) – Mike shows how everybody can sell, featuring material from the best-selling book, Sales on a Beermat.
• Business on a Beermat – This is a specially designed presentation for FSB Regions, Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Director’s branches, Local Enterprise Partnerships or anyone looking to support SMEs in their local area.
Mike's presentation did exactly what it claims – it helped us double our sales in three months
— The National Computing Centre
Wisdom without jargon: practical, practicable advice for the would-be entrepreneur
— Cobra Beer
97% of delegates said they were inspired by Mike’ Southon’s presentation.
— Business Link for South Yorkshire