Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs workshop with Kwoklyn Wan

Kwoklyn Wan

One of the highlights of DMU life has to the be the wonderfully diverse mix of global cultures represented on campus. This vibrant cultural mix offers huge potential for cultural ‘fusion’, especially when it comes to perhaps the most important topic of all – food! It was this ‘culinary fusion’ that played the starring role when Prime Video presenter, Entrepreneur and author Kwoklyn Wan joined an enthusiastic group of DMU students in Kimberlin Library to lead a special Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs creative industries workshop.  

Students present their ideas back to Kwoklyn and fellow attendees

Leicester legend Kwoklyn perfectly embodies that magic quality of ‘adaptability’ found amongst so many of his fellow entrepreneurs. Whether as a professional chef, TV presenter, or kung-fu instructor, he is a man who ‘wears many hats’.  A champion for new entrepreneurial talent, Kwoklyn has long been a supporter of DMU Made’s work, having spoken at our long-running Connect networking series and leading a creative workshop on freelancing in the tv industry, previously.

The DMU Made ‘Creative Industries Workshop’ event was devised to support the work of De Montfort University’s Access and Participation Plan, which aims to improve access, success, and progression for under-represented groups within our diverse student population. The focus of the day was to encourage the DMU students in attendance to sharpen a range of vital entrepreneurial skills and Graduate Attributes via an in-depth, interactive and highly-creative challenge. Like so many DMU Made sessions, Kwoklyn’s workshop was engaging and fun, with students let loose on an inspiring brief to invent their own delicious ‘fusion cuisine’ in small groups. As the session progressed, we witnessed outstanding examples of collaboration and creativity, with the groups carefully devising precise culinary elements, costings and marketing strategies.

The DMU Graduate Attributes

Having brainstormed, debated and strategised to fine-tune their scrumptious schemes for success, the teams then pitched their ideas back to the room. Kwoklyn had high praise for each student’s inventiveness, team-work and problem-solving. Key skills like these (essential for entrepreneurial or freelancing success) are also invaluable within our wider careers, studies and day-to-day lives, so any opportunities to sharpen them should be embraced:

-        Are you a DMU student or recent graduate with a creative idea of your own you’d like to pitch to DMU Made, for the chance to win £100? Book one of our Pitch2 Win slots!

-        Would you like to sharpen your skills for entrepreneurship, freelancing and self-employment this summer? Register for our FREE DMU Made Online Summer School