Catherine-Anne Blaikie

Ms Catherine Blaikie, from running a successful multimillion pound division for an American corporation with global sales of over $3Billion to losing everything, turned her rock bottom into a gift and adventure of a lifetime. From competing in one of the most demanding physical tests of her life, racing across Central America for The Prince’s Trust she went on to become an inspiring mentor and business coach empowering many young people with the launch of their own enterprises.

However after many years in the commercial sector Catherine decided to follow her passion and wish to work with young people traveling overseas to partner with an NGO based in Tanzania in East Africa where she fell in love with not only the country but the people and the communities which she became very much a part of.

Partnering with universities and community leaders to secure support and funding for provision of educational facilities for communities in rural areas across Tanzania, Blaikie went on to secure national media coverage with the biggest media house in East Africa; Clouds Media.

Despite contracting malaria several times, having to give evidence in court as a result of being mugged and physically assaulted in addition to finding herself homeless, Ms Blaikie continued her missionary launching a national media and marketing campaign which featured on East African TV & radio interviews to help raise awareness using her business development, networking and project management skills to secure financial investment from a number of organisations including Abel and Fernandes Communications, Coca Cola and Regional Chairpersons. These vital funds saved the children from eviction and the threat of violence, sexual exploitation and a life on the streets. On her return to the UK she continued tirelessly campaigning and fund- raising, embarking on an extreme challenge completing her first ever solo skydive from 10,000 feet descending speeds of 129 miles an hour.

Ms Blaikie has brought her commercial knowledge, experience and passion to improve the lives of many people through opening up employment opportunities and providing business and entrepreneurial support for young people through her work with many people at the margin of society. She urges people to find their entrepreneurial passion and God-given purpose in life, to dig deep and look within, seeking whatever help they need regardless of their circumstances. She is a living testament that through adversity not only are we given an opportunity to discover the strength of our spirit, we are also given the gift of foresight so we could shine a light for others going through challenges on this journey of life. ‘

Co Founder & CEO RONPE (Richtopia’s Office of Non Public Education)

Whilst in Tanzania she went on a missionary to save 49 orphans from eviction using her business development, networking and project management skills launching a national campaign called ‘ Voice of A Child’ securing financial investment from a number of organisations including Abel and Fernandes Communications, Coco Cola and Regional Chairpersons. On her return to the UK she continued campaigning and fundraising, embarking on an extreme challenge to complete her first ever solo skydive from 10,000 feet at descending speeds of 129 miles an hour.

Her long term vision is to complete the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course and secure sponsorship to take on the Eigar making the impossible, possible and inspiring and empowering even more young people to believe in themselves by changing their mindsets breaking through their own limiting beliefs enabling them to become global disruptors!

Through her work with young people at the margin of society, Catherine has brought her commercial knowledge, experience and passion to improve the lives of many others through opening up employment opportunities and providing business and entrepreneurial support for young people.

Catherine’s energy and commitment to make a difference in people’s lives is outstanding which is why she was awarded a Lift Effects Global Star Award as one of the top 100 women across the globe shining the light for others to follow and making a difference in our communities in the UK and internationally.

Catherine urges everyone to find there entrepreneurial passion and purpose in life, to dig deep, to look within, and seek whatever help they need as she is living testament that once you find your purpose and passion in life, your life not just your entrepreneurial life, but your entire life will never be the same again!

Catherine is part of our UK and International team at Enterprise Lab working on a number of projects across the globe impacting lives and disrupting the mindsets of young people across Africa.