Michaela Turner

Supporting academics to deliver impact at scale from their research through company creation.

What did you do before working at Edinburgh Innovations (EI)?

I have been at EI for 15 years, since I graduated from the University of Edinburgh Business School. During my time at EI, I have worked in the consultancy team, led business engagement for a £10 million R&D AHRC creative cluster called Creative Informatics, and led on business development in the interdisciplinary group Design Informatics.

What’s the best thing about working here?

Every day is different and we get to work with some of the smartest and most passionate people in the world.

What's your favourite project that you’ve worked on? What did it accomplish?

Moving into the Venture Creation team, I asked to lead on company creation for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, where we had no prior recorded activity. Since joining the team, we have had a spinout every year from the College, with the majority established as social enterprises. 

What does innovation mean to you?  

Innovation to me means trying something new and thinking outside the box. 

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?  

Always ask questions. 

If you had one more hour in the day, how would you spend it? 

Walking on the beach with my dog, preferably with the sun shining.

Do you ever imagine yourself in another occupation? If so, which one and why?  

I find it hard to think of a better opportunity than the ones I have had at EI. After university, I really wanted to get into advertising, so maybe that. 

What might people be surprised to learn about you? 

That my first job was soldering components onto motherboards. 

What would you really like to work on at EI/UoE?

I have tried a lot of different areas and enjoy the Venture Creation the most so far. The University's venture investment fund, Old College Capital, complements what we offer, so that would be an area I would be interested in, as I could continue to work with our fantastic spinouts. 

What is your typical approach to problem-solving?  

I start with asking questions to get a wider understanding from different angles before trying to attempt a solution. It may be my dyslexia, but a wider viewpoint always helps me.