Does it even make sense to go to university anymore?

Michael has been investing in startups for nearly a decade, both as a VC and angel investor. Prior to Ada Ventures Michael was a CFO at a fintech startup as it scaled from seed to Series A, working alongside the cofounders across operations, product, and fundraising. A self-taught programmer and Oxford MBA, Michael is energised by technical founders who are obsessed with what technology can bring to the world. He’s also naturally curious: From teaching himself Ruby and Python, to writing four published books, or powering through a 100-day crash course in AI & ML.

Lauretta Asak is a Manager in the Talent team at Monzo, with a focus on hiring, inclusion and community building. She’s also Co-Chair of Black Monzo, supporting and championing the Black and mixed-Black community.

Through partnerships, events and talent programmes, Lauretta brings people and opportunities together, creating spaces to connect and new pathways into opportunity.

She’s passionate about opening doors, sharing what she’s learned and helping people navigate their careers and get into the right rooms.

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Darren leads London Higher’s work on public affairs and government relations. He is focused on showcasing the impact of London HE through external briefings, engagements and representation on groups such as the London Anchor Institutions’ Network (LAIN) and UK Soft Power Group (UKSPG). He has particular policy expertise in civic engagement, soft power and research & innovation. He oversees high-profile projects including the acclaimed London-wide Global Majority Mentoring Programme and London Higher Civic Map. He has presented and been published internationally, and his work has been cited by UNESCO. 

Darren previously worked in European research policy/public affairs in Brussels. He holds a first-class degree in History & Portuguese from the University of Leeds and is a current MSc Global Affairs student at King’s College London. He also serves as a Board Trustee for London Nightline and as the inaugural Master's representative/mentor for the British International Studies Association's Undergraduate Network.

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Anna Pylypczuk is Associate Director at Randstad UK, a global leader in talent and recruitment solutions. With deep expertise across early talent ecosystems, higher education, and corporate hiring, Anna offers an impartial, data-driven perspective on modern workforce trends. She specialises in helping organisations and educational institutions navigate the evolving hiring landscape—balancing traditional degree routes with apprenticeships, vocational training, and skills-first talent acquisition strategies.

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