Our aim is to support and engage with the UK’s diverse community of entrepreneurs.
Rathbones Inspire has been created to give business leaders and their senior teams the opportunity to engage with talented peers, gain invaluable insights, access subject matter experts, and build new connections to further strengthen their businesses.
Our Rathbones Inspire community members gain access to exclusive content, regular networking opportunities and deep expertise that could help you and your team manage the key growth challenges around capital, clients, and people.
There is no charge, or an obligation to release equity. All we ask of you is your time and a desire to take an active part in the programme.
Rathbones Inspire is available to any member of the management team of:
Fast-growth or family-run businesses
Companies
Business Owners
Our Inspire community

Our Team

Paola Cuneo
Client Development Director
Paola Cuneo
Client Development Director
London
Paola joined Rathbones in January 2020 to head up the engagement with entrepreneurs.
Previously Paola worked for the London Stock Exchange Group where she led the community of entrepreneurs and the Private Market, connecting companies with capital. Paola also ran EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award and she set up and ran a programme for the Department of International trade aimed at helping foreign graduates to set up their businesses in the UK providing access to capital, mentoring and busines advises.
Paola is a mentor and a regular contributor for RisingWISE, a combined initiative of Cambridge and Oxford University supporting women in STEM who have aspirations to become entrepreneurs.
Paola joined Rathbones in January 2020 to head up the engagement with entrepreneurs.
Previously Paola worked for the London Stock Exchange Group where she led the community of entrepreneurs and the Private Market, connecting companies with capital. Paola also ran EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award and she set up and ran a programme for the Department of International trade aimed at helping foreign graduates to set up their businesses in the UK providing access to capital, mentoring and busines advises.
Paola is a mentor and a regular contributor for RisingWISE, a combined initiative of Cambridge and Oxford University supporting women in STEM who have aspirations to become entrepreneurs.

Ian Dembinski
Head of client development
Ian Dembinski
Head of client development
London
My team’s role is to ensure our clients’ needs are met by Rathbones’ full range of financial planning and investment management solutions.
We deliver this service by drawing on expert professionals within Rathbones who have extensive experience of supporting clients across a very wide spectrum of requirements. These often vary according to life stage, quantum of wealth, particular areas of interest such as responsible investment and perhaps planning for the future well-being of their families.
We create bespoke solutions to each client’s circumstances, we are advisory driven rather than looking to sell products and put the clients’ needs first rather any internal profit motive.
All of this can be delivered close to our clients’ homes as we can draw on 14 offices across the UK and Jersey ensuring proximity to our local professionals.
My team’s role is to ensure our clients’ needs are met by Rathbones’ full range of financial planning and investment management solutions.
We deliver this service by drawing on expert professionals within Rathbones who have extensive experience of supporting clients across a very wide spectrum of requirements. These often vary according to life stage, quantum of wealth, particular areas of interest such as responsible investment and perhaps planning for the future well-being of their families.
We create bespoke solutions to each client’s circumstances, we are advisory driven rather than looking to sell products and put the clients’ needs first rather any internal profit motive.
All of this can be delivered close to our clients’ homes as we can draw on 14 offices across the UK and Jersey ensuring proximity to our local professionals.

Melanie Wotherspoon
Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development
Melanie Wotherspoon
Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development
London
Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.
Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.