RATHBONES INSPIRE

A community of entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs

Lady looking at people

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.

Inspired Sounds

a thought leadership podcast for entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders.

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

Strategic partner and growth director

Ian Dembinski

Strategic partner and growth director

London

Ian joined Rathbones in 2016 as Head of Rathbones Private Office with a focus on serving larger high net worth clients including entrepreneurs, families and successful individuals looking for tailored investment management services. In July 2019 he was appointed to a wider role of Head of Client Development with responsibility for delivering the optimal Rathbones investment solutions to our clients including portfolio management, financial planning, trusts and international services. Following our merger with Investec wealth management, he has in addition been asked to lead the Strategic partnership with Investec bank offering their lending solutions to our wealth management clients and our investment solutions to the Bank’s clients.

Prior to joining Rathbones, he was head of UK domestic private banking at Credit Suisse and head of UK ultra high net worth clients at UBS. He is level 6 PCIAM qualified and studied modern history at Queen’s College Oxford University.

Ian joined Rathbones in 2016 as Head of Rathbones Private Office with a focus on serving larger high net worth clients including entrepreneurs, families and successful individuals looking for tailored investment management services. In July 2019 he was appointed to a wider role of Head of Client Development with responsibility for delivering the optimal Rathbones investment solutions to our clients including portfolio management, financial planning, trusts and international services. Following our merger with Investec wealth management, he has in addition been asked to lead the Strategic partnership with Investec bank offering their lending solutions to our wealth management clients and our investment solutions to the Bank’s clients.

Prior to joining Rathbones, he was head of UK domestic private banking at Credit Suisse and head of UK ultra high net worth clients at UBS. He is level 6 PCIAM qualified and studied modern history at Queen’s College Oxford University.

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.

Ready to join Rathbones Inspire?

Simply click the button below and complete the application form.