Nicholas J Higgins founded VaLUENTIS (www.valuentis.com) in 2003 focused on operational/venture Strategy, business intelligence and talent management. He was the architect behind a number of ground-breaking innovations, notably Human Capital Reporting Standards (GHCRS2006), 5D Engagement Framework, Intangible Rating (ICR) and the forerunner to CLARITY Rating.  In 2015, he set up the VaLUENTiS VentureBuild Studio (VVS) – an in-house incubator which has generated several projects including CLARITY Rating (AI/Fintech) and the innovative GamesWizard™ recommendation engine (AI/Psyctech).

Today, he is an ardent advocate of the emerging multi-disciplinary field of Venture Science – combining data-driven AI/ML methodologies with venture creation and growth research that underpins the CLARITY RATING proposition. This is a natural progression from being the driving force behind the launch of VaLUENTiS Business School (www.valbs). As Programmes Director he has initiated various executive programmes, such as the ‘Alternative Exec MBA’ and ‘Entrepreneurial MBA’. All courses are driven by practical innovative use of the Harvard case study method.

NJH holds an MSc in Finance from the London Business School (majoring on intangibles), and an MBA and Diploma in Management from the Open Business School. He is a Chartered Manager by profession (MCMI) a member of the IIBA and is also an accredited assessor of Thomas International DISC psychometrics. He is a Conference speaker/author with his latest work in progress entitled ‘The New Art of Venture Science’.

Prior to VaLUENTiS, he previously worked at top global consulting firms PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Human Capital Management), Towers Perrin (Strategy & Organisation), Watson Wyatt (Human Capital Measurement) and Merchants Group/Dimension Data (CRM/Contact Centres). This spell in management consulting followed a successful management career in banking and financial services spanning 15 years managing various growth operations incorporating both organic and acquisition strategies – Beneficial Bank, Lloyds International Factors, ACC(Citigroup) and Barclays Bank.