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DealMakers' Breakfast

The Fine Art of Negotiation

& Political Hustings

22 April 2026 | 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

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The Hoxton, Edinburgh

DealMakers' Breakfast

The Fine Art of Negotiation | Political Hustings

With an All-Women Expert Panel

22 April 2026 | 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

The Hoxton | Edinburgh

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Register
A constant element of every dealmaker’s journey is the necessity to win influence through negotiation. But how can we achieve this? Every human interaction on the road to a successful outcome involves those delicate discussions, moments of toughness and then handling the nuances of expectation.
 
One of Scotland’s leading professional business mentors, Colette Grant, who is an accomplished negotiator in her own right, will lead this intriguing panel discussion for The Business event. Colette will tease out three different stories from our expert panel of leading Scottish women who have been deeply immersed in major decision-making. They will give their insights and, hopefully, offer some surprising and useful solutions.
 
Chaired by Colette Grant, formerly founder of Grant Property, now an experienced C-suite mentor, the panel features:
  • Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, owner of the Edinburgh Cook School, and founder and creator of Genius Foods;
  • Claudia Cavalluzzo, director of Venture Café, and former Chief Operating Officer of MI:RNA, and;
  • Lindsay Campbell, Group Finance, Strategy and Technology Director, of Edrington Group, makers of Macallan whisky.
The all-women panel has a wealth of personal experience about how to navigate the shark infected waters of negotiation – and to find the best possible outcomes.
A constant element of every dealmaker’s journey is the necessity to win influence through negotiation. But how can we achieve this? Every human interaction on the road to a successful outcome involves those delicate discussions, moments of toughness and then handling the nuances of expectation.
 
One of Scotland’s leading professional business mentors, Colette Grant, who is an accomplished negotiator in her own right, will lead this intriguing panel discussion for The Business event. Colette will tease out three different stories from our expert panel of leading Scottish women who have been deeply immersed in major decision-making. They will give their insights and, hopefully, offer some surprising and useful solutions.
Chaired by Colette Grant, formerly founder of Grant Property, now an experienced C-suite mentor, the panel features:
  • Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, owner of the Edinburgh Cook School, and founder and creator of Genius Foods;
  • Claudia Cavalluzzo, director of Venture Café, and former Chief Operating officer of MI:RNA, and;
  • Lindsay Campbell, Group Finance, Strategy and Technology Director, of Edrington Group, makers of Macallan whisky.
The all-women panel has a wealth of personal experience about how to navigate the shark infected waters of negotiation – and to find the best possible outcomes.

Expert Panel

*Click icon for speaker bio

Colette Grant

Event Chair & Entrepreneur

Grant Property

Lindsay Campbell

CFO

Edrington Group

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

Chair

Edinburgh New Town

Cookery School

Claudia Cavalluzzo

Director & Former COO

Venture Café & MI:RNA

Following the expert discussion, the conversation will turn to the political landscape shaping Scotland’s business environment.

With the Scottish Parliament election just two weeks away, a cross-party panel of candidates will explore the policy choices that could influence Scotland’s economic future – and the opportunities for women in business.

Despite progress, women remain under-represented in the highest levels of decision-making: only around one in ten of the UK’s largest companies are led by a female chief executive.

Thoughtful policy on areas such as access to capital, leadership pipelines and entrepreneurship could help change that picture. This closing discussion will offer business leaders a timely opportunity to hear directly from those shaping the next government’s agenda – and to understand how political decisions may influence the deals still to come. Speakers include senior spokespeople:

  • Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative & Unionist
  • Katherine Sangster, Scottish Labour
  • Malcolm Offord, Reform UK
  • Ben Macpherson, SNP
  • Jane Alliston Pickard, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Political Panel

*Click icon for speaker bio

Murdo Fraser

Scottish Conservative & Unionist

Malcolm Offord

Reform UK Scotland

 

Katherine Sangster

Scottish Labour

Ben Macpherson

Scottish National Party

Jane Alliston Pickard

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Click to see Agenda

Agenda

8:00

8:40

8:50

9:15

10:15

10:25

10:45

11:30

Agenda

Breakfast and Networking

Chair’s introduction

Expert panel introductions

Expert panel Q&A

Refreshment break 

Political panel introductions

Political panel Q&A

Finish

Agenda

Agenda

8:00: Breakfast and Networking

08:40: Chair’s introduction

08:50: Expert panel introductions

09:15: Expert panel Q&A

10:15: Refreshment break 

10:25: Political panel introductions

10:45: Political panel Q&A

11:30: Finish

Who Should Attend?

This event will be of interest to:

Anyone in Scotland involved in negotiations to buy or sell a business;

Professional advisers and finance people wishing to hear more about securing successful transactions;

Younger practitioners who wish to enhance their learning with real-life insights into the fine art of ne
 

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