Peri: On culture, support and why Cambridge Enterprise is "a lovely place to work”
20th anniversary storyCambridge Enterprise will turn twenty at the end of the year – specifically the 1st of December. To celebrate two decades of continued impact and innovation, we spoke with eight members of staff representing different areas of the organisation – from Business Development, to investment management, event organising or senior leadership.
Our aim: How Cambridge Enterprise, throughout the years, has helped them evolve and grow in their careers and also learn about their views of its impact on innovation in Cambridge and beyond.
In our second piece of our people spotlight, ‘Inside Cambridge Enterprise’, we spoke with Peri Cihan, Associate Director (Consultancy). Peri has been part of Cambridge Enterprise for nearly 15 years, joining the Consultancy team in 2012.
Since joining, Cambridge Enterprise has doubled both the number of consultancy contracts completed and the number of academics supported per year, progress Peri has witnessed and helped shape first-hand.
Working in a role that balances operational excellence with people-focused values, Peri spoke to us about the culture she experiences every day, what makes Cambridge Enterprise an exceptional employer, why she encourages others to join and what has kept her here over the years.
When asked why she enjoys working at Cambridge Enterprise.
“It’s a really lovely place to work! The culture is great and I am surrounded by very supportive, engaged colleagues, which makes it such a nice environment to be in.
“Also, there are lots of things that are easy to take for granted that make it such a great place to work, for example the attitude towards staff, the level of support and the employee benefits. There’s just an upbeat feel to working here.”
This sense of warmth and support also shapes why she encourages others to join.
“I would encourage people to work at Cambridge Enterprise because it’s simply a rewarding place to work and a great employer. It really fosters a positive employer–employee relationship and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
“I would especially encourage anyone with a passion for research and technology, and the impact this can have, to work here.”
“It’s a really lovely place to work! The culture is great and I am surrounded by very supportive, engaged colleagues, which makes it such a nice environment to be in.”
And looking across the organisation’s 20-year journey, she highlighted a meaningful shift.
“The shift from simply being reactive to what emerges from the University, to placing ourselves as and investing effort in becoming a convener – helping to encourage the emergence of opportunities, that we can foster and then pick up when the time comes.”
Peri reflects deeply on why she has stayed.
“Being a working parent, Cambridge Enterprise has been perfect, allowing me to balance building my career while also starting my family. It’s an incredibly supportive place for parents and really helps to make this balance possible.
“It’s hard to walk away from a great organisation, a supportive manager and a brilliant team, especially when you know you’re contributing to something positive in the world.”
When asked to describe the culture in just a few words, she chose.
“Supportive, empowering, ambitious and inclusive.
“Everyone at Cambridge Enterprise genuinely cares about supporting people across the University, bringing real enthusiasm to helping researchers in driving meaningful commercial impact. As an organisation, we have become increasingly ambitious in shaping what our remit can and should be. We now approach our work with the confidence and mindset of a true partner in everything we do and with everyone we collaborate with.”
We asked Peri to finish these sentences:
- The impact of Cambridge Enterprise’s support on University research is… “dependent on academics and researchers trusting us with their ideas and allowing us the privilege to work collaboratively on their commercialisation journey.”
- At 20, Cambridge Enterprise is… “still, at its core, powered by a warm, caring and ambitious team who champion one another and the colleagues we’re proud to support across the University.”
- We knew we’d made a difference when we… “celebrated with our consultants at our Consultants Networking event in June. The room was alive with stories of impact and a real sense of shared gratitude.”
- Behind the scenes, we… “focus on the legal and financial side of consultancy engagements so that researchers can do the technical core project work – adding value for clients and ultimately generating impact.”
Reflecting on our people and our progress
Peri’s reflections highlight the supportive, empowering culture that defines Cambridge Enterprise and the steady growth she has helped shape within the Consultancy team. Her perspective shows how the organisation continues to evolve its role, moving from a reactive service to an active convener that helps opportunities emerge and flourish.
Her insights form part of a wider set of anniversary pieces that highlight different voices from across the organisation. Each one will share personal perspectives on how Cambridge Enterprise has evolved and what continues to drive our mission. Together, they will show how we are still learning, still growing and still committed to supporting innovation from the University of Cambridge.
