COMPANY
ANDREA CULLEN
An analyst, strategic advisor and the Founding Managing Director of Bright Link Ventures Ltd, Andrea Cullen’s unique approach to startups, business management and investing benefits from her experience both owning and managing businesses as well as from a 15 year career in leveraged finance.
Andrea was the Director of Research for Ares Management’s Tradable Credit Group, where she worked for 12 years. While at Ares, Andrea managed a $1.7 billion portfolio of leveraged loans, bonds and CDS positions (long and short) across the consumer products, food, supermarket and retail sectors. She cultivated broader based industry knowledge as architect and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Markets Investment committee. Prior to that, Andrea was an associate at DLJ/CSFB where she worked in the high yield group covering the consumer products sector.
Andrea earned her MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Ageist, Courtsdesk, ForwardLane, Parcelly and PepperHQ and is a mentor for Barclays FinTech Accelerator, powered by Techstars – London.
BECKIELOU BROWN
A public relations, influencer alignment and social media strategy professional, Beckielou Brown has over 14 years working in marketing both in London and Los Angeles, where she honed her skills to conceptualize, market and promote brands’ stories with an interdisciplinary approach.
Specializing in the fashion, beauty and luxury markets she has worked with companies ranging from small start-ups to some of the biggest mass consumer brands in the world. She brings a strategic approach to brand development and an understanding of how brands must operate in an evolving digital space. In addition to her role as an Associate with BLV, Beckielou is currently starting her own entrepreneurial venture with a niche perfume brand.
Beckielou graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA (Hons) in Fashion Business.
PATRICK CLARKE
Patrick Clarke is a writer, actor and award-winning filmmaker with over 20 years experience in the film industry. His first feature film, Beyond the Pale, which he co-wrote and produced, went on to both commercial success and critical acclaim – winning awards at the Houston and Arizona film festivals. Clarke formed i4i Productions which completed many projects including One, written and performed by Greg Pearl, John Illsley and Paul Brady; the feature-length documentary The Extra Mile and the period feature thriller Trapped a.k.a Anton which was nominated for three Irish Film & Television Awards.
Patrick is the director of BLV’s media content division, which offers a range of services for creating specialist proprietary content. BLV’s focus is in generating thought-provoking media on subject matters that are integral to the corner stones of BLV and those of our clients.
BLV’s media content division manages all stages of the production process including scouting, scheduling, budgeting, casting, crewing and post-production.