Summer graduation ceremonies conclude in style
The founder of the UK's only patient-led heart failure charity and a dynamic fashion entrepreneur received honorary degrees as our summer graduation ceremonies concluded in style.
Nick Hartshorne-Evans BEM, CEO of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation, and Maggie Smart joined in the celebrations with hundreds of graduates from our Glasgow School for Business and Society.
Maggie, a Glasgow Caledonian alumna, has a 25-year track record of launching fashion brands into global markets.
The co-founder of Folk Clothing, Macandi Showrooms and Sounder, and Commercial Director of ACMH, formerly Magic Castles, now mentors the next generation of creatives as a member of the University's British School of Fashion Advisory Board.
She told graduates at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: "It is the greatest honour to be standing here today, receiving an honorary doctorate from the institution that gave me my start in life 29 years ago.
"Glasgow Caledonian University isn’t just where I earned a degree, it’s where the seeds of my journey were planted. Back then, I didn’t quite realise it, but the foundations laid here would set me on the road to entrepreneurship, resilience, and a life of purpose.
"Success doesn’t come from knowing exactly where you're going, it comes from being willing to take the first step even when the path isn’t clear.
"The world needs compassionate, thoughtful leaders now more than ever. Lead with empathy. Measure success not just by what you achieve, but by how you make others feel along the way."
Nick Hartshorne-Evans BEM, founder and CEO of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation, established the UK's only patient-led heart failure charity following his own diagnosis at the age of 39.
The foundation now supports hundreds of thousands of patients, manages a substantial online heart failure community, and collaborates with the NHS, NICE and the SMC to influence national healthcare policy.
A long-standing supporter of the University's health programmes, Nick was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2025 for his services to individuals with chronic heart failure.
He told graduates: "Heart failure was not going to define me.
"We help people live better with their heart failure diagnosis. In many cases, heart failure causes a relentless toll on the body, affecting quality of life, lifespan, and accounting for over 2% of the current NHS budget.
"Find what defines you, be human and enjoy what you do.
"I wish all the graduates today the very best of luck. Use your memories of today to shape your future."