From start-up success to societal impact – the Better Futures Programme

What happens when a tech entrepreneur reimagines what success looks like – not just for themselves, but for society?

For Andy Phillipps (Downing 1987), co-founder of Booking.com and a member of Founders at the University of Cambridge, the answer wasn't another startup, but scaling impact itself. After experiencing the transformative power of recalibrating purpose and direction during a leadership programme at a leading university in the U.S, Andy became convinced that the most meaningful chapters of one’s journey might begin after their initial success.

Introducing the Cambridge Better Futures Programme

Andy brought this vision to Cambridge and was at the heart of seeding the original proposition for this new programme and galvanising institutional support.

Developed in collaboration with Downing College and the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, Better Futures helps accomplished leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds shape their next chapter, by embedding them in the Cambridge ecosystem, where they refine their purpose, collaborate with peers and academics, and engage in world-class learning. The programme supports participants to clarify their vision and translate it into a focused impact plan for the years ahead.

Recognising that accomplished individuals across business, nonprofits, education, and the arts, are seeking more meaningful ways to create impact, Andy worked closely with university stakeholders to align the programme with Cambridge’s broader mission to foster purposeful leadership and real-world change.

“There’s a growing sense among people in later stages of their careers – those who’ve had success in business or other fields – that they want to give back and address issues with societal purpose and lasting consequence,” says Andy. “Universities have a critical role in facilitating this.”

Leading with purpose and vision

Alongside the Better Futures team – Alison Wood, Jaideep Prabhu, Rob Doubleday, Kate Wilson, and Stewart McTavish – Andy champions the entrepreneurial mindset as a force for positive change: creative, bold, and solution-focused. Together, they acknowledge that many high-achieving individuals ultimately confront profound questions about meaning, impact, and long-term contribution.

Supporting the programme is Professor Graham Virgo, Master of Downing College and former Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education). He says, “Cambridge is delighted to welcome the first Better Futures cohort this autumn. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many applicants through the interview process and our inaugural intake is an extraordinary collection of experienced leaders from a breadth of backgrounds who share the Collegiate University’s ambition for positive societal impact. I look forward to what we will accomplish together!”

Join our inaugural cohort this autumn

Participants join a multi-disciplinary cohort, engage with leading academics, and receive tailored guidance to shape their unique impact pathways. This model prioritises personal evolution and its potential to address real-world challenges, moving beyond traditional career progression, while leveraging Cambridge’s renowned research excellence, critical inquiry, and collaborative ethos.

Stewart McTavish, the programme's Academic Director, notes, "This is for people ready to rethink how they contribute to the world, those who have an incredible foundation of experience to build from. Better Futures can help them apply that experience to something deeper.”  

By bridging the entrepreneurial and academic spheres, Andy has co-created a distinctive pathway for successful leaders to rediscover their "why" and use it to build a better world.

Applications for the inaugural Better Futures cohort, commencing in Autumn 2025, are now open. Apply now or contact the team to learn more.