Kent October 2026 Meeting 

The Gambler - What Kenny Rogers and other professional risk-takers can teach us about business and investing - Andy Babbayan

Andy Babbayan will share a powerful and thought-provoking presentation...

Drawing on over 25 years in property, involvement in more than £150 million of projects, his experience as a CEO, and a background as a British Army Bomb Disposal Officer, Andy brings a unique perspective on risk, decision-making and capital preservation. Combined with an MSc in Risk Management, his approach challenges conventional thinking around property investing and business growth.
In this talk, Andy reframes business and investing as a series of calculated risks. Using timeless principles from professional gambling, he explains why success is less about chasing opportunities and more about managing downside, structuring decisions properly, and knowing when to act — or not act. This is a practical and highly relevant framework for today’s market conditions, where discipline and clarity are becoming more important than ever.

During Andy’s presentation you will learn:

• Why every business and property decision is fundamentally a risk decision
• How professional investors think about probability, consequence and downside protection
• The critical importance of capital preservation and structuring deals correctly
• How to identify when to commit to a deal, walk away, or cut losses early
• Why discipline, patience and decision-making frameworks outperform instinct and optimism

ALSO... From Chaos to Control: Effective Project Management in Practice - Trish Paul

Trish Paul, a third-generation property developer and project manager, who has managed everything from single let refurbishments to multiple new build developments and listed buildings.

On the night you can expect:

• How to avoid costly mistakes that derail refurbishments and developments
• Practical strategies to keep your projects on time and on budget
• Lessons from a lifetime in property you can apply immediately