Karl Drage has mastered many things both as Chief Executive of Coefficeint Renewable Heating Solutions and in his earlier career and personal life, including receiving a mention from Bill Gates and traversing the Sahara Desert.

What did you learn during your time at Imperial, in class and out?

"I learnt how to get things done, the value of relationships and the importance of networking. I also learnt the importance of a good grounding in theory – and that putting things into practice requires more than that.  Building a car that did over 8,000 miles to the gallon and taking rugby tours to Zimbabwe and Canada taught me about fund-raising and how to access finance."

Can you tell us about your studies at Imperial?

"I really enjoyed my Four Year "total technology" masters in mechanical engineering.  I received industrial sponsorship from the Ministry of Defence and they supported me on internships with Wilkinson Sword in Germany and Komatsu in Japan.  I was able to take languages as electives, enabling me to study German and Japanese before spending time living and working in those countries. I enjoyed majoring in computational thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, but also pursuing industrial and computer aided design, microprocessors and material science.  Business studies was heavily encouraged and I covered all of the units of the Imperial MBA."

What is your fondest memory of your time here?

"There are so many it is hard to pick one.  Enduring memories are ones with friends from Falmouth Keogh Hall and the Rugby Club, in and around Southside Gardens, The Union at Beit Quad and Hyde Park.  I am fortunate to have many lifelong friends from my time at Imperial."

Tell us a bit about the work you’re doing now.

"As chief executive of an engineering business - Coefficient Renewable Heating Solutions - I am mainly involved in forming and delivering strategy, overseeing financial performance and managing relationships with investors.  For the last ten years I have been working with businesses specialising in providing low carbon renewable heating systems.  The engineering is complex and allows sophisticated funding mechanisms to enable assets to be built and managed over the long term.  I have established businesses across Europe and in the US - one business recently engineering a low carbon heating and cooling system for the Empire State Building. 

As a non-executive director, I am helping Engineering companies grow by assisting in forming and delivering strategy and focused business development.

I am a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Member of the Institute of Directors."

What jobs have you done since graduation?

"Following graduation I joined Unilever PLC and managed the Birds Eye Beef Burger Factory through the BSE scare.  I was also operations manager of the Wall's Ice Cream Factory, responsible for 1,300 personnel. Then as engineering manager of the Cornetto Factory in Naples, I worked with a team of Italian Engineers producing 1,500 Cornettos per minute.

Subsequently I founded a technology start-up with friends from Imperial. We were Tomorrow's World Innovation of the Year Finalists and mentioned by Bill Gates in a key note speech.

Then I got into renewable heat, specialising in heat pumps.  I built a number of businesses in the UK, Europe and US, which led to developing industry wide standards.  I led the building of some of the largest systems in world, and have been involved with many high profile building projects."

How has what you learnt at Imperial helped you in your career so far?

"Everything I have achieved has been related to learning from my time at Imperial.  I learnt as much, if not more, in extra-curricular activities at college; running the rugby club, the halls of residence, the union or the sports clubs are all good grounding for running a business - i.e. managing finances, fund raising, managing budgets and motivating a diverse set of talented people often with differing agendas."

What have been your career highlights?

"The best times are solving challenges with great people, so the biggest highlight is working with great people.  I enjoy seeing my designs roll off production lines and receiving great feedback from clients for products and services that I have put together.

Some headlines would be raising over £18M in venture finance, showing Ministers around projects I have led, living and working in Italy, climbing Mont Blanc with my wife, and running across the Sahara in the Marathon des Sables."

What are your plans for the future?

"Pursuing growth for engineering and technology businesses."

What would be your advice for current students?

"Work hard, play hard (when you've lost the distinction between work and play, you've possibly made it)!"

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

"To steal the words of Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, to "go see about a girl".  We are now happily married for 11 years with three delightful children."

What are you most proud of in your life?

"The wonderful friendships that I am blessed with."

Do you have a favourite quote or saying?

"The best revenge is a happy life."

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

"I would advise that three or four years at Imperial is the tip of an iceberg, and that it remains with you for life."