We’re incredibly proud of our alumni continuing to reach for the sun and who, in doing so, have become hugely successful in a wide range of fields. From Old Dragons playing for England like Maia Bouchier (OD 2012), and making life-saving apps like Michael Dent (OD 2002), to our Junior Old Dragons making a difference, such as Anya Katanyutanon (OD 2021) who presented her research findings at the World Conference on Public Health (WCPH).
The latest feature in our Diversity of Dragons series highlights Charles Graham (OD 2008) whose story is shaped through a love of creating something from nothing.
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I have always loved making things. Creating something from nothing. My time at the Dragon was full of discovery and gave me a sense of freedom: the feeling that anything was possible if I put my mind to it.
I have particularly fond memories of playing music with friends in the summer, and of our first performance in Lyman Hall, where we sold CDs for charity. I am, unfortunately, a failed rock star, but that experience still inspires me today and continues to connect me with friends to whom I remain close.
I am now about to complete my MBA at Harvard Business School and launch my company, Create Something Good Inc., in the United States. We are building thragma: the world’s first voice‑powered memory platform that turns photos into “living memory cards”—combining images, your own voice, and music to create a searchable library of your memories.
This journey began for me at the Dragon and has been shaped by the mentorship of many remarkable people who have supported me along the way. I always knew I wanted to work in business, and it was a Dragon parent who gave me my first break.
‘ I am, unfortunately, a failed rock star, but that experience still inspires me today’
When I was 16, I founded my first company, Beneficially British. The business aimed to support young creatives by producing t‑shirts sold for charity. I wrote to the Hon. Rupert Soames MBE, then CEO of Aggreko plc, pitching my business to him for investment. He agreed to meet. He didn’t offer an investment, but he did offer me an internship at Aggreko. The start‑up ultimately failed, but Rupert’s support has endured.
After graduating from the University of Oxford with a congratulatory first‑class honours degree in Classical Archaeology & Ancient History, I spent seven years at Serco, supporting governments around the world and learning the value of front‑line operational experience. The entrepreneurial itch never went away, however, and I came to HBS to build a business. I didn’t expect it to be a direct‑to‑consumer product. Still, in many ways, it connects back to those early days at the Dragon, bringing photos to life through the power of music, and helping individuals, families, and organisations preserve their memories before they are lost to the sands of time.
I am excited to have committed fully to the entrepreneurial path as we prepare to raise our pre‑seed round in Spring 2026. The sense of fun, adventure, and possibility that I first experienced at the Dragon has undoubtedly led me to this moment: creating something good out of nothing.
Charles Graham (OD 2008)
Let us know what you’ve been up to since your Dragon Days, we’d love to share your story.
