Jonathan Ortmans
President, Public Forum Institute; Senior Fellow, Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation
Throughout history, young people have been labeled by their elders as many
things: energetic, chaotic, frivolous, open, exuberant, passionate. But if you
had to settle on a one-word characterization, many likely would choose the word
"dreamer." Not so coincidentally, these are many of the same words used to
describe the entrepreneur. The members of today’s younger generation are no
exception, displaying a natural proclivity for entrepreneurial thinking and a
passion for making a difference in the world around them. But in a rapidly
changing world that demands new ideas faster than ever, young people must not
only embrace their prevailing tendencies toward entrepreneurial thinking—they
must be inspired to act on them.
During November 17–23, 2008, millions of aspiring young entrepreneurs from
more than seventy-five countries will connect through Global Entrepreneurship
Week and begin to turn their dreams into reality. An array of activities and
challenges—everywhere from remote villages to dense urban centers—will equip
these budding innovators with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to grow
new and sustainable enterprises that will make a positive impact on their lives
and the lives of those around them. "Unleash It!" will link
entrepreneurial problem-solvers around the world with a common mission to tackle
key challenges—everything from simple new conveniences to the biological state
of our planet. "Speednetwork the Globe" will enable local young
people to sharpen their networking skills, talking to each other, local
entrepreneurs, potential investors, community leaders, or anyone else interested
in learning from—and sharing with—others. And in the United States, the
"Race to BE." will pit teams of contestants in three reality
TV-style challenges that will test their innovation, imagination, and
creativity.
A new entrepreneurial generation is emerging across a world of diminishing
national boundaries where people identify more closely with those who share
their new media cultural preferences than they do with those who simply share
their geographic location. In announcing the plans for Global Entrepreneurship
Week with Kauffman Foundation CEO Carl Schramm, British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown said, "Together we can build the strongest entrepreneurial culture that
the world has ever seen."
The greatest attribute of an entrepreneurial culture is that it rewards and
promotes new, innovative ideas regardless of where they originate. All it takes
is one look at the world around us to see that there is not, and will never be,
a shortage of challenges in need of entrepreneurial solutions.
This initiative—founded by the Kauffman Foundation in the United States and
Make Your Mark campaign in the UK, and globally sponsored by NYSE Euronext, IBM,
and Ernst & Young—will bring young minds together across great divides to
collaborate and create something bigger, something greater, something that can
revolutionize the way we live.
In other Thoughtbook articles, you will see how people, from different parts
of the globe, are embracing the effort and getting involved. I hope you will
too.
Learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week at
unleashingideas.org
