Why Gender Parity In Entrepreneurship Matters

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As Claudia Valladares, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impact Hub Caracas says, gender parity in entrepreneurship is not just a moral imperative but a crucial driver of economic growth and innovation.

She goes on to say, that despite significant progress in promoting gender equality globally, women remain underrepresented in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, closing gender gaps in economic participation and opportunity will take over 134 years if current trends persist. Bridging these gaps is essential to fostering inclusive economies.

Gender parity in entrepreneurship matters to unlock the untapped potential of women, half the world's population.

5th Edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

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As a charter member, I'll be attending the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum in Lyon, France from October 24-27, 2012.

Topic of the 2012 edition: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: How to create entrepreneurship friendly ecosystems and foster the development of locally efficient entrepreneurial communities.

More than 200 participants will generate ideas and recommendations through the forum's think tank.

It is well recognized that entrepreneurs cannot succeed in a vacuum. They need customers, partners, suppliers, employees, legal, financial and educational institutions, as well as governmental bodies and proper infrastructure.

Ecosystems are made of environment, actors and interactions.

This year the participants of the forum will discuss this thematic through a round-the-world tour of ecosystems highlighting:

• Highly resource-endowed ecosystems
• Resource-constrained ecosystems
• Specifics of education within a sustainable ecosystem
• Territorially-constrained ecosystem (regional or local identity)

Learn more here.

U.S.A. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Insights: Brought to You By the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

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This is the second installment in our interview series and in preparation for the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012 in Lyon, France (October 24-27), which I will attend.

The theme for this year's Forum is:  "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  Cultivating Communities to Drive Wealth Creation and Social Justice."

Below is the interview with Professor Patricia Greene, who is a pioneer member of the Forum and a Professor of Entrepreneurship of Babson College, USA, where she holds the Paul T. Babson Chair in Entrepreneurship.

YH Robillard:  Professor Greene, being based in the USA which is traditionally perceived as THE place for entrepreneurs, you are familiar with successful entrepreneurial ecosystems creating outstanding global companies. Which ones, according to you, are the most interesting cases to study?

P. Greene:  If I had to select a few ecosystems all over the US, I would mention the following four: Silicon Valley, Boston, Kansas City and New York City. Each of them is at the heart of a vibrant entrepreneurial community comprising high-growth companies - but not only. Just as in the case of a rainforest being made of different trees, bushes and leaves, a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem is not made of high-growth companies oriented ...

Read the entire interview here.

Watch for more interviews to come from Peter Harrington, SimVenture (U.K.) plus more!

Sri Lanka Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Insights: Brought to You By the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

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In preparation for the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012 in Lyon, France (October 24-27), which I will attend, we have some wonderful interviews lined up to share with you here.

The theme for this year's Forum is:  "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  Cultivating Communities to Drive Wealth Creation and Social Justice."

Below is the first interview with Asanga Abeyagoonasekera -- one of the 2012 Young Global Leaders from Sri Lanka.  He is currently the Executive Director of Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies a government think tank that helps to “generate board policy indicators for the guidance of the Government of Sri Lanka."

1. What do you think the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in your region is made of?

South Asia is one of the fastest growing regions, yet home to the largest concentration of poor in the world. Among the enterprises operating in South Asia, the bulk is comprised with the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) which account ...

Read the entire interview here.

Watch for more interviews to come from Patricia Green, Babson College (U.S.A.) and Peter Harrington, SimVenture (U.K.)!