Global Cooperation Is Holding Steady But Its Shape Is Evolving

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New research from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum finds that global cooperation is holding steady, but its shape is evolving. 

Read The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, which shows that overall cooperation is largely unchanged from previous years, but its composition appears to be changing.

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.

Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses in Cambodia

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Despite their importance, small businesses often struggle to access international markets due to the high costs of infrastructure, marketing, distribution, compounded by complex compliance and regulatory barriers.

However, technological advances, especially in online shopping, are alleviating some of these barriers by providing affordable digital storefronts and access to global customers without needing a physical presence.

Over the past decade, the Cambodian government has made significant strides to enhance the export potential of its small enterprises.  

Learn what those strides are here and a lot of it is digital support.

Top 10 Global Risks in 2024

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The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 says the biggest short-term risk stems from misinformation and disinformation. 

In the longer term, climate-related threats dominate the top 10 risks global populations will face.

Two-thirds of global experts anticipate a multipolar or fragmented order to take shape over the next decade.

The key findings of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 reflect these most pressing challenges faced by people in every region of the world.

Does Globalization Need a Revamp?

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Does globalization need a revamp?  Find out via a video from Robin Niblett, Distinguished Fellow, Chatham House – published by World Economic Forum.

Today in Global Small Business: AR Translation Glasses Will Widen Your Global Reach

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Google AR (augmented reality) translation glasses: why it's finally time for them to become reality.
• Expanding your e-commerce business globally.
• Top 10 10 most in-demand job skills right now, according to the World Economic Forum.
• Quote of the week: "I do think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much a part of you." —Tim Cook
• Country guides by DHL.
• The rise of the fandom business, making it a key aspect of the global economy.

Women Are Fueling the Growth in Global Entrepreneurship

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Doesn't take much data to understand what's happening with women interested in entrepreneurship.  Visit Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® to witness first hand the power of women taking on the world with their businesses.

And in the United States, according to The World Economic Forum, many women are fueling the uptick in global entrepreneurship, creating around half of all new businesses in 2022.   

Cravings for financial stability and flexibility were two of the reasons women gave for founding their own companies, data by Gusto indicated.  

Yet at Escape From Corporate America, established in 2004, there are other reasons for women starting their own businesses:  They want freedom, flexibility, recognition, more money, and opportunities to leave a legacy – all the things they once thought they would find within corporations.

Learn more about WEF's report on why more women are starting businesses than ever before.

Facing the New Age of Constant Disruption in the Global Marketplace

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Normal is over according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Climate change, geopolitical conflict, aging populations, developing technologies and the like are not issues that can be addressed in isolation by any one constituency and must be undertaken through collaboration, which is, of course, the mission of the World Economic Forum. 

The WEF also suggests we move and act boldly while maintaining this bifocal vision.  Increase your company’s recession readiness and position for near-term opportunities.  Keep an eye on the longer-term forces shaping the future.

Learn more about how our world keeps getting more complex.

Today in Global Small Business: The Big Opportunity Behind Global Small Businesses

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• The big opportunity behind global small businesses.
• Reducing our waste’s impact on the planet requires new technology and materials — and, more importantly, a complete rethink of how we incentivize the production and use of resources.  It requires we upend how global business works.
• Quote of the week:  "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
• YES, YOU CAN!  Go global according to Canadian trade experts.
• Chinese startups have challenges going global.
• Big cities drive half of global economic growth.

Global Small Businesses Should Become Future Ready

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Olivier M. Schwab, Managing Director, World Economic Forum says:

SMEs - small- and medium-sized enterprises- represent about 90% of all firms globally and about 70% of employment and of GDP, according to some estimates. So at an aggregate level, these businesses play a significant role in enabling and shaping the nature of growth, innovation and sustainability of our global, regional and local economies. It's therefore essential that small businesses and medium-sized businesses are future-ready. In other words, they simultaneously are able to achieve high levels of growth, but also positive social impact.

Read more to learn what others have to say about China's household services industry, remote work, the Metaverse, digital world, nature financing, protecting biodiversity, nature, interconnected challenges, rebuilding resiliency, global supply chains, globalization, innovation for impact, learning from the past, equitable access to healthcare, technology in healthcare, global food crisis, China's dairy industry, sustainable development of energy, reducing emissions, renewal energy, China's economic outlook and investment opportunities.

Building Resilience in Emerging Market Economies By Supporting Small Businesses

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Small businesses create up to 80% of jobs and generate up to 70% of GDP in Africa alone and are essential drivers of growth, employment and livelihoods in emerging markets.

In emerging market economies, however, there are intractable structural barriers to raising finance that most of these businesses face. The yawning gap in financing runs into the trillions of dollars.

Organizations can work collectively to move money at scale if the motivation is strong enough. It makes economic sense for governments and private markets to do just that in order to build resilient economies.

Experience in Africa shows that digitally-based information and services can be effective tools for empowering farmers and local businesses.

First Move on Climate Action By Businesses

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The World Economic Forum and US Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry launched the First Movers Coalition to take climate action.

Let's face it, our planet is in peril.

Rising temperatures and harsh weather patterns—once risks that were on the horizon—have arrived. Tragic flooding in Europe and Asia this summer, intense storms rolling across the Americas this fall, and record heatwaves in the Arctic this year all tell the same story: climate change is unfolding in real-time.

These are dark developments that need to be treated.  Read on to see what is next to create a sustainable future.

What's a K Shaped Economy?

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Small businesses are a powerful and influential piece of the economy.  In fact, 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S. qualify as small businesses, collectively employing almost half (47.3%) of the nation’s private workforce.

Unfortunately, they’ve also been one of the hardest-hit sectors of the economy amid the pandemic.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) talks about the K-shaped recovery, where some industries see more improvement compared to others that stagnate in the aftermath of a recession.

Read on to learn more.  The good news?  Despite the continued hardships, the global entrepreneurial spirit endures.

WEF says:  "Even in the face of a global pandemic, the perseverance of such metrics prove that the innovative American spirit is unwavering, and spells better days to come for small business recovery."

You might also take a look at the visual, "Mapped:  The State of Small Business Recovery in America."

How Countries Are Performing On the Road to Recovery

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The Global Competitiveness Report series aims to prompt policy-makers beyond short term growth and to aim for long-run prosperity. The 2020 special edition by Klaus Schwab and Saadia Zahidi, World Economic Forum, is dedicated to elaborating on the priorities for recovery and revival, and considering the building blocks of a transformation towards new economic systems that combine “productivity”, “people” and “planet” targets.

Access the report here.

Today in Global Small Business: Pathways to a New Global Economy

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Market of Tomorrow:  Pathways to a New [Global] Economy by the World Economic Forum.  
• A few Israeli startups are on the path to provide solutions for a post-covid world.
• Quote of the week:  “Exercise, prayer, and meditation are examples of calming rituals. They have been shown to induce a happier mood and provide a positive pathway through life's daily frustrations." ― Chuck Norris
• The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) transformed into the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC).  New name.  More tools.  More resources to invest.
• Brush up on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• U.S. International Trade Data (the latest).

Today in Global Small Business: The World Has Lost a Legend

©2020 Laurel J. Delaney photo.  Pin courtesy Bob Marovich.  All rights reserved.

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How to build an anti-racist company (requires a free trial).
• Walt Disney recently named company veteran Jill Estorino president and managing director of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products International, effective immediately.
• Quote of the week:  "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something." – John Lewis
• Register for the Women Presidents' Organization Digital Conference July 22-23, 2020.
• This is what chief economists (a WEF offering) think about the global economy right now.
• The world has lost a legend:  Rep. John Lewis, a force in the civil rights movement, dead at 80. 

Push to Reset the World

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Is it time for a great reset?  According to the World Economic Forum COVID Action Platform:

To achieve a better outcome, the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a “Great Reset” of capitalism.

Read more ... and visit the Great Reset microsite.  Working together, we can emerge from this crisis to create a better world.

The Future of Us: DAVOS 2020

Prince Charles to Take on More Prominent Global Role

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After Queen Elizabeth’s decision last year to step down from royal duties, Prince Charles becomes heir to take over leadership of the royal family in eighteen months time.

This made Charles’ speech at The World Economic Forum on Tuesday [1/21/20], (his first prominent engagement in 2020), a significant moment; and one where he showcased his intention to take on a more prominent global role. 

The prince’s emphasis at Davos this year, as many others, was on the need to establish new global processes to tackle climate change. While Charles has been a passionate environmentalist for years, (he made his first official speech on environmental issues in 1968), in his Davos speech, he explained that it is the responsibility of the business world to flick the switch permanently towards sustainable practices.

The Prince goes on to say about climate change, “We simply cannot waste any more time — the only limit is our willingness to act, and the time to act is now."

Eighty Percent of Women-Owned Businesses with Credit Needs Worldwide are Either Unserved or Underserved

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When a woman wants to start or grow her own business, the odds of securing a business loan are heavily stacked against her.

As we [World Economic Forum] search for a solution to the inequality between men and women in accessing finance around the world, the answer could be simple: stop asking for collateral.

Let me repeat:  stop asking for collateral.

Calling on all banks to rise to this challenge, rethink their approach and create equal access and opportunities for women around the globe.

Read more about how to improve women's access to finance worldwide and unleash huge economic potential.