Take a look at my short video reflections on the recent launch the GEM Report on Entrepreneurial Activity in the UK during 2018. Three main things struck me from the report and the discussion: Why do we still find that only half as many women as men become entrepreneurs? Why is is still hard for […]
It’s Summer – Let’s Play!
Last week I was sitting by the side of a marina in Brittany watching the boats, people loading and unloading cabins, children playing and plenty of small dogs getting tetchy in the heat. I was quite content to sit and watch for over an hour each day, I had a book with me, but the […]
Startups don’t have to be about tech
I recently was invited back for the second year running to participate in the judging panel of a regional startup competition. What struck me this year was the high percentage of startups which were not technology based, but based on new ways of delivering a service, or enhancing skills using that old form of technology, […]
Where’s the collaboration between Startups and the Third Sector?
Recently I was invited to participate in a round table discussion hosted by Nesta and facilitated by Nesta and Impact Shakers, on why there seems to be little happening in terms of collaboration between startups and the third sector for the purpose of innovation. The hesitation of the development world to engage with the startup […]
Gordon Brown (who co-launched GEW in 2008) speaks on need for global cooperation
I was privileged this week to attend the launch of Christian Aid where Gordon Brown spoke passionately about the choices facing the UK in terms of isolationism v collaboration. Of course, Gordon Brown’s main focus was on the great work @ChristianAid has achieved and the current crisis in worldwide poverty, Christian Aid Week is focusing […]
GEC 2019 – Bahrain – Day 2
Tuesday morning in the convention centre #GEC2019 saw the main opening session with a flurry of local press, media and security. Following the formal welcoming, the keynote speech this year was from Jonas Kjellberg, co-founder of Skype, author and investor. Jonas gave a provoking, humorous and self-deprecating talk about his successes but mostly his failures. […]
GEC Bahrain – Day 1
The first day of the congress is always focused on topics which address the concerns and needs of the GEN country organisations and their delegation. The morning was spent hearing from a number of GEN country leaders and small group discussions, some in the large plenary session, and then the afternoon in focused country groups. […]
GEC 19 – Bahrain, Day 0
Sunday was a good time to relax and great old friends as they started to arrive in Bahrain for #GEC2019. The ubiquitous WhatsApp groups have been set up, and the consistent ‘pinging’ heralding a new message will be the background notes for the week as everyone shares info of meet-ups, tales of late flights, and […]
GEC 19 – Bahrain – Arrival
The annual meeting of over 170 countries all coming together to celebrate, learn and network all things entrepreneurship has been a major highlight of my year for nearly 10 years now. Over the years I have made many friends who, like me, have continued to work in the ecosystem in a range of areas, from […]
Human Capital and Entrepreneurship
A few weeks ago I was privileged to speak in Beirut at the Union of Arab Banks conference on ways of making progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I was one of a panel of speakers on the topic of: “Achieving SDGs through Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. One of the themes to […]