Harnessing the Power of Entrepreneurs

by Kevin Langley, Global Chairman, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) & Cari E. Guittard, Senior Advisor to EO & Adjunct Faculty for Corporate Diplomacy, USC Annenberg

27 February 2012 – They came from thousands of miles away on buses, planes, and cars. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, some as far as Syria and Palestine, traveled all day and through the night. Many came with no support, no money, and no resources, just a dream. On the surface, this mix of countries, cultures and geopolitical differences could have been a recipe for disaster. Their collective hope and passion for starting or continuing their own businesses and building economic prosperity brought them together. From every socio-economic background and culture, they came together to share, encourage, and inspire: men and women of all ages. The scene was one of mutual understanding and connection that was instant and palpable, fueled by an indescribable energy, excitement and optimism. They shared horrific stories of loss and overcoming hardship. One entrepreneur from Kosovo lost over 400 friends and family members in the war, yet he is still fighting the battle to bring economic opportunity to help his country fully rebuild. Another entrepreneur shared his passion for making educational toys for local schools and expressed his need for seed funding to purchase a laser cutter to expand the effort. Though there is no metric for measuring the inspiration and resultant actions that occur after gatherings of this magnitude, the power was evident. When entrepreneurs come together, magic happens. They are redefining soft power at a time when their collective efforts could not be more sorely needed around the world.

Read the article at [Public Diplomacy Magazine].​​​​​