Author Archive
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Emerging markets are teeming with young entrepreneurs, US entreperenurs getting older…
Two reports highlight an interesting trend: One from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the other by the Kauffman Foundation: Put together, they show that entrepreneurs are the engine of any economy, developed or emerging. In the US, for example, almost all net job creation since 1980 has been thanks to firms less than five years old. And in 2007, new firms created nearly two-thirds of new jobs. In the US, it is noteworthy that immigrants are more entrepreneurial than the US born population. I have long been of the opinion that the strength of the US entrepreneurship culture is a derivative benefit of the kind of people that emigrated to the US. It takes a certain risk tolerance, initiative and belief in one’s vision to leave for a “new world.” Today, modern communications and travel means might make that easier, but it still shapes the kind of person that is willing to emigrate. And this is reflected in the Kauffman study: The rate of entrepreneurial activity for immigrants in 2005 was 0.35 percent compared to 0.28 percent for native-born Americans. Add to this the facts cited in a recent article in the Economist to paint the picture for emerging markets. The… Read more
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World’s Most Ethical Companies 2011
Regular readers will remember that I have published the World’s Most Ethical Companies Rankings earlier this year. I think this is a great ranking and a very inspiring competition. Research has shown that ethical companies perform better than the average. Last year, the winners performed 25 points above the FTSE 100 and 40 points better than the S&P 500. I think this is unfortunately a largely ignored issue, but I think it’s well worth further research and promotion: it pays to be ethical! If you’d like to participate in nominating a company, you have two more days to do so: The Ethisphere Institute is currently accepting nominations and survey submissions for the World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies Rankings. The selection process for Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking is based on Ethisphere’s proprietary rating system, the Ethics Quotient (EQ). Once a company is nominated, they are invited to complete Ethisphere’s EQ Survey. Nominations are due by Friday, December 10, 2010.
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A Pragmatic New Effort in Dealing with Global Change
I was in DC on Wednesday to attend the launch of the Global Adaptation Institute (GAI) which is headed up by Juan Jose Daboub (picture), former Managing Director of the World Bank, Kenneth Hersh, CEO of NPG Energy Capital Management and former president of Spain Jose Maria Aznar. There is so much talk about global changes – from the climate to disease to population, and I feel that much of it is framed in an unfortunate apocalyptic way. In addition, much of the energy on this issue focuses on the ideological “why” of these changes rather than on the pragmatic “now what.” Many are hijacking the debate on both sides of the argument for personal and ideological advancement at the cost of effective steps and logical solutions. The Global Adaptation Institute intends to make a positive contribution to this debate by pragmatically focusing on building resilience against climate change and other global forces as a key component to sustainable development. In particular, the GAI will promote private and public investments for developing countries. Right now, the greatest impact of any global change is on the poorest countries and populations, those least able to respond. Adaptation projects can produce dramatic results… Read more
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Top 5 Inspirational Blogs for Entrepreneurs
It doesn’t get any better than Seth Godin. He’s a must-read for any entrepreneur. FeldThoughts is a great blog by an experienced entrepreneur with a lot of smart things to say ChangeThis is one of those sites that i could spend hours on. So many of their presentations are interesting and inspiring. This is what i call productive browsing on the net. The AuthorsGlobe hosts Master Classes on a regular basis featuring interesting books in the field of leadership and personal development. The best part is that these classes are held online and you can join them from your desk. Try it, it’s great! Entrepreneurship is about being inspired on the one hand and remaining motivated on the other. In The Company Of Prayer is providing both of these from a spiritual angle. Though their message every day is short and sweet, it has made a huge difference in my life many times, so I want to make sure to share it with you.
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Teaching Fellowship Competition for Public and Catholic School Teachers K-12
Please help us spread the word about our newest competition: The SEVEN Fund is pleased to announce a competition inviting K – 12 teachers and administrators from around the United States to apply for a Summer 2011 Fellowship. The SEVEN Fund 2011 Teaching Fellowships enable teachers to travel to Rwanda and study enterprise solutions to poverty. This is a great opportunity for a teacher of a public or Catholic school to travel to Rwanda and explore enterprise solutions to poverty first hand. Fellows will be provided with round-trip coach class airfare, lodging, and a daily stipend to cover incidental expenses, such as meals and local transportation. During the two weeks, the Fellows will meet leaders from around Rwanda; will attend sessions led by SEVEN Fund principals exploring the concepts of business solutions to poverty; will explore for-profit ventures across different sectors in Rwanda; and will complete an individual project that aligns with their personal and academic interests.