Entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity can only flourish in an atmosphere of freedom. Vision is the most important factor in driving entrepreneurship and continuous learning is extremely important for businesses. All entrepreneurship is local and will thrive with locally appropriate solutions. In the emerging economies, entrepreneurship needs to be a national effort supported by appropriate eco-systems and policies. These were some of the most important takeway points that emerged from the opening session of the Sixth Global Competitiveness Forum “The Entrepreneurship Imperative”. The session was moderated by Dr. John A. Quelch, Distinguished Professor of International Management, Vice President and Dean at CEIBS, the leading China-based international business school. The opening keynote address was delivered by George Buckley, Chairman and CEO, 3M, who said the best way to remain competitive is to innovate. “There are no silver medals awarded for second place in a ‘winner takes all' world. You have to change faster than the competitors. The best way to forecast the future is to create it. Innovation is risky but essential. If you don't innovate you can never win the competitive battle no matter how hard you try. You must innovate to survive. There is no data on the future - innovation is what we need. You cannot innovate without being an optimist.” Anna Dutra, CEO, Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting, added that successful entrepreneurs had to be ‘fearless'. “Great entrepreneurs see the opportunity where we don't see it. They have this ability to look at the economy and market place and spot opportunities, take risks. They thrive on their challenge. They take the risks. They are fearless, but they only succeed under certain conditions.” Fadi Ghandour, Founder and CEO, Aramex, added: “We have to ask how we can educate our youth on the fact that an entrepreneurial culture is a good career that you want to risk. We don't need the capital of foreigners; you need their knowledge to create the jobs that we so much need.” Magatte Wade, Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO, The Tiosanno Tribe, said anyone could develop an entrepreneurial spirit. “Whatever it is that sucks in your life, that's an opportunity to go out and build something. We are lucky people because how many are lying in hospital beds and don't have access to the things we have? If anyone has the nerve to complain I say ‘how dare you'.” Both Ghandour and Wade said entrepreneurs should not just depend on the government and the public sector, but seize the opportunities themselves. Len Schlesinger, President, Babson College, added that successful entrepreneurs have the capacity to make and find opportunities. “All entrepreneurship is local. We need to construct locally appropriate solutions. Entrepreneurship can be trained and developed. It needs to be considered as a life skill to manage a world that is increasingly uncertain.” Speakers in the session “Artrepreneurs: Creating Businesses and Jobs” looked at how large and small artistic organisations and groups can benefit from the changing ways of doing business.
