ICSB-GW News Express — Sunshine in a Suitcase!
Thursday Morning: VP for Research Chalupa: ICSB-GW Opening Session
Topics of discussion: Pepsi Co., Indiana Jones, Sunshine in a Suitcase and more…
Morning, Day One of the ICSB-GW Global Entrepreneurship Conference: The Latest Research on Business Creation and there is a tangible energy coursing through the
rooms. As participants checked in and received materials, they met and mingled over breakfast and coffee with fellow entrepreneurs, academia, and businessmen and women.
The program moved into Duques 651 and Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, Research Professor and Executive Director for ICSB, began on a solemn note by noting the passing of Steve Jobs. Saying a few words to honor the late, great entrepreneur, he then introduced his “mentor, friend, and visionary,” Dr. Erik Winslow, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence (CFEE).
Winslow thanked his fellow Director of CFEE, Dr. George Solomon, also an Associate Professor of Management, for his work, and, commenting on the beautiful weather, said to the traveling participants, “thanks for bringing the sun with you.” After, he proceeded to introduce Vice President for Research Leo Chalupa, the opening speaker for the ICSB-GW Conference.
Described by Winslow as a “great supporter of entrepreneurship, accomplished scientist and administrator,” Chalupa stated that one of the country’s “great engines” is the partnership between academia and business; thus it is “quite fitting” for the theme of the Global Entrepreneurship Conference to represent the intersection of the two worlds. Chalupa emphasized that the construction of the new $300 million Science and Engineering Complex, as it will certainly aid in “promoting research across the entire campus.” 
Regarding the ICSB-GW Conference, Chalupa observed that there are two ways to get information at a conference: through presentations and by networking. “Presentations,” he added, “can be terrific or not. And if not; then you’re stuck.” On a positive note, though, networking can be incredibly beneficial, as “you never know when an interesting opportunity could change your life.”
Quietly stepping out after his welcoming speech, Chalupa was succeeded by Winslow. The CFEE Director introduced Paul Reynolds as the “driving force” of the conference (Reynolds will also give two separate database presentations today: PSED and GEM). Surprisingly, Reynolds referenced an Indiana Jones movie in which there was a “huge hole of snakes” to his wife’s chagrin. “Business dynamics,” he continued, “are a lot like this pit of snakes, and there are thirteen database presentations today trying to capture one image” of the roiling pit of snakes.
Relieving the audience of the image of the writhing snakes, Solomon then introduced the first round of speakers for the entrepreneurial database topic “Early Business Creation Stages.” With Alicia Robb giving two presentations and Paul Reynolds one, stay tuned for more from the ICSB-GW Conference “Daily Express.”
Wednesday (October 5th): VIP Reception and Dinner
Topics of discussion: beggars and professors, intersections, Schumpeter, vintage cars…
And so it begins: the ICSB-GW Global Entrepreneurship Conference: The Latest Research on Business Creation held a VIP evening reception on Wednesday, October 5th, the night before the official start of the conference.
GW School of Business’ (GWSB) Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, Research Professor and Executive Director of ICSB, led the way, introducing Dr. Sok-Hyon Kang, Vice Dean. Kang noted that the ICSB-GW conference is occurring “at the right time and place” as GWSB expands its vision to become a unique business school to connect to society and the larger political environment. “Scholars and professors must move to make a difference and an impact,” emphasized Kang.
Former GWSB faculty member and Co-Principal for the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED), Dr. Paul Reynolds was then recognized as the “vision and reach” that was necessary to garner scholarly attention and launch the conference. Reynolds continued, giving a quick synopsis of the conference and citing Track A of Friday’s author presentations as what he considers the most important component–“an ongoing assessment of entrepreneurial dynamics” (a detailed outline of Track A and other presentations can be found here). Reynolds presents on two distinct databases on Thursday October 6th: U.S.PSED and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM).
Fellow participants Khrystyna Kushnir of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Guy Pfeffermann, founder and CEO of the Global Business School Network (GBSN) were in attendance as well. Kushnir, a Ukrainian native, discusses IFC Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) indicators Thursday, October 6th, while Pfeffermann moderates Friday’s third panel session Around the Developing World in 60 Minutes. Peter Bamkole, a speaker in the latter panel session and Director of the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) at Pan-African University in Nigeria, added that Nigerians have the “entrepreneurial spirit,” but are having difficulty translating it into full-fledged business plans and ventures.
Raghav Lal, Head of Global Small Business at VISA Inc., flew in from San Francisco, California and presents on VISA Inc.’s Consumer and Small Business Transaction Data on Thursday October 6th. Although he admitted that his data cannot necessarily prove that one should “celebrate entrepreneurs, provide them with resources, and get out of their way,” he did note that his data “can sure help.”
Referencing the latest buzz word at GWSB, Tarabishy drew attention to the intersections of entrepreneurial research and policy that will take place at the ICSB-GW Conference. “In this room alone, there are so many different angles” of global entrepreneurship: academia, non-proft, private sector, observed Tarabishy. Such a diverse group of delegates from over 30 countries will be sure to provide exciting, new perspectives at the 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Conference.
Posted by GWSB on October 6, 2011 | Filed under: GWSB News.
