Global Entrepreneurship Network country affiliates have an important mission to inform and educate the entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders in their country and provide an open platform for discussion and support for entrepreneurship. It is of utmost importance to be inclusive and attentive to the entire ecosystem, which can be challenging, especially in countries with several entrepreneurial hubs, big cities or if the country is large.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week host organization in Brazil – Endeavor Brazil – is not only well underway to establishing GEN Brazil, but they have also come up with an innovative, effective and inclusive way of ensuring GEN Brazil covers the whole country.
GEW Brazil launched a selection process to recruit local GEN leaders. They are looking for GEN leadership candidates in 32 cities in Brazil. Those who are passionate about wanting to make a difference to their cities and have the ambition to lead the efforts to transform their city were invited to apply.
Here is how GEW Brazil describes the local GEN leaders of Brazil in the call for action they have placed for the next generation of leaders:
- Entrepreneurial attitude
- Dreams big
- Not easily intimidated by challenges
- Aware of the challenges for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in their city
- Sees entrepreneurship as the engine for change in Brazil
The selection committee wanted to assess the candidates’ potential to come up with a good mobilization strategy for the transformation of each city. They were asked to complete a set of challenges first. Then, each applicant submitted a two-minute video to tell the committee about who they are. Select candidates were then invited for interviews.
The announcement outlines what the candidates would do as local GEN Brazil leaders:
- Mobilize networks and government in the name of entrepreneurship
- Mentor and network with other leaders who share the same dream
- Network with key stake holders and the movers and shakers of their city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Get involved in the mobilization and engagement of the ecosystem
- Develop significant connections and an extensive network
- Receive mentorship, support and help from the Endeavor network
- Plan targets and understand challenges to overcome
- Receive support from the wider network to gain a foothold
- Mobilize other leaders and establish a local committee comprising of members determined to make a positive impact and improve their cities
- Come up with a local guideline to achieve goals for improvement
- Understand the main challenges of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by engaging with local entrepreneurs and support organizations and diagnosing problems together
Successful GEN local leaders, who achieved their goals in their city, had the potential be selected to the Regional Council, where they would assist with the expansion of GEN Brazil to neighboring cities.
“The great dream of our Committee is to raise the ranking of Rio in the Entrepreneurial Cities Index, because we think 10th place is far too short of what we can really achieve. Rio has much potential that needs to be explored to attract more investment and our goals is to unite all the institutions working to support and facilitate entrepreneurship in the city,” said Daniela Balog, leader of the local committee of Rio de Janeiro, and an embodiment of the local GEN leadership spirit.
This call to action attracted 1,200 candidates from all over all Brazil, with 15 selected as local GEN leaders.