On March 27-30, 2022, entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors and startup ecosystem builders from around the world will convene at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) to bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare through the pandemic and beyond.
Delegations from 180+ countries will rally to share ways of rebooting, rethinking and regenerating their economies through cross-border collaboration on policies and programs that target a better, more sustainable and equitable post-pandemic world.
As part of a series spotlighting GEC Delegation Builders around the world, Elaine Gold, Co-Founder and Executive Director of GEN UK and official GEC Delegation Builder, shares what you should know about the United Kingdom's entrepreneurship ecosystem and the delegation coming to GEC 2022. Elaine also serves as a Senior Advisor for GEN.
GEN: Introduce yourself. What do you want your fellow delegates to know about you?
Elaine: While visiting over 35 countries didn't start out as the ambition, for the last 20 years I have been delivering consultancy, training, speaking assignments and coaching clients around the world.
Being asked to run a large leadership development project in Qatar turned into the impetus for me to begin my life as an expat, and living in Qatar for eight years provided an opportunity to visit and work across the region.
Whilst in Qatar, I took on the role of Director of Strategy for a MENA regional organization that focused on entrepreneurship and employability skills for youth across the region. One of the projects I was tasked with was to bring together a number of public and private sector organizations to engage in Global Entrepreneurship Week, and that's when my wider engagement in the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) began.
For over 30 years now, I have been working to provide opportunities and systems that enable women leaders and female founders to thrive. It frustrates me that little has changed! As a grandma with a young granddaughter, and a member of a global network of entrepreneurs, I see the urgency as well as the wasted talent that resides in over 50% of the population across the globe. Post COVID-19, we cannot continue to neglect the potential economic advantages that exist in the pool of female talent. My main priority now is to champion diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and across organizations.
I have been part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network for over 12 years and support the GEN Board as an advisor. I am also co-founder of GEN UK and serve as an Executive Director. Still collecting stamps in my passport, I am regularly asked to speak, facilitate panels and participate as a judge in global entrepreneurship competitions and conferences. With the aid of Zoom and a team of great associates, I am working both globally and locally helping individuals and organizations unlock their power and potential.
GEN: Give us a birds-eye view of your country's entrepreneurship ecosystem. What are its strengths, opportunities and areas for improvement?
Elaine: The UK is a very busy ecosystem, which is both its strength and weakness. Multiple stakeholder partnerships are needed and whilst the desire is there, sensitivity and open thinking is needed. There is a great deal of excitement still about entrepreneurship and plenty of opportunities for growth and development in the startup sector.
GEN: The theme of the GEC is "Reboot, Rethink, Regenerate" in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. How has the pandemic impacted your country's entrepreneurship ecosystem?
Elaine: In the wake of the pandemic, we are now given a great opportunity to focus on inclusion. We are looking at inclusion in terms of economic opportunity as well opportunities across every aspect of diversity.
GEN: How can your country's entrepreneurship ecosystem support economic recovery from COVID-19?
Elaine: The UK has access to funding, skills and more streamlined processes for export and collaboration across borders. I think since the pandemic, the country can make a greater effort to move the issue of gender equality forward.
GEN: How will your country be represented at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress? Tell us about the delegation you are pulling together.
Elaine: We are still pulling our delegation together, but we expect to have a group of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship educationalists, investors, and hopefully representation from government.
GEN: Why is the GEC an important event for your country to be part of?
Elaine: The GEC is an important event for the UK for access to networking and building relationships with other countries.
GEN: What are you and your delegation most looking forward to at the GEC?
Elaine: We are most looking forward to stimulating input from speakers, robust discussions and networking with delegates from other GEN countries.
GEN: Name the top three things you would like to achieve at the GEC.
Elaine: At the GEC 2022, I am hoping to build connections with GEN commonwealth countries, networking with fellow GEN colleagues interested in entrepreneurship education and pushing for an overall focus on gender.
To learn more and register for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, visit www.gec.co.