Arriving in Indianapolis for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) felt like being welcomed home by a community of friends. GEC chose Indiana intentionally, recognizing the state’s strong startup ecosystem and culture of innovation. “The BOLD Change the World” was the event’s tagline, but also served as a call to action. From the moment we landed, GEC volunteers greeted each of the 5,000 attendees arriving from 150 countries, guiding us to buses, sharing local dining tips, and ensuring a seamless transition to the main conference hotel. Registration was swift, credentials were issued (Founder, Ecosystem Builder, Policymaker, Investor), and a sense of shared purpose was already in the air.
Key Entrepreneurship Messages
Walking into the conference hall on Day 1, beneath multi-colored banners featuring leaders like South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Richard Branson, you could feel that GEC is a global, diverse movement. Attendees of all ages filled the space, and on the closing day, Mark Cuban reinforced why diversity matters for entrepreneurship everywhere. Around the hall, visually striking posters showcased practical frameworks for building authentic, thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems and scaling purpose-driven enterprises. The message was clear: Entrepreneurship can thrive anywhere with the right mix of policy, finance, human capital, and culture. The event design encouraged connection: coffee stations turned into buffet lines, lounge pockets and tables became spaces for spontaneous meetings, and the adjacent main stage and breakout rooms extended these lessons into practice.
Building Communities
Throughout the week, I was reminded how entrepreneurship can drive meaningful change when we think outside the box. One striking insight came from Thom Ruhe, who shared that in North Carolina alone, supporting just 5% of “aspirational” small businesses could create 24,550 new jobs annually and generate $1.5–$2 billion in economic ripple effects. Imagine if this approach were scaled across regions globally, including in Africa, balancing the traditional focus on large corporate incentives with grassroots entrepreneurial growth. It was also a joy to reconnect with former colleagues from Junior Achievement and see them leading impactful discussions on data and storytelling, youth-led diplomacy, and the critical role of self-efficacy in ecosystem.
A Forward Look
Even in a time of rapid global change, there is optimism, energy, and practical action to transform entrepreneurial ideas into BOLD drivers of growth for people and communities worldwide. At GEC, we were reminded that entrepreneurship is not just about starting businesses. It is about agency, dignity, opportunity, and hope. And with the right support, entrepreneurs anywhere can lead the change the world needs.
I am pleased to share that it has been announced that GEC will take place in South Africa in 2026. If this is closer to home for you than Indiana, I encourage you to start making plans to attend.
Dr. Memuna Williams has a BA and MA in Translation, an MBA, and DBA. Her doctoral thesis illuminates how SMEs develop social responsibility programs across four phases and 13 categories. Dr. Williams and her husband Victor have three sons. Connect with her at: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-memuna-williams-dba-8193b01
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