Entrepreneurs' Organization and US State Department Focus on Entrepreneurship

The first of an interactive global series with a focus on social entrepreneurship brings together thought leaders on business and community​

Alexandria, Virginia, USA (14 November 2014) – The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), a global network of more than 10,000 business owners in 46 countries, participated in the U.S. State Department's first interactive telecast and web chat as part of its "Entrepreneurs Exchange" series. The hour-long, live-streamed discussion, "Build Your Business, Build Your Community," highlighted social entrepreneurship and featured a Q&A with Special Advisor on Global Youth Issues at the U.S. Department of State, Andy Rabens, and Eric Wilson, Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur and CEO of Noble Impact, an education venture in partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas.

"Vital to EO's mission is empowering and engaging leading entrepreneurs to grow and learn as well as develop as leaders in their businesses and communities," said Adrienne Palmer member of EO's Global Board of Directors. "As we prepare for Global Entrepreneurship Week, it's important to remember that part of the deep and meaningful transformation of entrepreneurs is mentoring others to follow in our footsteps. It's important foster entrepreneurship globally so that business leaders have a seat at the table as leading indicators of the world economy," concluded Palmer.

Hundreds of alumni from U.S. government-sponsored international exchange programs, ranging from A New Beginning to African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) and Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which are part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), participated in the interactive session from U.S. embassies around the globe. Twitter users were able to follow the online conversation using the hashtag #entrexchange.

In an effort to augment the reach of the telecast, EO facilitated a successful simultaneous web chat featuring the following entrepreneurs:

• Mohamed Emad Issa, Head of School Committee at iEARN Egypt, global non-profit that enables teachers and youth to use emerging technology and engage in collaborative education projects.
• Mostafa Shahat, CEO of "Goal Oriented Learners" (GOL), an organization that provides employment skills training to youth across the nation.
• Camélia Drissi, Founder of Spatula, a kitchen incubator project that provides access to capital to encourage women to grow a culinary business.​​​