Taking EO on the Road
Building the world’s most influential community of entrepreneurs requires more than just nurturing our members through next-level learning and leadership development— it also means hitting the road to places where likeminded entrepreneurs are engaging with other external groups and conferences. But there’s so much more than having a booth at events or holding a few meetings!
From the recent G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA) in Hangzhou, China, and Web Summit in Portugal, to the Inc.com Women’s Conference in New York City, opportunities to promulgate our mission abound. Such opportunities allow us to leverage our programs, content and volunteer members to further position the organization as the global thought leader it is, while engaging new audiences who benefit from our value proposition and unique program offerings. Whether it’s providing Forum training to 250 young entrepreneurs from Latin America through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), using mentorship best practices to engage attendees at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, or teaching EO Accelerator content at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, EO is everywhere.
“One of the key benefits of EO is the ability to engage with members on a meaningful level,” said Miranda Barrett, EO’s Vice President of External Engagement. “We’re bringing this concept to external events and other entrepreneurial groups, giving prospective members and other influencers the ability to not only meet us, but to experience what EO is all about.”
Local chapters are also embracing this concept, hosting events that welcome external groups and engaging with visiting international delegations. For members in EO Dallas, for example, this meant the opportunity to interact with young entrepreneurs through the YLAI program and facilitate an unforgettable afternoon Forum session.
“Coaching young, Latin American entrepreneurs on the best practices of EO Forums? What a beautiful example of the possibilities that exist when governments, non-profits and the private sector are on the same page,” said EO Dallas’s Peter Fan.
As EO continues to expand its influence and reach, as well as its network of chapters, programs like YLAI help build a foundation of support in advance of chapter launches. For example, at the recent Web Summit, EO Accelerator Subcommittee Chair, Brandon Dempsey, connected with prospective members and the Minister of Finance for Portugal, which will help drive external awareness for a future chapter launch. This is just one of the many ways we’re maximizing our opportunities and creating a stronger foothold in the global entrepreneurial space, while also receiving value in return.
“While we know we can bring value to external groups and events, we are also focused on actively monitoring the value that EO gets from these activities,” said Miranda. “We approach our external engagement with a spirit of contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, but we also actively look for opportunities to advance EO’s strategic priorities and provide value to members.”
Conferences are selected based on a series of factors, including alignment with key EO
priorities and the likelihood of a high return on investment. If you would like to recommend
that EO attend an event in your region, or discuss how to engage groups on a local level,
contact Miranda at
[email protected].
