On Wednesday 12th June 2019, I was delighted to be an expert panel speaker at the #INFOCUS Conference 2019 at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva.

I was talking about the value and power of social entrepreneurship to create solutions for people and planet, with a focus on market -making for social enterprise in Russia and youth inclusion in the design and delivery of solutions. 

 I explored the importance of building the soft skills of entrepreneurial mindset, understanding and living personal and corporate values; and building partnerships and supply chains well ahead of bidding for contracts together.

I was drawing on my experiences of market-making for social enterprise in the UK, particularly for health and social care organisations.

Solution: Speaker, Expert Panel Member
Topic: Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship
Commissioned by: INFOCUS Conference
Date: June 2019

#flowinaction #purejoyofcreating #imagination #ideas #creativity #innovation #entrepreneurship #socialenterprise #designforflourishing #flourishing #designthinking #peopleandplanetcentreddesign #climateaction #youth #youthvoices

Solution: Expert Panel Member
Topic: Youth, Entrepreneurship, Pitching
Commissioned by: Hult Prize Local Round Organisers
Date: December 2018

#flowinaction #purejoyofcreating #imagination #ideas #creativity #innovation #entrepreneurship #sdgs #amman #hultprize #sustainability #resilience  #designthinking #designforflourishing #flourishing #peopleandplanetcentreddesign #nature 

​I started collaborating with UNCTAD- Division of Investment & Enterprise (DIAE) in 2017, supporting the 10 young entrepreneurs from developing countries selected for the Start-Ups for SDGs event with pitch preparation over their week in Geneva, during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2017.

We worked on their personal resilience for their entrepreneurship journey, focusing on the challenges of the week, as well as the forthcoming milestones. Throughout the week, informally in conversations and in sessions, I grounded them in their unique creativity and connected them to their resilience, providing them with a set of tools to access at any time.

Resilience plays a huge part in flourishing as a changemaker and entrepreneur, unlocking new perspectives and enabling you to adapt in a constantly changing environment, to bring your solution to the people who need it. 

Here's what Emily Chin, one of the young entrepreneurs had to say:

I also ran a Flow In Action Innovation Challenge with the audience, as a rapid, interactive download to engage them whilst the Expert Panel were judging the pitches from the young entrepreneurs. Bringing on stage young students to share their ideas in response to the challenge, was a wonderful way of hearing their voices, appetite and hope for new solutions for the planet.

Solution: Entrepreneurship Event
Topic: Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Pitching
Collaborating with: UNCTAD-DIAE
Commissioned by: UNCTAD-DIAE
Date: November 2017

#flowinaction #purejoyofcreating #imagination #ideas #creativity #innovation #entrepreneurship #sdgs #unctad #gew2017 #designthinking #resilience #designforflourishing #flourishing #peopleandplanetcentredesign #sustainability #nature 

​The Start-Ups for SDGs Youth Pitching event took place at the UN Palais des Nations, during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2018, welcoming 12 young entrepreneurs from around the world. I worked with UNCTAD - Division of Investment & Enterprise (DIAE) to organise and deliver the event, training the young entrepreneurs in resilience and pitching; and hosted the event held in Hall IV.

Over the course of this week in November 2018, we welcomed our 12 young entrepreneurs to Geneva, immersing them in a learning journey and preparing them for their pitches.
Entrepreneurship is a key economic driver in developing countries to support young people to create flourishing lives and communities. Each entrepreneur had a 5-min pitch, telling the story of their product and how it connects to achieving the UN SDGs in front of an audience including the Expert Panel, delegates from UN Missions, students from local schools and diplomats. The event was livestreamed on Facebook too, so audiences in their own countries could watch.

During the event itself, as the Expert Panel decided on who should be awarded the grant and loan prizes provided by Olivier Ferrari's One Creation, we invited the audience members to share their ideas, particularly the students. 

This week is about building a deeper understanding of their products and businesses, as well as deepening their own resilience for their entrepreneurship journey. Throughout the week, I worked with each individual to support them on their personal and professional journey, developing their resilience toolkit for the challenges of moving forward.
 
Solution: Youth Pitching Event
Topic: Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Pitching
Collaborating with: UNCTAD-DIAE
Commissioned by: UNCTAD_DIAE
Date: November 2018

#flowinaction #purejoyofcreating #imagination #ideas #creativity #innovation #entrepreneurship #designthinking #peopleandplanetcentreddesign #designforflourishing #sdgs #unctad #UN #flourishing #sustainability #impact ​