ICSB Sunday Times Editor’s note:
Let us have a Pumpkin Latte —a warm blend of heritage and innovation, just like this week’s ICSB Sunday Times. This issue honors the late Dr. Eo Yoon-bae, the first Korean named an ICSB Fellow, and explores the rise of Human-Centered Entrepreneurship through the Jinju Forum in South Korea. Additional stories cover Dr. Winslow Sargeant’s reflections on AI and ethics, new research on franchising resilience during COVID-19, and ICSB’s enduring partnership with Egyptian leaders Ahmed Osman and Amr Gohar, underscoring ICSB’s global mission to advance entrepreneurship through purpose, innovation, and collaboration.

— Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy

ICSB Fellow Award: Korean Pioneer in Entrepreneurship Education Honored Posthumously

Former Soongsil University President Eo Yoon-bae has been posthumously named the first Korean ICSB Fellow, honoring his pioneering contributions to entrepreneurship education and SME research in Asia. The recognition, announced during a strategic partnership ceremony between ICSB and Soongsil University in Seoul, symbolizes a milestone in expanding ICSB’s global reach. ICSB President Ayman El Tarabishy presented the fellowship plaque to President Eo’s family, acknowledging his role in bridging Western and Asian entrepreneurship scholarship. Eo’s lifelong belief that small and medium-sized enterprises form the foundation of national development continues to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs.

How a Korean City Became a Global Beacon for Human-Centered Entrepreneurship

In Jinju, South Korea, the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum has rapidly emerged as a global symbol of Human-Centered Entrepreneurship, emphasizing people, purpose, and shared prosperity over mere technological advancement. Founded on Korea’s cultural values of inhwa (harmony), jeong (compassion), and gong-ik (public good), the movement traces its roots to Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy’s 2023 essay, “The Origin of Korean Entrepreneurship.” His work linked Korea’s economic success to these moral foundations, inspiring ICSB to champion a new vision of entrepreneurship rooted in humanity and collaboration. As ICSB Chairman Ki-Chan Kim notes, “No player is greater than the team” — and guided by purpose, this global team is redefining the future of entrepreneurship.

In a compelling speech, Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Immediate Past Chair of ICSB and former Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, explored the intersection of artificial intelligence, humanity, and storytelling. Drawing parallels from The Matrix and Star Wars, he illustrated the struggle between technological dominance and human agency. Dr. Sargeant warned against innovation without ethics, urging that AI must serve — not replace — human creativity, belief, and purpose. He concluded that in this new era of intelligence, society’s greatest task is to remain the author of its own story, guided by imagination and moral responsibility rather than algorithms.

Global Spotlight
Egypt Unveils Its Gift to Humanity: The Grand Egyptian Museum Opens in Giza

After nearly two decades of anticipation, Egypt has opened the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. Located beside the Great Pyramids of Giza, the $1.2 billion project, supported by Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, blends ancient heritage with modern innovation. Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, the GEM features panoramic glass façades, triangular motifs echoing the pyramids, and an 83-ton statue of Ramses II welcoming visitors to more than 100,000 artifacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection displayed together for the first time. More than a museum, the GEM is Egypt’s gift to humanity — a global hub for knowledge, conservation, and cultural exchange. With advanced labs, interactive exhibits, and sustainable design, it revitalizes tourism while celebrating Egypt’s enduring role as a bridge between history and the future.

More from ICSB News

ICSB 70th Anniversary – From ICSB History Book

ICSB’s engagement with Egypt began in the early 2000s, led by visionary figures such as Ahmed Osman and Amr Gohar, who helped establish strong partnerships with universities, government bodies, and private-sector leaders to promote entrepreneurship and SME development across the region.

In 2019, Egypt hosted the ICSB World Congress in Cairo, under the leadership of Ahmed Osman, then ICSB President—the first Egyptian and Arab to hold this position—spotlighting Egypt’s role as a regional and global hub for innovation, youth empowerment, and women’s entrepreneurship.

Looking ahead to 2025, ICSB will return to Cairo for its 70th Anniversary Global Congress, themed “Innovation Unleashed,” in partnership with the American University in Cairo, with Amr Gohar playing a key role in advancing the event’s vision and Egypt’s leadership in human-centered entrepreneurship.