Entrepreneurship as the Bridge Between Humanity, Technology, and Job Creation
JINJU, South Korea – October 27, 2025 — In the heart of Jinju, celebrated as the “Capital of Korean Entrepreneurship,” global leaders gathered to reimagine the future of business at the 2025 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship. The event, in collaboration with the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), the United Nations, and leading universities, spotlighted a powerful message: innovation must serve humanity — and create opportunities for all.
Entrepreneurship as Humanity’s Response to Change
As artificial intelligence and automation reshape global industries, speakers from around the world emphasized that technology alone cannot build a better future — people can. The forum’s discussions focused on how entrepreneurs and small business owners will lead the next wave of job creation, community development, and innovation.
Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, President and CEO of ICSB, began the discussion with a call to action, emphasizing that entrepreneurship must serve as a moral compass—guiding not just by paperwork but by purpose.
He explained that entrepreneurship today goes far beyond starting new companies; it’s about restoring humanity to the center of innovation and ensuring that creativity and compassion drive economic growth.
“Every startup, every small business, is a spark of human creativity that can light up entire communities,” Dr. El Tarabishy said.
Global Voices Emphasize Leadership and Renewal
Csaba Kőrösi, 77th President of the United Nations General Assembly, described entrepreneurship as a form of leadership capable of adapting wisely to each era’s challenges. He emphasized that innovators play a critical role in rebuilding communities and redefining how humans and technology coexist.
Jehangir Khan, Secretary-General of the Council of Presidents of the UNGA, reinforced this message.
“Good entrepreneurship is the most precious resource of any society,” he told participants. “A nation or enterprise can be blessed with many resources, but if it has poor leadership, it will never succeed.”
He urged global leaders and entrepreneurs alike to mobilize in the face of rapid technological change so that new tools, including AI, serve humanity rather than replace it.
ICSB’s Vision: From Global Policy to Local Opportunity
For more than 70 years, ICSB has led a worldwide movement to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). From advocating for the creation of UN MSMEs Day to pioneering Human-Centered Entrepreneurship (HCE), ICSB continues to champion inclusive innovation as a driver of sustainable job creation.
At Jinju, ICSB reaffirmed its commitment to help cities and universities design entrepreneurship programs that generate employment, spark innovation, and build human capacity.
Universities as Catalysts of Change
The second session featured educators from Korea, Malaysia, and the United States sharing how their universities are evolving to meet the challenges of the modern economy.
Dr. Stuart Rayfield, President of Columbus State University (U.S.), described how academic institutions can partner with local industries to keep talent and innovation rooted in their regions.
“We train our students not just to find jobs but to create them,” Rayfield said. “Smart entrepreneurs adapt — they identify local problems and turn them into opportunities for progress.”
This alignment between education and entrepreneurship resonated strongly with participants, reinforcing the belief that universities are engines of human progress when they connect learning to real-world purpose.
Jinju: Where Tradition and Innovation Meet
Jinju’s historic legacy as the birthplace of Korea’s leading business founders — from LG to Samsung — made it an ideal setting for this international dialogue.\
During the opening day, Mayor Jo Kyoo-il presented Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chair of ICSB and former Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, with honorary citizenship, recognizing his dedication to entrepreneurship education and innovation.
Together, Jinju City and ICSB committed to transforming the city into a living laboratory of human-centered innovation — a model where history, entrepreneurship, and technology come together to inspire future generations.
The Future: Jobs, Dignity, and Purpose
As the forum concluded, one message was clear: the future of entrepreneurship is not just digital — it is deeply human.
Innovation, when guided by empathy and creativity, can generate not only profit but also opportunity, inclusion, and shared prosperity.
“If we keep humanity at the center,” Dr. El Tarabishy said, “every innovation becomes a source of hope — and every entrepreneur, a creator of jobs and dignity.”