ICSB Leadership Heads to Paris
The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) is proud to announce its leadership delegation’s participation in the ICSB Paris Signature Event, organized in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Representing ICSB’s global commitment to inclusive and human-centered entrepreneurship, the delegation includes:
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Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy, President & CEO, ICSB
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Dr. Winslow Sargeant, ICSB Immediate Past Chair
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Ahmed Osman, ICSB Past Chair
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Dr. Rico Baldegger, ICSB Board Member & Chair of MSMEs Day 2024
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Rita Grant, ICSB Board Member
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Dr. Norris Krueger, ICSB Board Member
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide
Under the theme “Turning Insights Into Action,” this high-level event focuses on unlocking the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs, a critical driver of innovation and sustainable growth in today’s global economy.
While more women are starting businesses and leading in innovation, they continue to face barriers in access to finance, networks, skills development, and cultural attitudes. According to OECD data, women in member countries were only about 75% as likely as men to be starting or managing a new business between 2019 and 2023.
The ICSB–OECD partnership seeks to bridge this gap through evidence-based policymaking, dialogue, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, researchers, and government leaders.
Event Highlights
The Paris Signature Event will convene high-level policymakers, women entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship support organizations from across the globe. Through a series of interactive panel sessions, participants will:
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Launch a new OECD–GWEP publication: “Bridging the Finance Gap for Women Entrepreneurs: Insights from Academic and Policy Research”
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Discuss policy actions to expand women’s participation in digital entrepreneurship
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Showcase success stories of women leading innovative and growth-oriented enterprises
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Share global best practices for supporting women entrepreneurs in areas such as finance, institutions, networks, and digitalisation
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Consult on the next steps for research and policy collaboration between the OECD and ICSB
A Shared Vision for Inclusive Growth
Through this partnership, ICSB and the OECD reaffirm their shared mission to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and human-centered entrepreneurial ecosystem. By turning insights into action, the event aims to ensure that women around the world have equal access to opportunities that drive innovation and prosperity.
“Real change happens when insights become action. The ICSB–OECD collaboration is more than a dialogue — it’s a commitment to redesigning entrepreneurship so that women everywhere can lead, innovate, and shape the future of inclusive growth.”
— Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy, President & CEO, ICSB
The ICSB Paris Signature Event is part of ICSB’s ongoing global series leading up to its 70th Anniversary in 2025, uniting thought leaders and practitioners to advance the future of entrepreneurship.