Dear ICSB Family,
As we close the chapter on 2025, I want to pause and reflect with gratitude on a year that truly defined who we are and where we are headed as a global organization. This was a milestone year for ICSB, one shaped by purpose, people, and partnerships, and I want to share ten moments that capture the spirit and impact of what we accomplished together.
1. We marked a historic milestone with the 70th Anniversary World Congress in Cairo, bringing together delegates from more than 45 countries and reaffirming ICSB’s global leadership across regions and stages of development. I want to personally thank Mr. Ahmed Osman, Chair of the ICSB 70th World Congress, for executing a superb gathering at the highest level.
2. Our OECD–ICSB International Signature Series in Paris elevated ICSB’s voice in global policy dialogue, advancing critical conversations on women’s entrepreneurship and dynamic growth. I want to thank Rico Baldegger, Chair of this Signature Series, and Jonathan Potter from OECD for their exceptional work. Also, I would like to recognize Camille Burns from the Women Presidents Organization (WPO), Amazon Corporation, HEC Paris, and Station F for their support. We will continue this important initiative.
3. We celebrated legacy and stewardship through the Induction of the 2025 ICSB Fellows Class, honoring leaders whose lifelong contributions continue to shape entrepreneurship worldwide.
4. The ICSB Signature Event in Sydney extended our anniversary celebrations into the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing capability-building and MSME resilience.
5. The ICSB Signature Event in Seoul deepened our engagement in East Asia, highlighting human-centered entrepreneurship, technology, and ecosystem development.
Beyond our global convenings, 2025 was also a year of intellectual momentum and mission clarity.
6. We advanced strong launch momentum for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Review (IER), reinforcing our commitment to open, globally accessible, and practice-relevant scholarship.
7. Human-Centered Entrepreneurship emerged as a unifying framework across our events, research, and awards—placing empathy, empowerment, and enablement at the heart of innovation and MSME growth.
8. We strengthened global partnerships across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, reinforcing ICSB’s unique role as a bridge organization across regions and perspectives.
9. Through the 2025 ICSB Global Awards, we recognized institutions and leaders advancing impact, innovation, and long-term value in entrepreneurship education and ecosystems.
10. Across all our 70th Anniversary activities, we consistently positioned entrepreneurship as a global public good—essential to resilience, dignity, and sustainable economic growth.
None of this would have been possible without you—our members, partners, board, fellows, scholars, students, and friends around the world. Your commitment, energy, and belief in ICSB’s mission made 2025 such a meaningful and memorable year.
As we look ahead, we do so with momentum, clarity, and confidence in the strength of this global family. Thank you for being part of this journey—and for shaping the future of entrepreneurship together.
With gratitude and optimism,
Ayman ElTarabishy
President & CEO
International Council for Small Business (ICSB)