Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy is the President & CEO of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), directing the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing small business research and practice across a coalition of 23 knowledge hubs spanning over 150 countries. He is also Professor of Management at the George Washington University School of Business, where he specializes in entrepreneurship with a particular focus on creative, innovative, and humane-centered business practices. Concurrently,
Academic Excellence and Innovation
Dr. El Tarabishy’s commitment to educational excellence has earned multiple recognitions, including the 2024 and 20222 Outstanding Accelerated Master of Business Administration Faculty Award, the 2021 Outstanding Online & Healthcare Master of Business Administration Faculty Award (student-selected), and the 2019 Most Influential Faculty Award from the George Washington University New Venture Competition. He pioneered the development of the first social entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity courses offered to both MBA and undergraduate students at the university.
Global Policy Impact
One of Dr. El Tarabishy’s most significant contributions to global entrepreneurship policy was his instrumental role in establishing the United Nations Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day. Working closely with the Permanent Mission of Argentina, he proposed and successfully advocated for a UN resolution to dedicate June 27th as an official international day recognizing MSMEs. The resolution, co-sponsored by 54 countries and representing 5.5 billion people, was approved by the UN General Assembly, creating a global platform for MSME advocacy and awareness.
Research and Conference Leadership
As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Small Business Management (JSBM), Dr. El Tarabishy oversees scholarly publication with an impact factor of over 6, circulating research to over 130 countries. He created and manages the Global Entrepreneurship Research and Policy Conference (GWOctober.org), an international forum hosted by George Washington University that bridges cutting-edge entrepreneurial research with critical policy development for promoting entrepreneurship and MSMEs globally.
International Development Experience
Dr. El Tarabishy’s practical experience includes work with the World Bank’s Corporate Strategy Group, where he contributed to developing and managing technological strategy for the Development Marketplace Program. This initiative identified and supported innovative solutions to pressing global social and economic challenges, ultimately awarding over $125 million to 650 winning proposals worldwide.
Through his multifaceted roles spanning academia, policy advocacy, research leadership, and international development, Dr. El Tarabishy continues to shape the global conversation around entrepreneurship, small business development, and innovative business practices that prioritize both economic success and human-centered values.