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ICSB Sunday Times Editor’s note:
Pour yourself a warm Egyptian hibiscus tea, because this week’s ICSB Sunday Times takes you across the global entrepreneurship landscape—from Cairo to Central Asia and beyond. We begin with a significant update: JICSB will expand its offerings in 2026 with Research Notes, complete Research Articles, and Rapid Communications to deliver faster, deeper insights. Our feature on Extreme Pedagogy highlights a bold new model that mirrors ICSB’s human-centered mission by calling on universities, instructors, students, and employers to share ownership of entrepreneurial learning. Fresh research from Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Poland shows how innovation and smart incentives strengthen SME resilience, while global insights warn that Africa must create one billion jobs by century’s end. We explore Alexandria—the world’s first cosmopolitan city—reflect on the limits of MBA rankings, and celebrate Dr. Rico Baldegger’s new book on navigating complexity. We conclude by honoring ICSB’s first ministerial meeting at the United Nations in 2016, a milestone that catalyzed UN MSMEs Day and cemented ICSB’s 70-year legacy.
— Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy
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JICSB Journal expands offerings
starting 2026
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The Journal of the International Council for Small Business (JICSB) has long been a trusted source for global insights on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), publishing research that blends academic rigor with practical relevance. For six years, its concise 10–12 page format has helped translate scholarship into clear, actionable insights for entrepreneurs, practitioners, and policymakers.
As the field of entrepreneurship expands, JICSB is evolving to meet the moment. Beginning January 1, 2026, the journal will introduce a broader range of article types—Research Notes, Research Articles, and Rapid Communications—designed to deepen engagement, accelerate knowledge sharing, and better capture emerging trends and global disruptions shaping the future of entrepreneurship. (read more).
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Extreme Pedagogy and Entrepreneurship Education – A New Frontier
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Entrepreneurship education is at a turning point, and ICSB’s human-centered approach aligns with the bold vision introduced through Extreme Pedagogy—a framework developed by Dave Silberman, Herman Aguinis, and Rob Carpenter that urges universities, instructors, students, and employers to work together as one unified team. Their research highlights how traditional education has become fragmented, producing graduates with credentials but without the entrepreneurial capabilities needed for today’s fast-moving world. Extreme Pedagogy calls for shared responsibility, collective intention, and “extreme ownership” among all stakeholders to prepare students to build, innovate, and lead with purpose in an unpredictable era. Read More
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CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH
Investigation of current economic incentives for entrepreneurship development in the manufacturing sector
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The study found that enterprises in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Poland that adopt innovation, strong management practices, and receive targeted financial support perform better in productivity and profitability. Economic incentives—like tax breaks and subsidies—are especially crucial for helping small and medium manufacturers invest, modernize, and remain competitive during economic instability. This matters because it shows that smart government policies and support programs can directly strengthen enterprise resilience, spur innovation, and drive long-term economic growth. Read More).
By: Aigul Mukhamejanova, Aziya Kulubekova, Raushan Mussina, & Gulnara Temirbaeva
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GLOBAL INSIGHTS
From Africa: Africa Needs 1 Billion Jobs by the End of the Century
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The article by Bloomberg Economics highlights a staggering challenge for Africa: the labor force is projected to swell by one billion people by the end of the century, meaning the continent must create tens of millions of new jobs annually to avoid a deep employment and social crisis (read more).
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GLOBAL INSIGHTS: City Spotlight
Alexandria, Egypt, Port City
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Alexandria, Egypt’s port city, has captured the imagination of historians, scholars, visitors, and locals for centuries. It is one of the most historic cities in the world, known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant history, geographical significance, and pivotal role in trade. While the term cosmopolitan has its origins in ancient Greece and was first used in a philosophical context, Alexandria is often considered the first true cosmopolitan city in practice. (read more).
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Why MBA and Business School Rankings Miss the Real Story of Management Research
Every year, schools celebrate (or quietly agonize over) MBA rankings, including the recently released Financial Times 2025 MBA rankings. These lists shape marketing campaigns, alum pride, donor conversations, and sometimes even strategic decisions. But when you look closely at what most rankings actually measure—salary bumps, admissions selectivity, compensation after graduation, global mobility, the opinions of recruiters—one thing becomes clear: They tell us almost nothing about which institutions are actually advancing management scholarship and its impact. (read more)
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Management in a Dynamic Environment: Concepts, Methods and Tools
by: Rico Baldegger
In Management in a Dynamic Environment: Concepts, Methods and Tools, Dr. Rico Baldegger introduces a holistic, system-based framework for managing complexity and driving innovation in rapidly changing times. Published by Springer as an open-access book, it bridges theory and practice through real-world case studies and human-centered leadership principles. The work aligns with ICSB’s mission. (Read More)
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ICSB 70th Anniversary – From ICSB History Book
1. Held at the United Nations Headquarters
ICSB’s first-ever ministerial meeting took place in June 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York, marking the organization’s formal entry into high-level global policy dialogue on MSMEs.
2. Brought Together Ministers and Policymakers from Around the World
The session convened ministers responsible for SMEs, government officials, UN leaders, and global entrepreneurship stakeholders to discuss how MSMEs can drive sustainable development, job creation, and economic inclusion.
3. Helped Elevate MSMEs on the Global Policy Agenda
This historic meeting laid the groundwork for stronger UN–ICSB collaboration and increased international recognition of MSMEs—momentum that contributed directly to the creation of UN MSMEs Day (June 27) the following year in 2017.
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We are devoted to the interests and advancement of small business globally
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