The International Council for Small Business announces the theme and start of the Celebration of and Action for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises on 27 June

Jun 25, 2020 | The Latest

The International Council for Small Business announces the theme and start of the Celebration of and Action for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises on 27 June

Thursday, June 25, 2020 WASHINGTON (PRWEB)

Celebration of and Action for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day are a United Nations Name Day, which was established in 2017. The day, June 27th is meant to demonstrate global support of MSMEs. MSMEs are the most significant contributors to local and global economies. However, they are often much forgotten and oppressed by restrictive policies and unsupported responses in times of need. MSMEs Day seeks to be both a moment of applause for the work that MSMEs do and a moment to gather for future planning to better promote the smaller economic units in the world.

Despite broad support throughout most governments, MSMEs are still in need of much political and regulatory relief that will enhance their narrative and support their establishment and entrepreneurial pursuits. Feeling that it is essential for the principles and best practices for MSMEs to be created in a way that is informed by the MSMEs themselves, the co-collaborators for this year’s MSMEs Day Celebration have themed the event “We Hear You.”

Given the pandemic and economic crisis affecting the global community, this 2020 MSMEs Day is set to stand out from those in the past. The International Council for Small Business, who is responsible for the creation of MSMEs Day posted, “As the pre-existing conditions, which have created disease within the world and for many MSMEs, have become even more announced, we see more clearly the importance of creating action to achieve fair, just, and green economies within our national and international markets.”

The United Nations has engaged recently with many initiatives in support of MSMEs, especially those in conjunction with the 2030 Agenda, highlighting their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations has been vocal in their understanding of MSMEs as the keys to success in achieving the SDGs. To demonstrate their support of both MSMEs and organizations that work to uplift MSMEs, like the ICSB, they are participating in MSMEs Day by co-hosting a celebratory event on June 25th. This event is the result of a truly collaborative effort between the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, who was the first to engage with ICSB’s request for a Name Day supporting small businesses in 2016, along with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and ICSB. The event is meant to stand as a day of celebration to honor the constant work and resilience of MSMEs year long.

Following the celebratory event on June 25th, ICSB will host an MSMEs Day of Action on Saturday, June 27th. Building upon the discussions which began just days prior, the Day of Action plans to center around the tangible and actionable steps that MSMEs and their supporters can take towards building better ecosystems for MSMEs. In light of the recent events, including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis, the event will showcase resources for MSMEs worldwide, as well as take time to examine the potential and current opportunities that these events have created.

Coupled with the Name Day, the International Council for Small Business publishes an annual report. This year, the 2020 ICSB Global MSMEs Report will be released on June 25th on the ICSB’s website, http://www.icsb.org. It is the most extended report to date as ICSB received more submissions than ever.

The 2020 Report concludes with a statement from ICSB’s Executive Director, Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy and Deputy Chair of the Department f Management of the GW School of Business, announcing, “In applying ourselves towards creating human-centered relationships, businesses, and policies, we might have a fighting chance at calibrating our world’s systems so that we can live in a place that upholds equity for all first and foremost.”

Please join us for both events. For more information and registration, please visit https://icsb.org/msmedays/.

Washington DC
June 23, 2022

Full Uncertainty That Is Our Certainty

Jun 20, 2020 | The Latest

Full Uncertainty That Is Our Certainty

Saturday, June, 20, 2020 By Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy

We need to ensure that the entrepreneurial base grows and that the jobs become more diverse

In acknowledging the global changes due to the unforeseen events over the past few months, Prince Constantijn van Oranje spoke about the societal and economic shifts that have taken place resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Having been personally and professionally affected, Prince Constantijn holds the unique perspective in seeing both the positive outcomes and painful truths that these past few months have revealed. In responding to the onset of the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince Constantijn and his team immediately saw the need to “pivot” their strategy. Upon the crisis’ onset, they surveyed the startup ecosystem to be able to see clearly and more fully understand the ecosystem’s needs and its views of the perceived economic and financial impact that the pandemic and shut down would likely produce. Thanks to this work, Prince Constantijn and his team were then in a “position to negotiate a loan package with the government for the startup community.” This was an incredible move-in protecting the Netherlands ecosystem as startups are not typically included in government aid packages. Additionally, on an organizational level, the external stressors over the past few months have been a loud and sounding wake up call to “refocus our organizations.”

In recognizing that a change or shift in one city or region can have a butterfly effect and result in significant changes in a completely different place, we need to realize our true globalized and interconnected nature. Prince Constantijn was asked, as a leader of the tech industry, and Tech Leap.NL, specifically, what had initially attracted him to this industry. In his response, Prince Constantijn admitted that scale-up is most likely the toughest part of the business. To be continually fighting and forever entering into new spaces, building a scale-up was, personally, not for him. However, he has found his place working with people that do have this enthusiasm and passion for working to improve the world. He finds it incredibly stimulating to be working with so many who embody a “can do” and, further, will do attitude.

In leading this sector, however, Prince Constantijn van Oranje has seen incredible success as the Netherlands continues to be one of the fastest-growing startup hubs in Europe. More specifically, Winslow Sargeant provided some data to portray the Netherlands’ success, recalling that they are the “#1 developer of capital in Europe, #4 best country for business, and #1 best-connected economy in the world.” When asked to share his best practices or those that he has seen, Prince Constantijn described that the success born out of the Netherlands is thanks to the well-established and built ecosystem in the Netherlands, which has high levels of healthcare, education, widespread bilingualism, higher education, and necessary infrastructure. Besides the work that by the government, the culture amongst Dutch people leads to the constant questioning of authority, which assists in creating a culture of innovation. This, coupled with the number of multilevel international organizations in the Netherlands, the nation began in an excellent position. Being a smaller country with universal broadband capabilities, the Netherlands’ real secret is that the essential “innovation is in the people.” We have seen this exemplified by the way that societies have integrated the technology to change healthcare, education, and work practices because now there is a significant pressure to make these transitions happen.

If innovation truly does originate in the person, and most trends point to its accuracy, then we need to question, “Do startups need governments.” The answer may have changed from before COVID-19 to now. However, we can see that the government does indeed have a role to play. We saw how the virus disproportionately affected those who were already in a vulnerable and disadvantaged state. COVID-19 has shown us that the government has an important role to play in a crisis. Governments work as a type of last resort lender, who must provide specific schemes to ensure that people are paid. However, there is a precise balance to strike in that the government needs to be proactive, while not being too restrictive, to enhance the opportunity for new solutions, founded in a flexible system. Governments, additionally, can have a mindset of innovation and entrepreneurship, which will motivate them to invest in education, research, and innovative development.

If governments genuinely begin investing in funding and encouraging entrepreneurs, we need to think about how this will change national ecosystems, and then, in turn, how it might affect our preconceived ideas or beliefs about globalization. As the movement towards resilient supply chains and autonomy takes form, no one seems to be sure of how this will translate into a globalized system. However, we are confident that companies need to build alternatives to their complex supply chains, which fail in the face of disruption. Even governments that are used to outsourcing all their manufacturing have been unable to access critical equipment. Prince Constantijn points out that we have all become “more aware that the optimization of supply chains has its risks,” therefore, in the future we might see more strategic moves as companies weigh efficiency over the robustness of supply chains.

Resulting from these disruptions, however, individual companies and industries were able to demonstrate incredible resiliency as they pulled together and shifted to produce what was most necessary for society, which not surprisingly equated with what was most essential for humanity. It is entrepreneurship that lives at the heart of these trends of adaptability and innovation. Today, anyone can engage with entrepreneurship. As we see, technology hubs spread throughout the world; startups are popping up in places that have been typically excluded from substantial monetary gains, quality job creation, and decision-making processes in the past. However, now, people can create a business with a simple connection to the internet, which is changing everything.

This movement towards investment in entrepreneurship must come with an investment towards expanding the invitation of those who are typically working within the tech sector. Currently, the tech world is very white and male, therefore, now that more people can engage with this sector, we must be sure to generate the conditions so that the non-white and non-male identities can feel empowered to unleash their potential within this sector. Governments can play an additional role in opening up this conversation and establishing a culture of acceptance, invitation, and equitable policy. Prince Constantijn reflected on these questions asking, “How do we make the tech ecosystem more diverse?” and “Why do certain groups not feel empowered to be entrepreneurs?” Noting the apparent bias also amongst investors, Prince Constantijn continues to ask, “How do we ensure that the entrepreneurial base grows and that the jobs become more diverse?” Betting on diversity “as a force for good,” we can see clearly that our customer base is more diverse, so why not look to represent that diversity, in talent, skill, background, and orientation.

For Prince Constantijn van Oranje, the logic is simple: we must integrate entrepreneurship into our culture. In demystifying the tech sector, we can start to change people’s perceptions to see the opportunity and possible gains that entrepreneurship presents instead of solely the risks. In destigmatizing failure, we might be able to create a vibrant ecosystem, or “set of interrelated actors providing tech, money, talent, and market entry.” As COVID-19 worked as an “incredible triage,” businesses worldwide are deciding whether they want to stay at their size or make a leap forward. For many, that will involve entering the online market, which presents many possibilities. Unfortunately for companies that are not willing to continue forward, many will not survive.

In his closing remarks, Prince Constantijn van Oranje states that “the only thing you know is that you have full uncertainty, that’s your certainty.” In moving forward, hope is not the solution, but rather it is a mental guide that helps us move forward. In thinking about the approaching MSMEs Day, we can see the wonderful organizations and businesses that have come out of crises, the United Nations presenting as a great example. In his final words, Prince Constantjin reminds us that there will always be people who stand up to make a change, and right now, that change-maker could be anyone.

Thank you, Prince Constantijn van Oranje for your incredible presentation and sharing your time with us. For those interested in watching the full video, check it out below. We look forward to continuing this discussion at the MSMEs Day 2020 June 25th Celebration and June 27th Day of Action.

As the pandemic continues, it might be time to upgrade that temporary home office setup

Jun 4, 2020 | The Latest

As the pandemic continues, it might be time to upgrade that temporary home office setup

Thursday, June, 4, 2020 By Jura Koncius Washington Post

The past few months of working from dining tables, couches and beds have taken their toll on novice telecommuters. With many of us settling in for the long haul — told to stay home until at least Labor Day or, like some Facebook and Twitter workers, permanently — the makeshift office hacks of the coronavirus shutdown are getting old. America’s backs and necks are suffering.

Realizing this is not as “temporary” a situation as you thought, you might be ready to trade in your metal folding chair for an ergonomic model or treat yourself to a set of new candy-colored Sharpies. Maybe you want to make the spot where you spend your days (and maybe nights) more welcoming and videoconference-friendly. Maybe your employer is even offering a stipend for workers in need of home office improvements.

Designer Young Huh started the pandemic in her Scarsdale, N.Y., home sharing side-by-side desks in a small office with her husband, as their two kids worked in their bedrooms. But her husband’s conference calls were disturbing her concentration. “He makes too much noise. We needed him contained,” she said. She moved to the dining room to work. A butler’s pantry and a bar cart now organize her papers. And she’s added a few frills. “It’s still important to make your workspace look pretty. I put my pens in pretty canisters and put my ear buds in a silver gravy boat,” Huh says.

Many households were unprepared for the entire family’s transition to working from home. “In some homes, there needed to be four or five setups,” says Jeff Miller, vice president of design for Poppin, a line of furniture and desk accessories known for its color and modern vibe. As for Miller’s own New York apartment setup: “I sequestered myself in an extra-small bedroom with just an Eames Aluminum Group chair and a music stand for my laptop,” he says, great for videoconference calls. After the third week, his back hurt. He picked up two Poppin Series A desks, which he arranged next to each other to create two seating areas, which he could share with his wife, who is also working from home, or their 12-year-old son.

When the pandemic hit, designer Loi Thai of Tone on Tone had already converted the garage a few steps from his 1928 home in Silver Spring into a cottagey office. “Since I’m spending so much time here now, I want to be surrounded by things that I love,” Thai says. Instead of standard desk accessories, he uses galvanized garden pots and trays to hold pens and note pads. In lieu of a boring office task lamp, he bought a fun ceramic lamp base with a silvery glaze and a navy ikat-print paper shade from World Market.

Keeping it all together is hard, but organized living beats chaos. Beth Penn, a Los Angeles professional organizer and owner of Bneato Bar, has heard from a number of clients looking for help. “I have gotten calls to talk about productivity. My clients say they aren’t getting as much done as they would like since they are home with all these distractions they are not used to,” Penn says.

Looking for an upgrade of your own? We’ve consulted with design pros who shared some of their home office decorating secrets.

Chairs

You can’t work in bed forever; you need a decent chair that will support your back. But you don’t have to get a hulking black monster on wheels that takes up half your room. The best models are ergonomic and have adjustability in height, lumbar support and arm rests. Choose something that fits with your desk and room, but make sure it’s comfortable.

Penn is a fan of West Elm’s two-toned upholstered office chair ($649). It’s pretty, she says, and keeps your home looking like a home. It’s also cushioned and adjustable for comfort.

Thai picked a streamlined Graham leather desk chair from Crate & Barrel ($349) that has a stylish look and small footprint. “I sit in it all day, so I wanted something comfortable, but not a bulky model,” he says. He took the arms off so it can slide under his desk.

Desks

The industry standard for a good work desk height is 29 inches based on an average person’s height, Miller says; your table and dining surfaces may not match up to that.

Don’t make your desk an afterthought, says Tali Roth, a New York designer who hails from Australia. “Look for something you admire when you walk past it and that you love to use.” She prefers vintage desks, interesting console tables or credenzas, although you should make sure the dimensions work for your computer setup. She might put chairs behind and in front of a desk, “so if your husband or kid wants to come talk to you, you can use it also in a conversational way,” she says. One of her recent finds is the mid-century-inspired Carmel desk from Burke Decor ($1,000-$1,150), which has three drawers and interior shelving.

For a small footprint desk with a lot of style, Huh suggests the West Elm mid-century mini secretary ($399), which even has a flip-down door. Roth says the ash and birch Ikea Lisabo desk ($149) makes for a nice space-saving desk that is sized perfectly for a laptop.

Lighting

You’ll want good lighting to prevent eyestrain — and so you’ll look fabulous on Zoom calls. If you’re still using a cheap plastic lamp that you picked up at a drugstore years ago (guilty as charged), maybe it’s time for an upgrade.

“If you don’t have natural light or overhead light, you’ll need a good task light,” Roth says. She looks for lamps that add shape and texture. One of her favorites is the classic adjustable task table lamp from RH ($249) because of its clean lines and flexibility. The dimmable Design Within Reach Matin table lamp ($225) has a pleated cotton shade that comes in several colors, including lavender and yellow.

Thai prefers to use traditional table lamps at desks and likes the look of mercury glass, which adds a bit of sparkle.

Storage and organization

You need a place to stash your work stuff, Roth says. “Otherwise, it ends up becoming a dumping ground,” and messy surfaces covered with work papers can make you anxious. She’s a fan of trays to corral papers, such as the dimpled glass Cloud Desk Tray from Urban Outfitters ($24-$39). Or get a small rolling file cabinet. “That way, you can pack it up and transition away from your work day by rolling it into a closet or under a desk,” she says. One of her picks is the Madera rolling wood cabinet from Article ($449).

Papers and utensils need places to land. Penn says you can’t beat a good-looking magazine organizer to quickly stash things away. Their wide mouths can hold lots of papers and notebooks, and they come in many textures and colors. She’s partial to the blush-color Poppin magazine file box ($17).

If you don’t have space for a new bookcase, Huh says to consider floating shelves. A bar cart can also take on a new role in quarantine: She bought herself an antique American regency bar at auction to put in the dining room for storing work supplies, such as cups for drawing markers, a scale ruler, samples and papers, as well as some flowers to cheer her up “and make a nice backdrop for Zoom calls.”

The two levels in most bar carts are space-efficient, and she suggests looking for one at Ballard Designs or Wisteria. Another one of her picks is the Peekaboo acrylic rolling two-shelf cart from CB2 ($349).

And Penn says there is no reason a kitchen cabinet shelf or kitchen drawer can’t be commandeered for work papers, especially if you are working nearby.

Nice extras

Thai prefers a homey office look that reflects his interests, such as growing flowers and caring for topiaries. “I spend so much time in there; I didn’t want it to look sterile,” he says. He added his art books and some English pottery. He is fond of bulletin boards — such as Pottery Barn’s linen pinboard ($149-$199) — as idea generators. His galvanized iron trash can is an extra-large Habit and Form garden pot from Terrain ($58).

He snips items from his garden or a house plant to brighten the office and add something green, even if it’s just a single palm leaf. He prefers pottery vases — such as Crate & Barrel’s Alya white speckled vase ($34.95) — instead of clear glass. “If you don’t happen to have access to flowers, the pottery vases, even empty, are like sculptures and still look pretty,” he says.

Ergonomic upgrades

Well-considered ergonomics are essential for working from home. “A dining chair or even a well-upholstered side chair is only meant to provide comfort for a couple hours,” Miller says, and is not contoured to your body in a posture appropriate for working in front of a computer screen all day. A good ergonomic seat that allows independent movement of the backrest and seat is important. Feet should be flat on the floor, and elbows should be relaxed upon the desk surface.

Monitor height is another consideration, Miller says, to keep the viewing angle at about 15 to 20 degrees below eye level. If you have a separate monitor, you can get an adjustable or fixed-height monitor stand or riser. For laptops, a riser can reduce slouching (Poppin sells a basic version for $40) and makes for a better view of you on videoconferences.

Penn says she takes breaks at home and moves around from space to space so she doesn’t get bored or stiff. Make sure your desk and chair work well together for your height, and if you need to replace something, she says, you don’t have to buy new; try your local Buy Nothing Group, Nextdoor or Craigslist.

Exploring the Impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic on MSMEs

May 27, 2020 | The Latest

Exploring the Impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic on MSMEs

Wednesday 27, 2020 Written by DESA

Exploring the Impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic on MSMEs

Wednesday 27, 2020 Written by DESA

As MSMEs represent the largest population of enterprises around the globe, accounting for over 50% of enterprises, they also represent a large group of people.

Join us to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on MSMEs, including policy measures adopted by countries to support MSMEs in response to the outbreak of the pandemic and to enhance MSME resilience towards external shocks during the recovery phase.

Speakers will be Ayman El Tarabishy of the International Council for Small Business; Dragan Radic of the International Labour Organization; Asteria Caberte of the Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, and Majda Dabaghi of the International Chamber of Commerce.

The ICSB 1st Virtual Family Business Research & Practice Conference

May 18, 2020 | The Latest

The ICSB 1st Virtual Family Business Research & Practice Conference

Monday, May, 18, 2020

Conference Overview

As family businesses account for some of the world’s most influential forms of business organization, ICSB, IPAG Entrepreneurship & Family Business Center with GW School of Business sees the study of this topic is essential for our members to be able to claim a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurial principles and small business practices. Family businesses currently account for over 70 percent of total business, amounting to nearly 65 percent of a certain nation’s GDP. An interesting topic, given the alternative manner of training and decision making, this ICSB Global Virtual Family Business Research and Practice Conference will bring the most impressive and stunning trends in family-run enterprises to the forefront of our attention. This conference is for researchers, professionals, and practitioners, and students looking to explore this realm of entrepreneurship. The outcome of this conference will include not only an increased understanding of the details around the family business but also a community of dedicated family business supporters. Please join us on May 26th from 9 am to 3 pm (EDT) as we take on the opportunities and challenges surrounding family businesses together!

Why Should You Join US!

The aim of the 1st Virtual Family Business Research Conference is to bring together scholars from different parts of world to exchange top research and knowledge on family firms during this challenging times.

Connecting to this unique group of passionate researchers will offer the chance to learn from models, theories, and research findings which could help shape your own research and also get inspiration for your own family business.

We organize an exciting program (keynote speakers, panel discussion, parallel paper sessions), you choose the location and then let’s just spend some quality and fun time together!

Themes

Family Firm Entrepreneurship at the Edge of Chaos
Temporary and Structural Shifts in Family Business Research & Practice
Family Firms Amidst Crisis & Succession
Game of Thrones Through Crisis Leadership & Family-Practice Fit
Resilient Family Firms: Born to Innovate over Generations & Practice
Family Firms Through Challenging Strategic Choices
Family Firms, Community Pressure & Reputation