June 13, 2019

Supporting the Next Wave of Entrepreneurship through Exchange Programs

Assistant Secretary of State Marie Royce joined over 1,000 entrepreneurs in The Hague this week for the ninth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). Hosted by the United States and the Netherlands, this 9thedition of GES focused on global opportunities for the next wave of entrepreneur-led innovation in scalable tech, from artificial intelligence and robotics to blockchain, big data, new science and more. The Summit kicked-off with welcome addresses from U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who invited attendees to begin reflecting on the progress of entrepreneurship around the world and develop innovative practices across multiple sectors.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), which launched this year, was introduced to participants at GES. AWE is designed for women with brilliant ideas to engage in U.S-style education with guided facilitation from local alumni, women business leaders, and key interlocutors to ensure business development.. Assistant Secretary Royce shared information on this awe-inspiring program through her remarks, interviews, and meetings at GES. These engagements around AWE expand the reach of ECA exchange programs and our dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs.

Assistant Secretary Royce also met with over 100 exchange program alumni from various USG programs (Mandela Washington Fellows, TechWomen, etc.) who joined GES. Several alumni from previous GES were also selected to be 2019 GES Alumni Ambassadors. They were active in building connections with emerging entrepreneurial leaders and sharing the innovative ideas they gained from previous Summits.

Leading up to the Summit, these Alumni Ambassadors shared experiences, tips and advice for current GES participants, and continued to do so this week. They are real life examples of how entrepreneurs are taking action in their communities and contributing to global prosperity.

The GES Alumni Ambassadors and other participants will continue sharing takeaways from GES 2019 virtually at https://www.ges2019.org/ and on social media under #GES2019.