8th European Business Summit 2010 - EBS

30 June 2010 | Networking Table | Brussels, Belgium

The Wall Street Journal Europe Future Leadership Institute was present at the 8th European Business Summit (EBS). Here are the results of our presence:

1. EBS Student Report by student Jan Egeman, Wharton

2. WSJE Future Leadership Institute Networking Table at EBS

3. ThinkYoung's panel discussion and survey results

4. European Business Summit Program

1. Student Report

The Wall Street Journal Europe's Future Leadership Institute invited Wharton School student Jan Egeman to summarise the proceedings. Click here to read his report.

2. WSJE Future Leadership Institute Networking Table

The following guests attended the WSJE Networking Table at EBS:
- Bieke Van Gool, Antwerp Management School
- Duane Schultess, ScienceBusiness
- Larry Moffet, Democrats Abroad
- Roland Nobels, Oraura
- Jan Egeman, Wharton
- Paola Finocchiaro, Independent PR&Communications Agency
- Mary Roll, Vlerick Business School
- Michael Mathres, World Climate Summit
- Rafael de Gendt, Unilever
- Maryline Fiaschi, Euractiv
- Gert Van Mol, The Wall Street Journal Europe

3. ThinkYoung's panel discussion and survey results

At this year's European Business Summit, ThinkYoung presented the results of its survey 'Putting Europe Back on Track - What European Future Leaders Think' and led an interactive panel discussion based on the main outcomes. Referring to the questions used in the survey by INSEAD Business School and Accenture on how CEOs think Europe should be put back on track, the survey emphasizes what the young leading generation thinks - which issues Europe has to address in the future, and how these need to be addressed.

Main Recommendations

Attitude: European Future Leaders have an open attitude towards the world and towards migrants. Young people are not afraid of skilled and unskilled people coming to Europe - Europeans can learn from them and they should not be considered a threat.

Bureaucracy is a barrier to success, especially for young entrepreneurs. Politicians need to take action in order to reduce the burdens.

Credit needs to be made more accessible, especially for start-ups; put your money where your mouth is!

Development, sustainability, fighting climate change and focusing on green innovation and renewable energy sources is a central issue.

Education: it is crucial to invest in the future. New skills are required in the digital world - schools need to catch up with it and new ways of learning, such as e-learning, need to be increasingly used.

The speakers and their opinions

Antonia Sariyska (22), is the president of JADE, the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises and an expert on socially responsible entrepreneurship. She defines leadership as "responsibility, accountability; a mindset". In her opinion, true European leadership does not exist because most people in Europe do not feel European.

Hugo Pereira (24), the president of AIESEC, the world's largest student association, stated that "we should use this chance not only to put Europe back on track, as the EBS and the survey titles mention, but actually use this opportunity and carry out a more fundamental change". As a real European Future Leader he is determined to "act today for a better tomorrow". Cosmin Malureanu (29), refers to himself as a "product of Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe (JA-YE)" that taught him how to become an entrepreneur. At a very young age, this entrepreneurial education encouraged him to found Ascendia Design, of which he is now CEO and owner.

All the speakers agree that action needs to be taken immediately in order to tackle the problems caused by the crisis. Education is considered to be the most crucial element; students should also be educated in taking on responsibility and developing entrepreneurial spirit.

Asked if they would be ready to go to another continent to pursue their goals, the panellists made clear that it is enriching to leave Europe for some time, however, in the long run they say they want to play an active role in the future development of Europe. This shows that the speakers are true European leaders.

How to contact ThinkYoung

ThinkYoung aisbl
6, Rond-Point Schuman
1040 Brussels
www.thinkyoung.eu
Andrea Gerosa
Chief Thinker
andrea@thinkyoung.eu
Phone: +32.2.669.07.50

4. The Program at this year's summit

Topic

"Putting Europe back on track"

Organizing Committee

BUSINESS EUROPE and the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium

The Wall Street Journal Europe Future Leadership Institute

Media Partner

Dates

30 June and 1 July, 2010

Venue

TOUR & TAXIS
Avenue du Port, 86c
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Description

The EBS is Europe’s key platform for business leaders and decision makers to debate how to build a more competitive and sustainable European Union. Annually, the EBS attracts 2500 participants including CEOs & Top Executives, (Prime) Ministers, European Commissioners, and media.

The two plenary sessions, the Presidents' Debate and the twelve interactive sessions of this EBS will focus on topics such as economic recovery, financial regulation, trade for growth, the place of Europe in the world, new skills for new jobs, climate change and energy, innovation, clean-tech, Europe’s digital agenda and the future shape of the EU’s socio-economic model.

How to attend ?

The Wall Street Journal Europe Future Leadership Institute will organize a Wall Street Journal networking table at the European Business Summit. People selected to attend the networking table will have free access to the full summit. If you are interested in a seat at our networking table send us an email explaining why we should invite you (use the "book now" button).

No show rule

Because we have a limited number of seats and summit passes, and because demand is high, we maintain a strict "no show rule". If you confirm your attendance at our networking table, and you would not show up, you owe us a lunch or dinner at a restaurant of our choice in your neighborhood.