Lessons Learned From The G20 YEA
Wednesday, September 22, is the last day of Summer. Ouch!
The changing of seasons provides an opportunity to reflect back at the past season’s accomplishments — from all perspectives. While most will boast how they finally learned to Slalom Ski, or how they fought two black bears from the wilderness campsite, my summer accomplishment were very different; but I assure you it was just as entertaining.
The 2015 G20 YEA
The G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (http://www.g20yea.com/) is a global network of young entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them. Established just in 2010, The Alliance convenes each year in advance of the internationally distinguished G-20 Summit (https://g20.org/), with the aim of championing the importance of youth entrepreneurship to the G20 member nations, including key examples and best-practices.
I was one of 22 Canadian delegates representing Canada at this year’s illustrious event. I’d like to share my experience and why it matters, presented in a way I feel we could all learn something.
1) Think Global, Act Local
The first and most obvious thing the G20 YEA Summit did for me was completely shift my understanding and appreciation for what it means to ‘think global.’ The event was globalization in a nutshell. I spent 5 days in a city of 15 million people, discussing with representatives from 20 different countries. I was amazed at how easy it was to communicate; I realized I have more in common with a South Korean-based software entrepreneur than with my very own family. And this marks a cultural change that has implications for ourselves & our companies which generations before us could never even fathom.
We no longer have to separate global from local. To note a statistic, we’ll see 1 trillion devices web-connected 2025; we no longer have excuses for not looking past our borders for international experience. Through a partnership with a Milan-based marketing agency, I can begin selling my company’s software services, through Europe, effective immediately. The mindset is changing; It allows us to do many exciting things in completely unique markets (not to mention, enjoy Milan Fashion Week 2016 in-person).
2) We Are Who We Know
It’s easy for me to suggest that everyone should travel internationally meeting friends like the 600 I met in Turkey. But in reality, simply receiving such an opportunity took quite a lot of relationship-leverage. Note: I’m not suggesting I was chosen to represent Canada because “I knew some people;” I’m suggesting I was chosen to represent Canada because I believe in relationships, in opening doors, and in continually positioning myself with the right people and the right opportunities. This mindset applies to everything in business and in life, from leveraging new strategic verticals for your booming business, to back-stage VIP passes at the Katy Perry Concert. Everything is about relationships; and I mean everything!
At the event itself, I had the pleasure of networking with some of the smartest and most motivated young people on the planet (the selection process made sure of this). As an entrepreneur, we’ve got an appreciation for connections. As a business development-guy in an atmosphere of like-minds, the energy was electric. Everyone was looking to meet interesting people, begin building long-term relationships, and foster international growth for their companies. And the value from such connections stem far beyond the particular business at-hand. I’ve come to understand the value of building a personal brand, and the notion that an entrepreneur succeeds based not on his or her chosen industry, but on his or her ability, integrity and desire. The South African rum manufacturer may not be in the software industry, but that doesn’t stop me from being his North American distribution partner 3 years from today. The world is filled with opportunities; knowing great people helps us access them.
3) Knowledge Is Power
For the first few days, I could feel my ego taking a massive hit, coming to terms with the fact that I was surrounded by those much more intelligent, much more experienced, and much more successful. Fortunately, when I emotionally resurfaced, I was in a mental state for optimal levels of learning. I found myself asking questions as opposed to delivering anecdotes. I was seeking help as opposed to showcasing strength. I was in a position to soak it all in, squeezing value out of every conversation I had, no matter who the speaker. Checking my ego at the door and admitting I’ve got lots to learn was the best way to learn!
The knowledge I obtained wasn’t just from the people. An interesting thing happens when you combine the right people, in the right environment; I’ll call it ‘perspective.’ Someone once told me that successful people aren’t those who are most intelligent; successful people are those who really understand how the world works, and are therefore able to spot the opportunities as they present themselves. My international experience in Istanbul has cemented my belief in such a statement. Traveling for the sake of traveling may not yield such results; but traveling with a pre-determined purpose definitely should.
4) We Can Make A Difference
I’ll begin this section with a contradiction: entrepreneurship is bigger than all of us. I wasn’t in Istanbul to learn about software. I wasn’t in Istanbul to find strategic partners either. You might even suggest that I wasn’t in Istanbul to represent Canadian entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is bigger than all of us. We were selected to attend such an event ultimately because we believe entrepreneurship is a tool for improving the world. Entrepreneurship allows us to create wealth which we can use to create lasting change. With 85% of the worlds GDP represented through nations in attendance, the G20 YEA is a perfect channel to deliver this message, and contribute to the policy-making process. I now have a newly shaped view of the benefits and importance of the political process itself.
As large and complex as this may sound, the overwhelming understanding was that through entrepreneurship, I can make a serious difference in the world. Quoting Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent’s live-speech, “Everybody wants to leave their mark.” Entrepreneurship is a vehicle for change, and it doesn’t start at the international level. Providing a better solution to a client, advising a colleague on his or her career path, and being there for a loved one at a time of need are all examples of how we can individually impact the world today. I believe the question we must ask ourselves is not how do we scale our business, but how do we scale our impact? We’ve got one life to live; let’s make our dent.
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A Word Of Thanks
Firstly, I’d like to thank Futurpreneur for the surreal opportunity, notably Marsha Josephs who physically led the delegation, Amanda Filipe, and Joelle Foster. I’d also like to thank Futurpreneur board members Olivier Letard and Cindy Goertzen (recently-appointed Manitoban Board Member) who were both extremely active in their attendance and support. I must also thank my sponsors who financially backed the adventure, including Misha Hanin of iRangers International, Michael Glazier of Booke & Partners, Stuart Henrickson of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, Darren Fast of the Technology Transfer Office (U of M), BDO Canada, Pitblado Law, and Scotiabank. I should also thank the clients & partners of my newly established software company Consultica; now, with newly acquired knowledge and appreciation for international growth, we’re more open for business than ever before.
Lastly, I want to thank my parents for deciding to have children.
More Information
For more information regarding the story, please reach Luc Bohunicky at luc.bohunicky@consulti.ca.
For general information, please visit The G20 YEA Website at http://www.g20yea.com/.
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See you next Summer in Shanghai, China!
LB
