2nd International Conference on

Entrepreneurship

Scientific Program

Keynote Session:

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Noof Abdulhadi J H Al-Rakeb photo

Noof Abdulhadi J H Al-Rakeb

Senior Research Assistant, Qatar University

Title: Developing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Biography:

Ms. Noof Al-Rakeb A Senior Research Assistant at the Social & Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University. Her work includes activities related to survey research, including research design, instrument development, conducting interviews, data cleaning & analysis and reporting. She obtained Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Qatar University (2007) and Bachelor of Economics & Administration, major in Economics (2002). She started her career as Economics Researcher at Ministry of Economy and Commerce in 2004 for 4 years. After that she worked at Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) for 7 years and hold supervisory positions as a Head of Quality Section then Head of Planning & Projects Section. Her experience in QOC included policies review, procedures development, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), strategic planning and Project Management. Her research interests include entrepreneurship, SMEs and quantitative methods.

Abstract:

Owing to its importance in understanding the motives that lie behind the decisions individuals make to become entrepreneurs, scholarship in the field of Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) is increasingly gaining attention in academia, business industries, government institutions and among researchers around the world. Over the past 20 years, Qatar has launched number of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in an attempt to promote individual initiatives and enhance human capacity building. However, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports for the last 3 years consistently indicate that EI in Qatar has been decreasing significantly. The literature shows that no published work is available regarding EI in the context of Qatari. In attempt to test the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) empirically, this paper seeks to explore the determinants of EI in Qatar. Drawing on GEM Adult Population Survey (APS) in Qatar for the year 2017, the paper aims to explain the determinants of EI in Qatar. The data for GEM APS was collected by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) from a representative sample of 2,742 adults aged 18 to 64. The sample was stratified by age, gender and place of residence. Different modes of data collection were utilized to gather the information needed for the study, including telephone

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Richard Lorenzen photo

Richard Lorenzen

founder and chief executive officer of Fifth Avenue Brands

Title:  Millennials Can Achieve Success as Entrepreneurs

Biography:

Richard Lorenzen is an American entrepreneur, investor and speaker. As the founder and chief executive officer of Fifth Avenue Brands, Richard is regularly cited as one of the most influential millennial entrepreneurs in the United States. Born in New York as the son of a journalist and an FDNY firefighter, Richard developed an interest in entrepreneurship at the age of 15 and founded what would become Fifth Avenue Brands out of his parents' home. He bootstrapped the firm to own currently served over a hundred shoppers across the US, London, Tokyo and Singapore. Inc. Magazine called him one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs to watch. Richard has been featured by CNBC, Forbes, Fox News, Business Insider, Ad Week, PR Week, Inc. Magazine, Mashable and more. He speaks frequently on entrepreneurship and policy, including at the United Nations, TEDx, NASDAQ, and universities and corporate conferences in the US, Europe and Asia.

Abstract:

Millennial have shown more interest in entrepreneurship than any previous generation; however, research also shows that millennial are starting their own businesses at a slower rate than those generations before them. There are a number of problems cited for this statistic: lack of financial resources, lack of selfconfidence and even economic climates. Richard Lorenzen founded his company, Fifth Avenue Brands, twelve years ago at the age of 15. He argues that millennial today actually have the great opportunity of any generation to reach success in entrepreneurship, and he is going to share his story for how he built a successful, global company starting at age 15, the lessons he learned along the way, and how other members of Gen Y and Z can use those lessons to reach success in their own careers. There has never been a more opportune time for members of Gen Y and Z to pursue entrepreneurship and to impact the world. The world and how business is conducted is vastly different than even just 10-20 years ago, which has created much disruption and uncertainty. However, that isn’t an impediment to success but rather a great opportunity for millennial who recognize and seize it. Society has sold us a number of myths and falsehoods about entrepreneurship, risk and building a successful life. The world today is vastly different than the past and the formula to success has been disrupted and turned upside down. There are several key lessons about mindset, the new paths to education and capitalizing on technology and globalization that Richard will share from his journey as a millennial entrepreneur