Page 34 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES March 2020
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                                                                                                   Entrepreneurs'
                                                                                                   Organization
                                                                                                                                                                                process in 2015 and it was       the month and how much I have                          or global interest groups. The
                                                                                                                                                                                completed in 2016. At the moment   achieved, and reasons why I may                      knowledge sharing aspect of EO is
                                                                                                                                                                                we have 30 plus members, and we   not have been able to achieve all the                 endless.
                                                                                                                                                                                are planning on being a very big   goals, identifying problems and                      This time will be the third year of my
                                                                                                                                                                                organization.                    getting help from the forum if                         EO Social Impact, a program also
                                                                                                                                                                                We organize a program called the   needed. Also included are the goals                  organized for the last 2 years. The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        main aim is that as EO Bangladesh
             The Fruits of                                                                                                                                                      where we take on mentorship roles   on attaining them, as well as                       chapter what kind of work we are
                                                                                                                                                                                Global Student Entrepreneurship
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 for the next month and how I plan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        doing that is making it possible for us
                                                                                                                                                                                and gradually teach how to do
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 whether any assistance is required
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        to bring a positive impact on the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 or not. You cannot solicit within this
                                                                                                                                                                                accounting, create business
                                                                                                                                                                                feasibility reports, or even provide
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        replicate, share the best practices with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 when you are in such a small,
                                                                                                                                                                                input on the business report     group or within EO. This is because                    society as a whole. We want to
             Entrepreneurship                                                                                                                                                   benefits of EO, the ones I love the   arise because of businesses, best to              learn from others to, literally an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        others and at the same time we can
                                                                                                                                                                                generated by them. Amongst all the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 close-knit community, conflicts may
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        exchange of ideas and practices.
                                                                                                                                                                                most is the learning – there are
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 avoid that completely. Because what
                                                                                                                                                                                plenty of professional trainers who
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        interested in funding programs
                                                                                                                                                                                are also business people. We also   we are getting into is much bigger                  There are also a lot of people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 than that small piece of business.
                                                                                                                                                                                have programs with very big and   The forum group that I belong to,                     related to education, sanitation, etc.
                                                                                                                                                                                international academia such as   you will recognize them immediately                    The idea is to mobilize such people.
                  Hossain                                          Hossain Khaled shares his insightful                                                                         Harvard, MIT, Cornell, London    when I state their names, United                       Last 2 years have been phenomenal.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        This year unfortunately we are facing
                  Khaled                                           experience as a member of the global                                         organic thing to follow for any   School of Economics and others.   Group’s Sanjabi, E Generation’s                     a bit of a challenge because of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Shamim Ahsan, Faatin Haque from
                                                                   platform, Entrepreneur Organization
                                                                                                                                                                                They help us go through these
                  Managing Director                                                                                                             businesses. It is one of the most   programs. There is also a kids   Trade International, Paragon Fariyan               CoronaVirus, but still so far the   attract a lot of foreign trainers, for the   the information for better learning. As     that we have very good members   the same time we need to have a   gone through this. Also the fact
                  Anwar Group                                      and the headway the platform is                                              significant opportunities and was   university, which is for our kids who   who is also a restaurateur, Faridpur        responses have been really good. We                                                                                          who take responsibility for their   pool of assets, like us being assets   remains, this is an internat
                                                                   gearing up for in the future                                                 something new and different that   are growing up and planning to step   Jute Mill, Jason Pharmaceutical’s              have an upcoming event on March    improvement of various businesses. It   entrepreneurs a lot of times even                 tasks. The EO social events that we   in this organization. I may be   organization, and fees are high.
                                                                                                                                                Bangladesh required at the same   up. They go through certain    Azra Salim, in total there are 8 of                    6th , so let’s see.                was not limited to only business, I   though  it is a family business, we are             were able to do in the beginning,   considered a senior member, but I   Sending fees from here is a bit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           had brought someone in from the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             not able to share many things with
                                                                                                                                                time.                           programs as well.                us. Amongst the seniors are 3                                                             Toronto chapter, she spoke of mental   our family, but you need to vent out               globally that was the first time we   still have a lot left to learn. Like me,   difficult. Though we a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        streamline this, the biggest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      bringing in these kinds of assets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     organized an Award show. The
                                                                                  We are eager to know                                          Having been in both of the chapters,   Second biggest benefit or takeaway   members and I am one of them. We            Did you face any                   strength needed to be a female    and share. These learning sessions                      award was open for anyone who    together, the more assets you have   challenge that comes up is people
                                                                                                                                                I was able to bring a few like-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 also have a lot of younger
                                                                                                                                                                                in EO is the forum. The chapter
                                                                                  how you were introduced                                       minded people who thought of the   members are divided into smaller   generations who completed their                   challenges setting up the          entrepreneur. You realize this is not   help us to become better                          was associated with this kind of   the more you learn. The more scope   may have money, but the investm
                                                                                  to EO, how did it all                                         same nature as I did and realized   groups who are called forums,   studies from abroad and are finding                 chapter? How did you               isolated to Bangladesh, it is a global   entrepreneurs, better leaders as well.           social work globally, and it was   of learning that you have, to do that   required for self developmen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Because at the end of the day if I am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           concern/challenge. So we were able to
                                                                                  happen?                                                       that this was something we should   usually the size of a forum is   it challenging to merge into the                   overcome those?                    bring trainers from multi faceted   not a good leader, the people in my                   meant to give them recognition.   we need to increase our          not be there. The specific awareness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        for that has not risen yet. It is an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      membership, to increase
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     From Bangladesh I think 10
                                                                                  It was back in 2012 when a group of                           bring into Bangladesh. The way the   minimum 6 and maximum 10, and   family business, this is point of                  In Bangladesh the process happened   avenues. So far it has been a   office who follow me as an example,                     companies participated, and then   membership we need to be more   expensive organization to be
                                                                                  representatives from EO was visiting                          membership works, you become a   optimum size is 8. The forum    relatability for them with us. That is                 via TTO, which is under the Ministry   phenomenal experience, and honestly   then bringing about change in any               globally there were 30 plus members   active. A challenge that arises in   involved in. We may also hav
                                                                                  Bangladesh, two of our present                                member of the global platform and   meetings are extremely structured,   the second biggest take away from              of Commerce. The challenges were   the prospective members we were able   organization would be impossible.                  who had participated with their   Bangladesh is the sponsorships   increase our activities and have
                                                                                  members introduced me to EO. Later                            then you get affiliated to a chapter. I   so it is just not like an ordinary   the forum                                basically the formulation, to have an   to include in these kinds of learning   Same reasoning applies to my                 projects. That was the first     required to organize an event like   more member integration programs.
                                                                                  in 2013, when I was travelling back                           started from the Toronto chapter,   networking process in a restaurant   EO has global networking, global               foreign organization form a        programs, we have been able to    personal life as well in the sense that                 recognition of our achievement in   this. People usually doubt the   When I was the membership chair,
                                                                                  and forth to Toronto I met up with                            while keeping my global         or a hangout. We sit once a month,   learning programs and several                      Bangladesh chapter, there were a few   convert everyone to become a member.  I have to be a good example for my              2017. As the founding president   exposure they get for sponsoring an   that year we had the highest in
                                                                                  some members from the Toronto                                 membership, I shifted to the    it is more like a stock taking,   activities. We also have interest                     bureaucratic issues, that is just how   We have also started a new program   children. Being a better person is              because we were going through the   organization with only 30 plus   of members. The people I was
                                                                                  chapter, and it made me realise that                          Bangladesh chapter. Transition   beginning with a target that I had   groups; based on shared interests,                the system is. So it took some time   from last year, it’s called Boardroom.   extremely important. Times are                process, I served 2 years, but   members. The fact that all 35 people   targeting and reaching out to,
                                                                                  this would be an excellent opportunity                        period takes some time, I started the   set for myself in the beginning of   regional interest groups may form,         but it’s been done now. The biggest   What usually happens in a boardroom   changing and very sensitive now. You             otherwise our terms were one year.   and who they are, that by itself is an   knew for sure that 90% of
                                                                                  to network while in Toronto. It would                                                                                                                                                 problem was that since EO is a     is that it is very confidential, no   have to be sensitive towards all your               2018 was Farzanah and then in    asset. Hopefully by the year 2022,   would say yes. I think if that dr
                                                                                  also give me access to the business                                                                                                                                                   member driven organization and not   media allowed, basically meeting an   approaches.                                       2019 it was Tahsin Aman. Our     we should be reaching about 50. By   was to be rekindled then
                                                                                  community and network appropriately                                                                                                                                                   employee driven, for other chambers   entrepreneur in their offices, and me                                                  president elect is Zarin Mahmud,   2024 we should reach 100. For an   membership rates may go up.
                                                                                  in Toronto. That was when I                                                                                                                                                           or associations’ tasks were delegated   basically doing a one-on-one. They   Can you you shed light                          then it would Mike Kazi from Kazi   organization like this, to be
                                                                                  encountered how different EO was                                                                                                                                                      and they got done, but here we had to   speak of their success, challenges, life   on the accomplishments                    IT. So we have many different kinds   sustainable we need a minimum of   Are you planning to get
                                                                                   from all other chambers of trade                                                                                                                                                     do it. Getting the time from everyone   history, and then we go into question                                                of people from different facets of life   50 members. We need to reach that
                                                                                     bodies and industry associations.                                                                                                                                                  was a bit challenging.             and answer with them. The purpose   as the founding                                       coming in and taking responsibility   target as fast as possible.  involved in any other big
                                                                                       I realised EO was similar to a                                                                                                                                                                                      of it is to learn from that person. The   president?                                      for this organization. The social                                  capacity with EO?
                                                                                        university, and focused on the                                                                                                                                                  Af er your presidency              following day we are going to have a   I think number one the fact that I was             impact awards was definitely one of   In the case of chambers      This time I will be there as a Forum
                                                                                         entrepreneurial development                                                                                                                                                    you were also the leading          Boardroom session with the MD of   able to bring a few like-minded people                 our biggest achievements. The fact   there are so many             Chair. Like I said I think I have
                                                                                          of an entrepreneur. This                                                                                                                                                      chair, how has the                 Akij Group, SK Bashir Uddin. It is a   together on a particular platform who              that we were able to organize a                                    rolled the ball, since we have very
                                                                                           group of people or this                                                                                                                                                                                         member-only meeting and no        shared the same concerns and who                        global event itself was quite    members, but why is the           good members who are all
                                                                                            organisation had                                                                                                                                                            experience been?                   outsiders are allowed. That way they   had the same hunger to learn. I think              rewarding.                       rate of obtaining new             presidential material, who can all
                                                                                            perceived that                                                                                                                                                              I think not only during my time, but   know that it is confidential (we sign a   that by itself was a huge                                                    members so slow here?             serve this organization as president
                                                                                             facilitation,                                                                                                                                                              over a period of the last 3 or 4 years   confidential form), we give them the   achievement. Secondly, I think the           What is your aspiration          The thing is because of the fact that   and contribute. I think I have
                                                                                             policymaking, policy                                                                                                                                                       we have been able to introduce new   assurance that whatever is discussed   fact that I have been able to create a                                            it is different from other chambers   my job, and I am eager and excit
                                                                                             advocacy is just an                                                                                                                                                        learning skills, mechanisms and at   within the room remains within that   succession planning from the very                 for EO?                          and associations, people are not   to see my successors do a much
                                                                                             integral part of the                                                                                                                                                       the same time we have been able to   room, our minds and hearts. We take   beginning. Thirdly, I think the fact              We want to grow organically but at   used to it. People have not really   better job than I have so far
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