Paradigm shift of entrepreneurs

In this intensive information era, technology is become necessity and not an option. It is, and will continue to be a key driver in the knowledge access and exchange. Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia evolved in the mid-19th century and maybe earlier than that. However, with the oil boom in the 70s and 80s, entrepreneurship was over taken by white collar jobs in addition to the dependency of young generations on their parents for their daily life challenges. Such created a bubble of low demands on striving for a better life through the skills of survival. Therefore, the desire to take risk and start a business was not the focus of many GCC officials in that era which created 10s of country economical and manpower challenges. In the early 2000 and most importantly 2008, Entrepreneurship became the focus of all GCC initiatives.

Data: March, 27, 2014 | From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - CET

Relator: Dr. Sherif Elabdelwahab

CEO, National Entrepreneurial Institute, Saudi Arabia

Sharif Elabdelwahab is a Ph.D. holder from the Ohio State University in Foreign and Second Language Education with emphasis in Workforce Development since 2002. He earned two master degrees in Public Services Administration and TESOL in 1996. Dr. Sharif has been involved in Human Resources Development and youth enabling programs in the past four years in Saudi Arabia and the USA. With massive country expansion in Saudi untraditional employment and preparation to meet market demands, he worked in Saudi Electric Co as safety instructor then moved to Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) and worked in several positions i.e. ESL instructor, joint training GM Assistant, National System for Joint Training GM, Curriculum Instruction and Design Dept. GM. Then, Dr. Sherif started to work out of TVTC i.e. British Aero Space, Ministry of Labor, Human Resources Development Fund, Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, and Currently, as CEO of the National Entrepreneurship Institute (Riyadah) since 2011. From 22 branches and 1400 entrepreneurs to 39 branches, 13 of which are female, and 3500 entrepreneurs from 9500 trainees. He has also presented tens of papers in regional and international conferences in EFL, HRD, and independent learning.