Saturday, August 11, 2007 AEV official urges youth to heed business instincts, finish school
DEVELOPING the entrepreneurial mindset of young Filipinos is the key to the country’s economic growth, a business leader said.
“Follow your entrepreneurial dream. Work hard and persevere.
Entrepreneurship is a journey. Pursue continuous education,” said Aboitiz Equity Ventures president and chief executive officer Jon Ramon Aboitiz.
This was his call to the student-delegates of the 2nd Future Leaders Business Summit, conducted yesterday by the Aboitiz group of companies at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
In his opening remarks, Aboitiz told the students to condition themselves to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset.
“Think big even if you start small. Be on the look out for opportunities where not only money grows but where inspired ideas are pursued, creativity is flourished and better ways are born,” he said.
Summit participants got the opportunity to listen to business strategies of the Aboitiz Group, and how the company grew from one that sold sardines in the 1930s to being one of the country’s successful business groups.
The summit also tackled topics like entrepreneurial spirit and the youth, customer service, business ethics and branding, among others. Apart from discussions, there were group activities like case works that allowed student interaction and teamwork-building.
Aboitiz said the company believes in the adage that “the youth is the future of the nation,” which is why the company puts a considerable amount of investment to enhance its corporate social responsibilities.
“We want the youth to have added value to society, to their self so that they can contribute to the country as a whole,” he said.
Aboitiz said the private sector should be actively involved in creating more business opportunities for the youth to prevent young people from seeking employment overseas.
“We need to change their mindset and that is by developing their entrepreneurial spirit,” he told a press interview. (MMM)
