The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) organized a virtual awareness session on “Emotional Skills for Entrepreneurial Success”, given by Mr. David Audretsch, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Development Strategies – Indiana University, and Ms. Maha Aly, entrepreneur, coach, and Junior Research Fellow at the Institute for Development Strategies.

This event, hosted by the Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE), took place on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 p.m., via Microsoft Teams.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

David Audretsch

• Distinguished Professor and Ameritech Chair of Economic Development – Indiana University, USA
• Director of the Institute for Development Strategies – Indiana University, USA
• Honorary Professor of Industrial Economics and Entrepreneurship – WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany
• Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, London
• Co-author of The Seven Secrets of Germany, published by Oxford University Press
• Winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, awarded by the Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum (Entreprenörskapsforum)
• Advisory board member to several international research and policy institutes in Germany, Sweden, and the USA
• Research focus: Links between entrepreneurship, government policy, innovation, economic development, and global competitiveness

Maha Aly

• Holder of a PhD in Psychological Entrepreneurship
• Junior Research Fellow of the Institute of Development Strategies – Indiana University, USA
• 15 years of hands-on experience in the field of customer centricity, business systems analysis and design, digital creation of emotional connection, etc.
• Mentoring of nascent entrepreneurs for lean startup strategies, innovation, design thinking, user/customer experience design, etc.
• Extensive experience in coaching, psychoanalysis, and emotional therapy in several countries (Egypt, Germany, the UAE, and the UK)

Background:
Media and society have always portrayed entrepreneurship as a desired social status, a “cool” lifestyle, and a means to financial freedom. Yet no one has ever mentioned how emotionally exhausting the entrepreneurial journey can be and what it takes to negotiate its ups and downs.
If you are willing to become an entrepreneur or currently starting your business, you need to foresee what may happen along the journey. Improving your self-awareness and managing your emotions intelligently call for arming yourself with the tools, techniques, and skills that help you overcome the potential emotional challenges of your entrepreneurial project.