US Assistant Secretary of State Speaks at Bilkent
US Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones was at Bilkent University on Friday, April 5. Hosted by the Entrepreneurship Center in the Faculty of Business Administration, Dr. Jones attended a MAN 483 (Entrepreneurial Management) class session and spoke to students, faculty members and entrepreneurs about the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in addressing regional and global challenges.
In her speech, Dr. Jones identified elements critical to promoting entrepreneurial activity, such as a supportive regulatory framework and a strong investment climate. She also noted the importance of a healthy entrepreneurship ecosystem in securing economic development and prosperity. In that regard, She highlighted two programs run by the US State Department, GIST and BOOST, that aim to promote and support entrepreneurship in various countries, including Turkey.
Following Dr. Jones's address, three Turkish entrepreneurs who have been beneficiaries of these programs shared their venture creation experiences and discussed how this support facilitated their entrepreneurial journeys.
To close the session, Dr. Jones and the entrepreneurs engaged with the audience and answered student questions that covered a wide range of issues, from the role of business planning in entrepreneurship to the globalization potential of Turkish startups.