THE YOUR BIG YEAR FINALS. MY First BLOG from UK!

Pleasure it is to let you know that this is my first ever blog from the UK. That makes this entry a very special one in itself anyways, but by all means, it's definitely more special owing to the weight the subject adds to this one.

The Craze of 2012 - The Most awaited YOUR BIG YEAR Competition finally is almost through. We are just a couple of days short of knowing the ambassador for this year for Smaller Earth. I am glad I made it to the TOP-16 (though not to TOP 6), and Now, I am extremely excited to find out who would take this title back home as I stand keen to know & follow the continuous impact this fantastic person would be making around the world experiencing some of life's best experiences

The competition in itself has given one of the most enriching & life-changing experience to me. So it's beyond imagination what the world trip that Smaller Earth promises, would do to a person's wisdom levels. It's been about 8 days now living day in & day out with 16 out of the world people from 14 different countries and cultures. It's been a pleasure to live out the day's schedules with them, make friends, compete, have endless gossips, travel, tour, chill out, fight (very light though), laugh out, celebrate all the diverse emotions and last but not the least learn from each other.

The trip included tasks, team building, TV performance, Pitches, VIP Meetings, Travel, Tour, Fun, lessons, briefings, Mentoring, Running around, public speaking and lots more. It would for sure need more blogs.

Watch out my entries in the coming weeks for the Same. For now, it's been a fantastic time at the UK in the YOUR BIG YEAR Competition! 2 More days to GO. Lot of connections and lots of new stuff to come. ALL THOSE WITH "MERIT" Have TO REACH THIS FAR is all that needs to be remembered!

Wait for the next one!!!

Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2012

Am glad that I have got selected from India to represent the country at the GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONGRESS. For the many friends who have been asking me what is the event going to be all about. I have gotten a quick piece of info about the entire event from the GEC's main page.

Here is the agenda and the plan - I am honestly awed:
----------
On March 13, entrepreneurs and those who support them will be taken on a journey through three sessions, of speeches, panel discussions and debates, united by one central theme:

WHO DARES WINS - a celebration of the best in the business
WHO CARES WINS - nurturing talent to unleash ideas
WHO SHARES WINS - inspiration to accelerate your business
This agenda outlines the key sessions, debates and speakers anticipated on March 13 from 9am to 6pm:

COFFEE, REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING

SPEED NETWORKING

LAUNCH OF GEC

Welcome to Liverpool, welcome to the GEC and welcome to winning
Max Steinberg (Chief Executive, Liverpool Vision)
Jonathan Ortmans (Chairman, Global Entrepreneurship Congress)

WHO DARES WINS: SCREW IT, LET’S DO IT
Q&A with the British titan of business on his philosophy on business success and what drives him to win.
Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group)
Mike Southon (Columnist, Financial Times (moderator))

WHO DARES WINS: WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN
Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group) meets three aspiring entrepreneurs from the Virgin Media Pioneers programme in a panel discussion about the secrets of his success and the lessons he has learned.
Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group)

THE WINNER WITHIN: THE MINDSET OF SUCCESS
Keynote speech by Sir Terry Leahy (Former CEO, Tesco) on what gave him the ‘will to win’ and why British entrepreneurs must now ‘take on the world’ to establish the UK as a powerhouse of enterprise and industry
Sir Terry Leahy (Former CEO, Tesco)

SPOTTING THE OPPORTUNITY AND GOING FOR IT – THE HAYMARKET STORY
Keynote speech on the Haymarket Story and why taking risks has ensured sustainability over four decades of business.
Lord Michael Heseltine (Founder, Haymarket Group)

THE BEST OF THE BEST

Benno Schmidt (CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)

GLOBAL SNAPSHOT: BRILLIANT BUSINESS

Mark Prisk MP (Minister for Business and Enterprise)
Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group)
Sir Terry Leahy (former CEO, Tesco)

GOING FOR IT IN 2012: A YEAR FOR WINNING
Setting the rules and incentives – is government friend or foe?
Mark Prisk MP (UK Minister for Business and Enterprise)
Manuel Trajtenberg (Chair, Planning & Budgeting Committee, Council for Higher Education in Israel)
Bob Litan (Vice President of Research & Policy, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (moderator))

WINNING STORIES; THE FARMER, THE FOX & THE KITCHEN
How to win with the consumer. Panellists:
Martha Lane-Fox (Co-founder, Lastminute.com & Lucky Voice)
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (Founder, The Black Farmer)
Paul Lindley (Founder, Ella’s Kitchen)

RACE TO THE TOP, GLOBAL STARTUP COMMUNITIES
Startups from four corners of the world. Panellists:
Horatio Melo (Assistant Director, Start-Up Chile)
Marc Nager (Director and CEO, Startup Weekend)
Nick Seguin (Manager of Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (moderator))

THE POWER OF WE
The importance of knowledge sharing. Panellists:
Lara Morgan (Founder, Company Shortcuts)
Levi Roots (Founder, Reggae Reggae Sauce)
Martha Lane-Fox (Founder, Lastminute.com & Lucky Voice)

INVENTION; THE MOTHER OF NECESSITY
How to give birth to new ideas and the significance of innovation. Panellists:
Steve Felice (President, Dell)
Ashok Rao (Chairman, Global Board of Trustees, TiE)
Lesa Mitchell (Vice President, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (moderator))

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
How to do well by doing good. Panellists:
Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group)
Dr. Chris Luebkeman (Director for Global Foresight & Innovation)
Representative from Scottish Power

SHOW ME THE MONEY
Access to finance. Panellists:
Jalak Jobanputra (Senior Vice President, New York City Investment Fund)
Paul Kedrosky (Founder, GrokSoup)
Representative from Lloyds TSB Bank
Doug Richard (Founder, School for Startups (moderator))

----------------

If there is anything you would want me to carry there for this occasion, either idea or wishes, you can drop them in the comments box below! Thank you!