GBSN Beyond Archive

GBSN Beyond 2025: Entrepreneurs, Enterprises, & Ecosystems was held in Accra, Ghana, from November 3–5, 2025, hosted by Ashesi University, with the GBSN Members Meeting hosted by CEIBS Africa. Set within one of West Africa’s most dynamic economies, the conference convened global leaders from education, industry, entrepreneurship, and policymaking to explore how universities and business schools can catalyze entrepreneurial success and economic transformation.

Drawing on Accra’s diverse ecosystem—from micro-enterprises to multinationals—participants examined how institutions can collaborate to equip individuals with the skills, networks, and resources to launch and scale businesses, refine business models, and thrive in evolving markets. Discussions also addressed the role of policy and partnerships in shaping resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems. Experiential learning was a key feature of the conference, including visits to high-impact local companies and optional post-conference workshops, reinforcing GBSN Beyond’s focus on action, collaboration, and societal impact.

GBSN Beyond 2024 took place in Bogotá, Colombia, and highlighted the critical role of business and management schools in empowering people while operating within planetary boundaries. Hosted by the Universidad de Los Andes School of Management, the conference brought together global leaders from academia, industry, and civil society in one of Latin America’s most dynamic business and administrative hubs.

Guided by the theme “Empowering People, Embracing Planet, Imagining Possibilities,” the conference focused on how business schools are advancing more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growth—particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on Latin America’s unique strengths, including a young and entrepreneurial population, rich biodiversity, expanding renewable energy capacity, and strong digital connectivity, sessions explored the region’s potential to contribute to a global transition toward more responsible economic growth. At the same time, participants engaged deeply with persistent challenges such as income inequality, workforce participation gaps, health and technology divides, and underdeveloped innovation ecosystems. Through collaborative dialogue and cross-sector engagement, GBSN Beyond 2024 reinforced the importance of partnership, transformation, and collective action in shaping the future of business education and societal impact.

GBSN Beyond 2023 marked a major milestone in the network’s history, combining the annual conference with GBSN’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. Hosted by the American University in Cairo, Onsi Sawiris School of Business from October 30 to November 1, the conference convened global leaders in business education, industry, and civil society in Cairo to reflect on two decades of impact while looking ahead to the future of the field.

Under the theme “The Transformative Power of Talent and Technology,” GBSN Beyond 2023 explored the opportunities and challenges created by technological change across business, education, and society. Sessions examined the evolving future of work and learning, the role of technology in advancing societal impact and development, and its influence on how organizations operate across sectors such as health, agriculture, and energy. Grounded in GBSN’s people-first approach, the conference also addressed critical tensions related to human rights, privacy, equity, and the uneven impacts of technology across regions. Through in-person and online engagement, the conference emphasized collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines—reinforcing GBSN Beyond’s focus on action, inclusion, and meaningful impact.

GBSN Beyond 2022 delivered a variety of engaging learning experiences, knowledge exchanges, and opportunities to network and connect with colleagues from academia and industry from across the globe though an innovative hybrid environment. Historically, GBSN’s Annual Conference has been hosted at member institutions around the world. Our pivot to a virtual conference in 2020 allowed us to be more inclusive and engage a wider and diverse audience. As travel restrictions begin to ease around the world, we assembled everything we learned from our past virtual conferences and in-person conferences to deliver GBSN Beyond Together In-Person & Online.

The in-person conference was hosted in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, co-hosted by the Rotterdam School of Management and LUISS Business School. Leading academic faculty, leaders and administrators, professionals from industry and civil society were invited to join us in-person in The Netherlands.