1. ‘‘‘ 59A s i a n We a l t h M a g . c o . u k
Dr Sanjeev Ahuja, the president of TiE UK, in the first of his
regular AWM columns, tackles some of the big questions on
entrepreneurship as a means for social change in 2013.
TiE UK is the BRITISH office of the world’s larg-
est global non-profit organisation fostering entrepreneurship.
Its raison d’être is to raise awareness about the importance and
benefits of entrepreneurship, encouraging it as a profession of
choice rather than a fall back, and in the process enabling the
next generation of self-empowered men and women.
With 62 chapters and 13,000 members in 18 countries across
five continents, TiE is singularly focused on entrepreneurship
as a unique vehicle for self-reliance and sustainable wealth
creation. Its charter members, all
established entrepreneurs or senior
professionals, guide aspiring and
established entrepreneurs on busi-
ness issues through mentoring and
coaching, developing their skills
through education, and linking
entrepreneurs across its extended
community though effective net-
working at hosted events.
Our firm belief is that entrepre-
neurs act as a catalyst for growth in
the expanding global marketplace.
Economic success on the back
of successful entrepreneurship
builds businesses, and as the business pushes forward it offers
employment to people who innovate to address
demand by recognising and fulfilling additional needs, further
contributing to the success of the business.
This is the virtuous circle of thriving businesses in a healthy
economy; as they make their way up to the crest of a market
cycle aggressively maximising positive returns.
During good times the larger the business means the bigger
the fortune. However, in bad times it can mean the bigger the
misfortune. Irrespective of the reasons, after the crest of a
market cycle comes the inevitable trough. Where focus is on
productivity when the demand is high, it shifts to cost reduc-
tion when demand is low. Falling profits set off efficiency
improvement drives – businesses strive to do more with less.
Employees are subject to what may seem like indiscriminate
layoffs and innovation grinds to a halt.
This is the vicious circle of declining businesses in a
struggling economy; as they move to the trough of a market
cycle while striving to maintain meagre returns.
Where is today’s job security when faced with the risk of
“right sizing”? Employment is
risk-prone. It also contributes to
stifling our pilot-light of entre-
preneurship by: 1) encouraging
dependence on an employer;
2) appealing to our innate sense of
risk aversion; and 3) weakening
the creative thought necessary for
recognizing opportunity. Risk can
be transferred but not eliminated.
Many think it can be reduced
through employment; yet devolv-
ing our responsibility to influ-
ence its outcome brings with it a
misplaced sense of security.
In the next issue, we will reflect on some seminal issues
around entrepreneurship, and look forward to being part of the
conversation. We’ll explore the answers to questions such as:
Can entrepreneurship address the deep rifts of ever-widening
segregation between the haves and have-nots in society? What
is driving entrepreneurship as a means to empower women? Is
it the State’s responsibility or should we be taking back control
of our own economic welfare? Could entrepreneurship be the
solution to address the ills of our polarised society?
uk.tie.org
TiEUK
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entrepreneurs
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