Paul W. Marshall, Professor, Harvard Business School.
Audience members listen as panelists discuss the nature of entrepreneurship in Asia.
Entrepreneurs are influencing Asian economies like never before. In light of this fact, this plenary session considered the particular qualities and challenges that characterize entrepreneurship in Asia today. Some mentioned qualities such as ambition, competitiveness, resilience, idealism, and optimism. James Root, the most cynical, wondered if there was a more debased word in the English language. Mr. Kenny pointed out that entrepreneurship is not responsible for most of Asia's current large companies, which tend to be spin-offs from other powerful companies or projects by previously successful businesspeople.