Entrepreneurs for the World: The World Entrepreneurship Forum Presents its Awards for 2014

Lyon, France — The 7th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum (WEFO), currently taking place in Lyon, last night presented awards to four exceptional entrepreneurs for their impact on society and their capacity to change the world.

The laureates for 2014 are:

« Social entrepreneur », Rodrigo Baggio (Brazil)

Regarded by Time Magazine as one of the leading powers of the 21st Century in Latin America, this computer « geek » and digital activist created the Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI). This NGO, based in Rio and present in 10 countries, promotes social inclusion to help disadvantaged people gain access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and promotes entrepreneurial development.

« Educational Entrepreneur », Bertil Hult (Sweden/Switzerland)

In 1965, aged 23, Bertil created EF (Education First) to seek new, more direct ways of learning. He created the world’s first private education company: 500 schools and offices in 52 countries, 16 000 employees, 21 000 teachers, 15 million people trained in almost 50 years.

« Business Entrepreneur », Micky and Renuka Jagtiani (India)

The former London taxi driver is the founder of the Landmark Group conglomerate that has a portfolio of brands in fashion, consumer electronics, hotels, restaurants and retail. His wife Renuka is highly implicated in the group based in Dubai and present in 18 countries. It employs 40 000 people with an annual turnover of 4.7 billion dollars.

« Young Entrepreneur », Rapelang Rabana (Botswana)

Having barely finished studying at the University of Capetown, she created Yeigo, a company that develops voiceover IP applications for mobile phones. A pioneer in the telecoms sector, at just 30 years old, this young entrepreneur is seen as one of the stars of the African continent. She recently set up Rekindle Learning, a start-up offering innovative e-learning solutions for mobiles and tablets.

The World Entrepreneurship Forum was created in 2008 by EMLYON Business School, one of the leading business schools in Europe, and KPMG France. They have been subsequently joined by Nanyang Technological University and the ACE organisation (Action Community for Entrepreneurship), from Singapore, Zhejiang University China and the Lyon-based Institutions.

EMLYON’s main objective in creating it is to develop economic and social entrepreneurship, the creation of innovative businesses with high added value, the emergence of entrepreneurial cities and the way in which people are educated in entrepreneurship. (PR Newswire)

Source: EMLYON Business School