The 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Indianapolis brought together over 3,000 people from across the globe who are passionate about building thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems. Hosted by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the event was buzzing with energy, from deep conversations and fresh ideas to shared stories and bold visions for the future of entrepreneurship.
What’s Mindset Got to Do With It?
ELI’s Gary Schoeniger (Founder & CEO) and Nic Houle (Director of Community Partnerships) joined the action with a big question: What role does mindset play in all of this? It’s a conversation we were eager to spark, because we believe that entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching businesses. It’s about how we think, how we solve problems, and how we create value in the world, no matter where we start.
This idea—the entrepreneurial mindset as a teachable, transformative way of thinking—sat at the heart of every conversation we had. It’s a concept that goes beyond pitch decks and venture funding. It’s about helping people see possibilities where others see roadblocks.
Celebrating Everyday Entrepreneurs
One of the highlights of the week was Gary’s talk, The Power of Everyday Entrepreneurs. He made a strong case for looking beyond high-growth startups and recognizing the often unseen impact of everyday entrepreneurs—those quietly building businesses, solving problems, and lifting up their communities.
Drawing on insights from his latest book, The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage, Gary reframed entrepreneurship as a human capacity, not an opportunity available to a select few. He reminded us that it’s not just about teaching people what to do, but helping them understand how to think in a way that’s creative, resourceful, and resilient.
A few big takeaways:
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Mindset is a framework for behavior—it shapes how we see ourselves and the world around us.
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Entrepreneurial and managerial mindsets both matter. The magic happens when you can toggle between the two.
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The entrepreneurial spirit lives in everyone. Our job is to create the conditions for it to come alive.
Looking Ahead
We left Indianapolis re-energized, inspired by new connections and hopeful about where this work is headed. If there’s one thing we heard over and over again, it’s this: people are ready to do things differently. They’re looking for approaches that are human-centered, inclusive, and focused on long-term impact.
As Gary said, “The entrepreneurial spirit is the human spirit. It’s not just in some of us—it’s in every single one of us.”
And that’s the real opportunity. Let’s keep asking bold questions, having honest conversations, and doing the work to unlock that spirit in more people, more places.