Speaking at the launch of the Ja-Ye 'Your World, Your Business' video, a promotional tool highlighting European success stories among young entrepreneurs, Jenner said that while certain regions in the "old" member states – notably Flanders – were succeeding, most of Western Europe is just catching up.
According to the Ja-Ye CEO, Europe suffers tremendously from its old socialist fears that "we shouldn't let business anywhere near our young". "The teaching profession is one of the worst proponents of this mindset in many parts of Europe," she said.
The CEO of Ja-Ye sees both good and bad aspects in the European mindset. On the positive side, Jenner believes Europe's years of thinking about how you "marry prosperity and society is extremely important and will be a lead for the world" in developing global social entrepreneurship.
However, she also argues that Europe's social economies have taught people to expect that someone else – not themselves – will take care of them, which consequently means "society in general has a negative attitude towards entrepreneurship".
On the EU policymaking level, Jenner believes that while much has already been achieved, a number of problems persist.
The European Commission, she says, has for some years been at the global forefront of linking education with entrepreneurship, bringing business and schools together. On the other hand, the EU is not promoting enough the work that existing SMEs do, she believes.
"The discussion around business and entrepreneurship needs to shift to one about values and adding value rather than one about employment and productivity. We are doing a disservice to entrepreneurs by making all the discussions around them too 'business-ish'," she argues.
In conclusion, Jenner believes the current recession offers enormous opportunities for startups and established companies alike, citing her own organisation as an example of someone who spotted the "context in which an idea can be commercialised where previously it couldn't".
