And then there is Monaco

Kevin Mallia Executive Director responsible for Advisory Services at EY Malta Each year, the world’s brightest and most successful business leaders from across the globe gather in Monaco for an unforgettable experience. Best practices and success stories are shared, dissected and analysed in order for the ultimate EY World Entrepreneur of the Year winner to be chosen. It is an event that has become a global benchmark for looking at and understanding the future of entrepreneurship.

Each year, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year ® country winners travel to Monaco to compete with winners from around the world for the top prize – the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. The first national award was celebrated on a much smaller and more humble scale 30 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today, the programme has grown at an exponential rate and now spans more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. More significant is the fact that almost half of NASDAQ 100 listed companies are run or founded by former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ® winners.

The award encourages and celebrates entrepreneurial ventures among those with potential and recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ® programme is an important way to recognise people who are not always given the recognition they deserve. Around the world, the award honours the contributions of successful entrepreneurs and serves to: • Inspire today’s successful entrepreneurs to reach even greater heights • Identify entrepreneurial role models for the next generation of business leaders • Foster new entrepreneurial activity and economic growth in participating countries.

The EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award is awarded on the basis of six criteria, allowing all country winners an equal opportunity to compete: entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, strategic direction, innovation, global/community impact and p e r s o n a l integrity/ influence/ philanthropy.

Whilst in Monaco, each contest- ant is interviewed by a panel of judges, all of whom are fiercely independent and who receive detailed information on each of the country winners in advance. After a private meeting with each winner, the judging panel will convene to discuss each candidate’s qualifications and to ultimately select the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. The winner is announced at the evening award ceremony on the same day.

As most of the judges are former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ® award country winners, they fully understand the importance of an unbiased and fair selection process and how the integrity of the programme has been the driving force behind the success of this award. Indeed, judges are rotated every year to ensure fresh thinking in the judging process.

Just like every other facet of our business, EY’s corporate responsibility strategy is deeply rooted in our purpose and our belief in business as a force for good in society. That includes supporting entrepreneurs through these awards.

It has been an honour for us at EY Malta to launch this global awards programme in Malta. The nominations are now open and will remain so until 20 February. All the information required for applying is available on www.eoymalta.com, which also directs interested applicants to the application form.

This year, the 17th EY World Entrepreneur of the Year awards will take place between 6 and 11 June in Monaco and the first Maltese winner of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ® award will be there competing for this prestigious award. This will be a great source of pride for us at EY Malta.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Malta is supported by the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.