“Wherever you have a problem, you have opportunity.” shared ambassador Andrew Young while sitting on a panel titled “Reimagining Our Economy: What Global Leaders Can Do To Ignite Free Enterprise” at HOPE Global Forum 2015, a three-day event held at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in downtown Atlanta.
HOPE Global Forum 2015 convenes leaders from community, government and the private sector to outline a vision for the modern global economy — a vision that includes all people. Notable speakers included U.S. Secretary Julian Castro (Department of Housing & Urban Development); Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; founder, chairman and CEO of Operation Hope John Hope Bryant and many more.
An annual event, this year’s forum was themed “Reimagining the Global Economy: Expanding Free Enterprise For All.” Organizers pontificate, “[It’s] where the poor, underserved and teetering middle class are seen as untapped assets for economic growth, entrepreneurship and job creation.”
During the opening session of the forum, Young told the captive audience to “Start locally and dream globally.” He was joined on the panel by other dynamic leaders, who John Hope Bryant calls not just Ph.D.s but Ph.Dos, including Joseph Otting, president, CEO and board member, OneWest Bank; Sean Cleary, chairman, Strategic Concepts (PTY) LTD; and Chung-Ming Kuan, Minister of the National Development Council of the Executive Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China, who each shared their perspective on how the free enterprise system can be expanded globally to grow and engage economies.
Cleary reminded conference attendees, “Make the business work within the parameters [and keep three important variables in mind]: substitution, optimization and virtualization. Recognize you are your brother’s keeper.”
Operation HOPE is the leading global financial dignity nonprofit founded by Bryant and it’s work is often dubbed “silver rights empowerment.” Bryant and Young are co-chairs of the Forum, which had its keynote address delivered by President Bill Clinton, founder of the Clinton Foundation and 42nd president of the United States, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015.
“Perhaps no president has done more to advance the cause of financial dignity and expanded opportunity in their post-presidency than Bill Clinton,” said Bryant. “Operation HOPE is deeply humbled and honored that President Clinton will address the 2015 HOPE Forum, especially against the backdrop of the MLK Day weekend festivities in Dr. King’s hometown of Atlanta. We are looking forward to the president’s spirited address and a meaningful two-day forum which will help provide the foundation for President Clinton’s comments.”
(Photos by Robin Lori by Steed Media Service)
