JEDDAH: Saudi entrepreneurs were urged to 鈥渢hink global, stay local鈥� during a conference address at Dar Al-Hekmah University.

Prof. William Kerr, who chairs Harvard University鈥檚 Launching New Ventures program, told an international research forum that risk-taking was an important quality for entrepreneurs. 

鈥淒on鈥檛 try to pick a winner,鈥� he said. 鈥淩educe the cost for the global network and for entry in 黑料社区, and build greater rewards and better competition.鈥�

Kerr works with companies around the world on the development of new ventures and transformations to ensure profitable growth. 

Later, he told Arab News: 鈥満诹仙缜� appears to be at a wonderful turning point where bringing entrepreneurship and enabling its growth will make a more vibrant society and also improve the local economy.

鈥淓ntrepreneurship doesn鈥檛 operate by itself, so the question is what do you give to the entrepreneurs? If you give them access to the market and reduce the cost of entering a business or competing with big companies, then we can expect lots of economic growth.

鈥淥ne should learn from examples and others鈥� experience. Female entrepreneurs, in particular, should look for female role models.

鈥淚t can be a lonely business for any entrepreneur, so look for mentors鈥� support and work hard.鈥�

Shatha Abu Al-Faraj, of Dar Al-Hekma University, addressed a class at the conference on 鈥渄igital design process and digital fabrication techniques for teaching product design.鈥�

鈥淒igital fabrication is a new field in 黑料社区 now that we live in a fast-paced era. Everyone should be able keep up with the technology,鈥� she told Arab News.

鈥淚 am not only teaching big things, I want to teach a stay-at-home woman how to design things as simple as jewelry. By graphic designing, you can design your own jewelry and wear exactly what you desire. Of course, interior design and furniture design will also be easy.鈥� 

Visiting scholars were taken on a tour of Dukkan Dar Al-Hekma, a shop stocked with high-quality products made by university students.