Reskilling Through Entrepreneurship: Some IES initiatives for Future-Ready Talents
By Bruno Iafelice and Sandeep Patil
Organizations across industries, academia, and research are grappling with rapid technological shifts, disruptive global events, and a volatile labor market. From the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic to the acceleration of automation and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the landscape of work is changing faster than traditional systems can adapt. Reskilling has become essential, yet traditional programs often focus too narrowly on technical skills, missing what’s truly needed.
What’s required now is the ability to adapt, lead, and make confident decisions amid uncertainty—qualities that lie at the heart of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs thrive by navigating ambiguity, solving complex problems, and taking calculated risks. These capabilities are increasingly critical in every professional setting. According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023, analytical thinking and creative thinking are the top skills employers will prioritize through 2027, outpacing even specific technical proficiencies.
Recognizing this imperative, IES is driving initiatives that integrate entrepreneurial mindsets into reskilling pathways, aiming to cultivate the strategic, creative, and adaptive thinking essential in today’s rapidly evolving environment for its members, from academia and industry. Some of the IES initiatives include the Industry Forum session at IES EFTA 2025, featuring contributions from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and innovative companies, and a dedicated entrepreneurship workshop as part of the IES IECON 2025 conference.
Entrepreneurship-based programs develop practical, transferable skills that fuel innovation and leadership across roles:
- Opportunity Recognition & Problem Solving.
- Presentation & Storytelling
- Agile Leadership & Team Management
- Business Model Innovation & Strategic Thinking
- Resilience & Risk Management
- Networking & Peer Learning
These skills translate directly across diverse roles: Founders sharpen ventures with opportunity recognition and resilience; Executives drive transformation with agile leadership and strategic vision; Academics convert research into impact through storytelling and stakeholder engagement.
IES members attending IECON 2025 can register to the entrepreneurship workshop for free filling out the conference registration form. Seats are limited.
Bruno Iafelice, PhD
IES Membership Activities New Initiatives Committee
Ceo, TVLP Institute, California
Sandeep Patil, PhD
Secretary, IES TC on Education in Engineering
Industrial Technologies and Professor, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden