Celebrating Four Years of Harmonious Entrepreneurship

This week marks our 4th anniversary of the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society which we founded during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020. Back then, we embraced the idea that “Entrepreneurship is for Everyone.” Yet our vision has always extended beyond the conventional narrative. For us, entrepreneurial thinking is a universal skill—not about everyone starting their own business, but about spotting opportunities, solving problems creatively, and driving meaningful change. It’s about empowering people to to bring about change, whether in their communities, organisations, or the wider world.

When we launched HES, we sought to challenge the status quo by reimagining entrepreneurship’s purpose. Too often entrepreneurship is viewed narrowly as a pathway to wealth creation. Instead, we championed Harmonious Entrepreneurship—a holistic, systemic approach that integrates economic, environmental, humane and social entrepreneurship and balances profit, people, and planet. Our mission is not just to address global environmental challenges such as climate change but human and social issues such as health, inequality ,and poverty, doing so  iin a way that harmonises economic, social, and environmental goals.

What We’ve Achieved Together

In just four years, HES has made significant strides. We’ve published seven refereed journal articles, four book chapters, two bilingual booklets, and over 180 freely accessible case studies and vignettes, which illustrate how sustainable entrepreneurship can take root globally. We’ve given lectures and conference presentations, created an introductory online course, and tested a dynamic staff-student competition with participants from the UK and Malaysia, laying the groundwork for scalable initiatives that engage learners of all disciplines and  backgrounds. We’ve also supported three interns (Laura and Adrienne 1&2 and Mehmet 3)

But our work is about more than milestones. It’s about rekindling a sense of curiosity and creativity that is innate in all of us. As children, we learn by observation, by doing and by questioning.  We are endlessly asking “why” and challenging the world around us. Yet as we grow, this enterprise, is often stifled in us, not least by educational systems that prioritise memorisation and conformity over exploration and inquiry. At HES, we are determined to reverse this trend.

Through initiatives like our Online Competition and the  more recent Harmonious Heroes Initiative—“Cyflawnwyr Newid Menter Cytûn” (Harmonious Enterprising Change Makers) Felicity has embedded in her Llanelli EntreComp Schools Initiative—we aim to empower learners and educators to harness their natural creativity and develop the entrepreneurial competences needed to drive sustainable change.

 Connected Globally, Rooted Locally.

While our work has a global reach, it is deeply rooted in local communities. Harmonious Heroes, for example has been co-designed with Llanelli Township and a broad network of stakeholders to address specific needs and aspirations. This collaborative approach ensures that the work we do not only aligns with global goals, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also responds to the unique challenges faced by our local partners.

However, the path has not always been easy. The evolving landscape of education and sustainability brings resource constraints and shifting priorities. Despite these challenges, we continue to forge ahead with passion, perseverance, and a belief that meaningful progress is always possible.

We’ve also sought to challenge long-standing entrepreneurial orthodoxies, such as Friedman’s 1970 doctrine that the responsibility of business is to “make as much money as possible” or Isenberg’s (2014) assertion that “successful entrepreneurship always exacerbates local inequality.” We know and can prove this doesn’t have to be the case. By equipping individuals with the skills to innovate sustainably and equitably, entrepreneurship can become a force for good, reducing disparities rather than deepening them.

Looking to the Future

As we celebrate four years of progress, our sights are set on the road ahead. We believe that if we can unleash the natural enterprise within young people and equip them with the knowledge and skills to innovate responsibly, they will not just survive in a complex world—they will transform it. Our plans include expanding our initiatives to reach more educators and learners, further developing our competition framework and amplifying the stories of those who are making a difference through harmonious entrepreneurship. Most importantly, we remain committed to challenging orthodoxy  and ensuring that they  challenge the status quo thereby helping to save the planet and its inhabitants.

We’re also thrilled to share that HES has been shortlisted for the UK National Enterprise Network Award for Innovation in Education. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team and the many partners who share our vision.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To our partners, educators, learners, and supporters—locally, nationally, and internationally—thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’ve proved that entrepreneurship is more than a skill some are born with—it’s a mindset that everyone can possess,  a tool for transformation, and a pathway to harmony between profit, people, and planet.

As Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Here’s to continuing to move forward together—towards a future where curiosity, creativity and collaboration pave the way for sustainable progress.

Happy 4th Birthday to HES!

David and Felicity

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