Special Friends and a Challenging Agenda makes World Economic Forum meeting stimulating

By Mel Young, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Homeless World Cup, United Kingdom*

I arrived in Vienna this afternoon to attend the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia. It is steaming hot and it means that this Scottish writer begins to melt the moment he gets off the plane.

The first sessions for me this afternoon were private sessions involving social entrpreneurs only. The World Economic Forum engages with social entrepreneurs in an open and engaging manner. The theme of this conference is Innovation and naturally social entrepreneurs have key contributions to make. They are, after all, innovators by nature.

The sessions were positive and inspiring with social entrepreneurs sharing their activities and challenges over the past 12 months. There were also sessions on the potential of Impact Investment which was rising on the agenda and the potential for the EU to help provide better infrastructure for social entrepreneurs in the region.

Then we are off to a Welcome Reception at the main Congress Centre which is guarded heavily. This is a moment for everyone to network and discuss the "issues of the day" but for me I gravitate towards the other social entrepreneurs. I want to hear their news and talk about our shared value and common purpose. I love the positive energy. This is real family.

Tomorrow promises to be a really interesting day. The agenda is full of potentially stimulating debates on central topical issues which are relevant to everyone. I will book into the session titled "Ecosystems for Social Innovation" tomorrow afternoon. That session looks really yummy and I expect I won't be able to keep my mouth shut! And there are many others! More soon.

*Mel Young attends the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia in Vienna, Austria 8-9 June 2011 and is guest blogging for the Forum.