Ko će biti vaš Steve Jobs? Putovanje u inspirativnu inovaciju i poduzetništvo u BiH

Napomena: Danas je gost blogger otpravnik poslova Ambasade SAD-a u BiH Nicholas M. Hill. Nikolas M. Hill profesionalni je diplomata u službi za vanjske poslove. U Sarajevo je stigao u julu 2012. godine na mjesto zamjenika šefa misije Ambasade SAD u Bosni i Hercegovini. On obnaša dužnost otpravnika poslova od odlaska bivšeg ambasadora Patricka S. Moona 24. avgusta 2013. Njegovu biografiju možete pogledati ovdje

Ko će biti vaš Steve Jobs?

Putovanje u inspirativnu inovaciju i poduzetništvo u BiH

Početkom ove sedmice, Ambasada SAD je organizovala sarajevsku premijeru filma “Jobs” koji je priča o Steveu Jobsu: američkom poduzetniku, inovatoru i osnivaču kompanije Apple Inc. Izvanredan uspjeh ove kompanije, i u smislu tehničkih inovacija i poslovnog modela, inspirisao je poduzetnike širom svijeta. Osim što su životna priča i ambicija gospodina Jobsa nadahnjujuće, njegov uspjeh postavlja ključno pitanje i biznismenima i onima koji odlučuju o politikama vlada u cijelom svijetu – kako je region Kalifornije, danas svima poznat kao Silikonska dolina, postao temelj i društvena tekstura za uspjeh Applea i mnogih drugih tehnoloških kompanija?

U predgrađu južno od San Franciska, gospodin Jobs je 1976. godine, zajedno sa svojim partnerima lansirao firmu Apple Computers, bukvalno iz garaže svojih roditelja. Iz te garaže stvoren je današnji Apple koji direktno zapošljava 80.000 ljudi širom svijeta; indirektno podržava 300.000 poslova za svoje dobavljače i partnere samo u SAD i osigurava veliki broj radnih mjesta u inostranstvu.

Uspjeh Silikonske doline često se predstavlja kao model za stvaranje uspješnog poslovnog okruženja. Čak se i u SAD diskutuje o tome na koji način ponoviti uspjeh Silikonske doline. Prilikom pokretanja biznisa poduzetnici se često suočavaju sa mnogim preprekama, kao što je bio slučaj i sa gospodinom Jobsom pri nastojanjima da stvori Apple. Nema neke magične formule. Više novoformiranih kompanija u Silikonskoj dolini se ugase i ne postanu novi Google, Apple ili Cisco; ali ljudi nastoje biznis pokrenuti baš tamo jer su inspirisani.

Bez sumnje, prilika da se živi, studira i radi u blizini drugih poduzetnika i mladih kompanija potakla je Jobsovu maštu. Jedinstvena sredina koja je podstakla tako veliki broj tehnoloških poduzetnika ima nekoliko posebnih i jedinstvenih elemenata:

• Investicijsku klimu koja privlači finansijski kapital;
• Stručne i motivisane radnike
• Fleksibilne zakone o radu; i
• Univerzitete koji su fokusirani na novonastajuća polja u nauci, inženjerstvu i tehnologiji.

 Iskustvo potvrđuje da kompanije poput Applea ne nastaju obično u zemljama gdje poslovna klima guši nastojanja poduzetnika, gdje je tržište rada nefleksibilno, gdje postoji politička kontrola nad kompanijama i gdje je korupcija endemska. To je izazov za Bosnu i Hercegovinu. Rješenje je u stvaranju poslovne klime koja promoviše susretljivost i podršku. Potrebno je investirati u nove generacije inženjera, inovatora i poslovnih lidera. Također je potrebno stvarati poslovnu klimu koja podstiče razvoj i fleksibilnost u privatnom sektoru. I konačno, neophodno je da vlada investira u budućnost, uključujući investicije u visoko kvalitetnu fizičku i društvenu infrastrukturu. 

Unatoč brojnim poslovnim izazovima, Bosna i Hercegovina ima ljude koji nastoje transformisati bh. ekonomiju i otvarati radna mjesta i nove mogućnosti. Ti poduzetnici i poslovni lideri nastoje proširiti svoje poslovanje uprkos barijerama koje su podigli njihovi politički lideri -- politički lideri koji često drsko podižu etničke tenzije da bi prikrili sopstvenu podmitljivost. Nove i rastuće firme ne samo da upošljavaju ljude, one također doprinose BiH kroz svoje inovativne ideje i kvalitetne usluge, te kroz plaćanje poreza što osigurava sredstva za zdravstvene i mirovinske beneficije i očajnički potrebnu infrastrukturnu nadogradnju. 

Nicholas M. Hill, otpravnik poslova Ambasade SAD-a u Sarajevu 

Na premijeri filma apelovao sam na poslovne lidere da se njihov glas čuje i da kažu političkim vođama da riješe pravne i regulatorne prepreke koje priječe razvoj privatnog sektora. Političari moraju slušati. U Bosni i Hercegovini potrebne su promjene da bi se privuklo više stranih ulaganja, pokrenule nove kompanije i zaposlio veći broj ljudi. Postoje nadahnjujuće priče o inovaciji i poduzetništvu ovdje u Bosni i Hercegovini, a ljudi ove zemlje – u Banjaluci, Mostaru, Sarajevu ili Trebinju- zasigurno su sposobni za velike stvari. Cilj je jasan: uz poboljšanu poslovnu klimu i smanjenje korupcije, vizionari iz Bosne i Hercegovine, slični Steveu Jobsu, biće korak bliže ostvarenju svojih snova.

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Note: Guest blogger today is Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Nicholas M. Hill.

Nicholas M. Hill is a career member of the Foreign Service and arrived in Sarajevo in July 2012 to serve as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  He has been acting as Charge d'Affaires, a.i. since the departure of former Ambassador Patrick S. Moon on August 24, 2013. You can find his bio here.

Who Will Be Your Steve Jobs?  The Path to Inspiring Innovation and Entrepreneurship in BiH

Earlier this week, the U.S. Embassy organized the Sarajevo film premiere of “Jobs,” which tells the story of Steve Jobs: American entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of Apple Inc.  Apple’s notable success, both through its technical innovations and its business model, has inspired entrepreneurs across the world.  While Mr. Jobs’ personal story and ambition are inspirational, his success prompts a vital question for both businesspeople and government policy makers around the world -- how did the California region now famously known as Silicon Valley provide the foundation and social fabric for the success of Apple and so many other technology companies?

In 1976 in a suburb south of San Francisco, Mr. Jobs and his partners launched Apple Computers literally from his parents’ garage.  Out of that garage, they built the Apple of today, which directly employs 80,000 peoplearound the world; indirectly supports 300,000 jobs for its suppliers and partners in the United States alone; and provides many more employment opportunities overseas.

The success of Silicon Valley is often touted as a model for creating a successful business environment.  Even in the United States, there is an ongoing debate for how to replicate Silicon Valley’s success.  Like Steve Jobs’ efforts to build Apple, most entrepreneurs suffer some major setbacks along the way.  There is no magic pill.  More startups in Silicon Valley fail than become the next Google, Apple, or Cisco; but people keep trying because they feel inspired to do so. 

Undeniably, living, studying and working near other entrepreneurs and start-ups excited Jobs’ imagination.  The unique environment that encouraged so many technology entrepreneurs has a few distinct and unmistakable ingredients: 

• An investment climate that attracts financial capital;
• Skilled and motivated workers;
• Flexible labor laws; and
• Universities with a focus on emerging fields in science, engineering, and technology.

 History shows that companies like Apple do not generally emerge in countries where the business climate is suffocating, where labor markets are rigid, and where political control over companies and corruption are endemic.  This is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s challenge.  Creating a welcoming and supportive business climate is the answer.  It requires investment in the next generation of engineers, innovators, and business leaders.  It also demands the creation of a business climate that encourages private sector growth and flexibility.  And finally, it necessitates government investments for the future, including high-quality physical and social infrastructure. 

Despite its numerous business challenges, Bosnia and Herzegovina has people seeking to transform the country’s economy and create jobs and new opportunities.  These entrepreneurs and business leaders are striving to expand their businesses in the face of barriers erected by their very own political leaders – political leaders who often brazenly stir up ethnic tensions to mask their own venality.  New and expanded businesses not only create employment, they also contribute to Bosnia and Herzegovina through their innovative ideas; quality service; and the taxes they pay, which support health and pension benefits and desperately-needed infrastructure upgrades. 

At the film premiere I urged business leaders to make their voices heard and to tell their political leaders to fix the legal and regulatory shackles that obstruct private sector growth.  Politicians must listen.  In Bosnia and Herzegovina, changes are needed to make it easier to attract more foreign investment, start more companies, and hire more people.  There are inspirational stories of innovation and entrepreneurship here in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the people of this country – from Banja Luka to Mostar, from Sarajevo to Trebinje -- certainly have the ability to do great things.  The goal is clear: with an improved business climate and reduced corruption, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s own visionaries like Steve Jobs will be one step closer to turning their dreams into reality.