Announcing This
Year's EI Forum:
Disruption

By: David H. Kim

The concept of disruption is a fascinating one and has been particularly significant for entrepreneurship and for understanding the dynamics of innovation. Economists like Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), a contemporary of John Maynard Keynes, championed the notion that disruptive innovation leads to “creative destruction”, a well-known phrase that he coined. For Schumpeter and his present-day followers such as Clayton Christensen (Harvard Business School), understanding the role of disruption is critical to a flourishing commercial enterprise as well as a flourishing economy. Whether it’s disruption created by human-made innovation or by an unforeseen “act of God”, these massive changes and shifts create a significant opportunity—one that we can respond to with either fear or courage.

Disruption instigates a powerful occasion to not only understand the deeper drives that govern our motives, but to solidify our commitments that lead to resolute actions and innovation. This year’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Forum will explore these dynamics to help participants discern how the gospel transforms the way we experience disruption. God uses disruption in our lives to confront us with His reality, especially during times when we are consumed by ourselves and our own agenda. When we are confronted with the vision of God’s glory in the light of the gospel, fearful avoidance turns into courageous action. Empowered by God’s love, we are able to see otherwise potentially unnerving changes in our world as opportunities to bring about Spirit-led innovation . As the gospel becomes clearer, disruption can distinctively refine and hone our sense of calling, commitment, and purpose in our work.

We are particularly excited to convene this year’s EI Forum. The Forum is open to people of all professions and industries, and is not intended to be limited solely to entrepreneurs. However, in order to create a more intimate and focused environment for this year’s participants, registration will be capped at 200 attendees. We hope this will provide the potential for greater opportunities to process the material presented alongside other participants, fostering meaningful relational connections. The Forum will be highly interactive, creating the needed time and space for both individuals and groups to reflect on and respond to how God uses disruption to sharpen and renew 1) our motivations for work, 2) how we shape relational dynamics at work, and 3) our imagination for innovation.