Even though 40% of young people would prefer to be self-employed, the reality does not match their aspirations. If young people were as active in entrepreneurship as 30- to 49-year-old men, there would be an additional 3.6 million more young entrepreneurs across OECD countries. 

This episode of OECD podcast features Joni Rakipi from ETH Zürich and is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan from the CFE. Joni, originally from Albania and now based in Zürich, explains deeptech as solving complex problems through scientific breakthroughs, emphasising its long-term impact. He highlights barriers young entrepreneurs face, such as limited access for foreign nationals and regulatory hurdles, advocating for open doors and deregulation to foster innovation. The episode encourages young entrepreneurs and policymakers to engage with these insights. Tune in to hear from a young entrepreneur, in his own words. 

As Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Shayne MacLachlan engages with policy issues concerning SMEs, tourism, culture, regions and cities to name a few. He has worked on a number of OECD campaigns including “Going Digital”, "Climate Action" and "I am the future of work". 

Joni Rakipi holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Management, Technology & Economics (METC) from ETH Zürich. He currently holds the role of Investor Connect Program Manager at ETH Zürich; an initiative of ETH Entrepreneurship aimed at connecting investors with spin-offs of ETH Zürich. From 2022 – 2024, he served as President at the ETH Entrepreneur Club. He is heavily involved in the start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Switzerland and other neighbouring countries.  

To learn more, visit the YEPA hub https://yepa-hub.org/
Find out about the OECD's work on inclusive entrepreneurship https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/inclusive-entrepreneurship.html and the Missing Entrepreneurs 2023 Report https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-missing-entrepreneurs-2023_230efc78-en.html

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Youth entrepreneurs uncovered: Joni Rakipi, in his own words

The OECD Report for Regional Policy for Greece Post-2020 (https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/regional-policy-for-greece-post-2020_cedf09a5-en.html)  revealed that 32% of the population lives in predominantly rural regions which is significantly higher than the OECD average share of rural population which is around 25%. Of those living in predominantly rural regions (~3.4 million people), roughly 3 million live in remote rural regions meaning Greece has one of the largest shares in this demographic among OECD countries. 
Recorded live from the OECD Rural Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Greek officials Vasiliki Pantelopoulou (Secretary-General of the Partnership Agreement) and Christos Kyrkoglou (General Director of Monitoring and Implementation) explain Greece’s approach to rural urban development under the European Union’s Cohesion Policy and the role of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs). They describe their respective roles in coordinating and implementing programmes financed through the Partnership Agreement, stressing the importance of integrating urban and rural policies. Sit back, relax and take a listen!

Vasiliki Pantelopoulou is a lawyer and a Member of Athens Bar Association. She graduated from School of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds two postgraduate degrees (LL.M. in Commercial and Business Law from East Anglia University, U.K., and MSc in Business Administration for Law Practitioners from Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, Greece). She is a Member of the Board of the Hellenic Development Bank. She has worked for twenty years as an in-house lawyer at STASY – Urban Rail Transport S.A., specialized in the field of public procurement (Law 4412/2016). Since April 2023, she has been the Director of Legal Services at Metavasi S.A. – Hellenic Company for Just Transition S.A. She is a Member of investing Committees such as EQUIFUND I & II, TEPIX III Loan Fund and others.

Christos Kyrkoglou is the General Director of Monitoring and Implementation for the ESPA, which operate under the Secretary General. Mr Kyrkoglou holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, as well as a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Development from the same institution.

In 2023, he was appointed Head of the Special Service for the Coordination of Regional Programs of the General Secretariat for the Partnership Agreement of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Since 2025, he is Head of the General Directorate for Monitoring and Implementation.

His professional interests and fields of expertise span the full spectrum of development interventions under the Partnership Agreement for Regional Development 2021–2027, with a particular focus on employment, human resources development, innovation and entrepreneurship, social policy, territorial development, culture, and the environment.

As Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Shayne engages with policy issues concerning SMEs, tourism, culture, regions and cities to name a few. He has worked on a number of OECD campaigns including “Going Digital”, "Climate Action" and "I am the future of work".


****
To learn more, visit OECD Latin American Rural Development Conference www.oecd.org/en/events/2025/11/…nt-conference.html and the OECD's work on Rural Development www.oecd.org/en/topics/policy-i…l-development.html. Find out more on these topics by reading Reinforcing Rural Resilience www.oecd.org/en/publications/re…e_7cd485e3-en.html and Rural Innovation Pathways www.oecd.org/en/publications/ru…s_c86de0f4-en.html.

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COGITO Talks…  Lean on Me: Three pillars for rural prosperity

Steve Howe, in an unusually long interview, talks about YES and the forthcoming UK Tour, playing the Fragile & Drama albums. Tickets and more info at yesworld.com

BBC Radio 5 Live - Steve Howe interview with Rhod Sharp 13 April 2016

Full version of my track "Azul" part of my third EP on @crossingsofficial

Buy on Beatport: www.beatport.com/release/azul/2018798

Azul

Buy on Beatport

Azul (Original Mix)[Crossings]

♬ Click for more ☞ https://www.beatport.com/release/shanti/2294866

⚡ Follow us on YouTube ☞ https://www.youtube.com/c/TrndmusikDe
🌃 Follow us on Spotify ☞ https://spoti.fi/2jzGmv2

Get Rapossa's EP on Pipe & Pochet here: 
➟ Beatport: https://bit.ly/2Jizvo3

@pipeandpochet // @goldcap // @rapossa

When you feel as if you are on the right path, the universe seems to connect all the dots for you. This is exactly how we felt releasing the Shanti EP by Rapossa. Two wonderfully created tracks titled Shanti and Oriental Tales. So much love, passion and energy are felt in this EP. Masterful remixes by Goldcap, Marco Tegui, and Hot Oasis.

🎧 More Music in our Playlists on Spotify ⤵
💃 Dance: https://spoti.fi/2FjcR9k
⚡ Deep House: https://spoti.fi/2JVCgJH
🌃 Disco: https://spoti.fi/2qMavuY
🍍 Downtempo: https://spoti.fi/2K0w7vN
 👯‍♀️ Electronica: https://spoti.fi/2qJt0A9
💥 Tech House: https://spoti.fi/2vrVN0W
🌌 Techno: https://spoti.fi/2qMRUOy

🐧 trndmsk's weekly Spotify charts: https://spoti.fi/2sgrlms

Click for more

Rapossa - Shanti (Goldcap Remix)

Speaker(s): Vince Cable, Howard Davies, Angel Gurria | Now in its 50th year, the OECD has established itself as the leading international economic organisation for socio-economic analysis, best practice policy based on peer review, benchmarking and internationally comparable indicators and statistics. Its achievements have made a major contribution to both economic development within its membership and global economic issues. Bringing together business, think–tanks, academia, government and the media, the seminar will address the economic challenges facing policy makers working to transition the world economy from crisis to a period of strong, sustainable and balanced growth. The seminar will also foster a debate on future challenges that tomorrow’s economic policy makers will face, as the OECD looks forward to the next 50 years. Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:30:00 GMT

OECD at 50, Better Policies for Better Lives: Growth, Skills and Jobs [Audio]

If you’re scratching your head over stuck wages and dwindling job benefits, massive corporate outsourcing is one place to look. David Weil, author of The Fissured Workplace, explains how companies’ use of indirect contractors is one reason wages aren’t going up. David Weil is the Dean and Professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School of Social Policy and Management. He served as US Wage and Hour Administrator at the Department of Labor during the last three years of the Obama administration.

For more information go to: 
www.oecd.org/employment/
www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment

Host: Clara Young
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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The mystery of stagnating wages. David Weil elucidates.

How can we all help shape better policies for better lives? OECD Podcasts bring you insightful interviews with experts and well-known personalities on such pressing challenges as inequality and inclusive growth, the economy, jobs, the digital transformation, climate change, the environment, education, healthcare, tax, trade, international co-operation, and more.


NOTE: The opinions expressed and arguments employed in the content displayed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD, its Member countries, or any stakeholders who have contributed to or participated in any related work.

COGITO Talks… Lean on Me: Three pillars for rural prosperity

OECD

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