Managers of national companies – which are, as we know, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises – face great challenges today, which in an increasingly competitive, demanding, and constantly changing world, can dictate the viability of their businesses.
In the public sphere, voices from various sectors continue to emphasize the need to increase productivity and competitiveness levels of our SMEs. Indeed, PORDATA data indicates that productivity per hour of work in Portugal is around 22 euros, compared to 40 in Spain, 63 in Germany, and the EU average of 46. Regarding GDP, our growth rate is among the lowest in Europe (we are at 17% compared to the EU average of 25%), and one of the biggest challenges for national companies is the lack of capacity to scale up.
Alongside this, today, more than ever, SME managers need to be prepared for the challenges of sustainability, globalization, and digitalization. Improving the results of our businesses and, consequently, growing the national economy is only possible if we can adopt strategies that expand the horizons of our entrepreneurs – and this starts with training and skill enhancement.
In this regard, 2024 will be a strategic year for PONTUAL. We are organizing the 1st edition of the Tech Business Summit, an event aimed at promoting technological literacy among business managers, which will bring together a group of speakers and experts on topics ranging from Technology as a competitive factor in SMEs to Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and others.
On the other hand, we have also joined the Voice Leadership initiative by Nova – School of Business and Economics, which aims to empower SME decision-makers to increase the competitiveness of their businesses and grow the GDP by 2% by 2026. This is a program open to small and medium-sized enterprise managers that starts in April 2024 (registrations until February 29) and includes an intensive 18-month training totaling 80 hours. I will be part of the group of 200 mentors from various sectors who will support these entrepreneurs throughout the initiative, and I am truly excited about the learning and new experiences this program holds for me.
The challenges are great, indeed. However, managers who empower themselves, increase their knowledge, and apply it in their businesses are the ones who will not only succeed in the future but also make a valuable contribution to the growth of the national economy. Let this be the goal for all of us!
