Our Approach
In all of our projects ETG focuses on listening, engaging, and empowering. We believe that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got. Using cutting edge, proven human process technology, we set ourselves apart and achieve lasting changes in mindset and attitudes towards economic development and transformation.
Economic clustering has emerged over the past 15 years as the most effective way to grow new economies and to revitalize existing economies. In the simplest terms, clusters are geographic concentrations of interrelated companies and institutions that comprise a particular field of linked industries. When cluster industries and institutions are proactively interacting, communicating, collaborating, and competing, the entire regional economy becomes more dynamic and successful in responding to opportunities for growth and change both locally and globally. Cluster analysis and development –“clustering”–provides the most effective and reliable way to achieve holistic, sustainable growth in the localities and regions. Successful cluster development has been proven to result in spontaneous, self-sustaining growth.
Making room at the table
We make space at the table for emerging leaders from all levels in the economy, engaging them to be active participants in their own economic development.
The indigenous women’s delegation, representing self-governing women’s saving circles and micro-banking in the most impoverished areas in rural Mexico, were introduced as active participants at the 2nd International Latin American Cluster Conference. This was the first time any of those women had been in a hotel, had heard economic leaders speak, participated in discussions with participants from many countries. According to them, that experience expanded their world and their capacity to envision and pursue an abundant future.
Whole systems
IF YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE, YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN. We design whole systems processes that change what people do as individuals and collaborators – thus enhancing the probability that new levels of achievement can be reached by our clients.
In Guyana, a country where patterns of conflict between public and private sectors against one another for decades, an Economic Competitiveness Presidential Summit was the catalyst for change. After the conference, the leader of the private sector consortium told the press that the harmonious consensus to support a national competitiveness strategy that emerged during the Summit was “nothing short of a miracle.”
Integrating integrity
ETG creates the conditions where people feel comfortable integrating their true values and long term thinking in their business decision-making.
The Energy Cluster of Nebraska, traditionally a conservative state, changes its name to the Energy and Environment Cluster. ETG had supported mind set shifts, and representatives of wind energy were invited to participate in clustering activities by senior business leaders. Wind energy is now a major source of energy and income for that mid-western state, and is considered a wind power leader in the US.
Similarly, in southern Mexico, after long consideration, the leaders of a very small cacao cluster came to the decision to develop an organic cacao cluster. This decision was made because ETG made space at the conversational table to invite people’s thoughts on the right thing to do over the long term.
Reframing old stories
We are masters of reframing and enable people to see the assets hidden in what they see as disadvantages and problems.
Guyana has been suffering for decades from loss of their best educated youth to an extensive diaspora in places such as Toronto, New York, London, San Francisco, etc. ETG facilitated the key meeting where an “aha” moment occurred as the “brain drain” was reframed as “brain gain” and a strategy to systematically engage the diaspora in economic development and competitiveness emerged.