Professor Mirela Xheneti

We are proud to share that Professor Mirela Xheneti, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business at the University of Sussex Business School, has been appointed President of the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) — a leading scholarly society dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship research, education, and engagement across Europe.

ECSB is a vibrant, research-driven non-profit organisation with a community of over 400 members, supporting scholars at all stages of their careers through conferences, mentoring, networking, and research dissemination. As President, Professor Xheneti will lead the ECSB Board of Directors, guiding the organisation’s long-term strategy and ensuring the smooth coordination of its core activities — including events, webinars, and initiatives that bring together researchers, educators, and practitioners across Europe and beyond.

She will also serve as a public ambassador for ECSB, fostering a strong sense of community and promoting high-quality, impactful entrepreneurship scholarship.

Reflecting on her new role, Professor Xheneti said:

“It’s an honour to serve as President of ECSB, especially as we prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business (RENT) conference. I aim to continue championing ECSB as the foremost network for European entrepreneurship researchers, supporting career development, critical scholarship and societal impact across the field.”

Looking ahead, Professor Xheneti highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing the ECSB community.

“We live in unprecedented times marked by global challenges such as climate change, rising social inequalities, and systemic crises. These demand greater reflexivity and responsibility from us as researchers. At the same time, there is an enormous opportunity in asking bold, imaginative research questions and in using new conceptual frameworks and methods to shape more just and inclusive futures through entrepreneurship.”

As ECSB enters this milestone year, Professor Xhineti’s leadership will help strengthen its legacy and empower the next generation of entrepreneurship scholars to address the pressing issues of our time.