More Than 2,000 EO Entrepreneurs Assemble in Dublin for EO’s Largest-Ever Global Leadership Conference

May 15, 2026

DUBLIN, IRELAND (20 April 2026) - Inspired by Ireland’s history and folklore and set on the banks of Dublin's River Liffey, Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s (EO) 2026 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) recently brought more than 2,100 EO entrepreneurs, guests, sponsoring partners, and professional staff from 60-plus countries to Dublin. This year’s event marked the first time a GLC had completely sold out — in terms of attendance, it was the largest GLC in EO’s history.

EO’s 29th annual GLC took place from 15–17 April 2026 at The Convention Centre Dublin, with support from local partners, including Fáilte Ireland's Dublin Convention Bureau and EO Ireland, a 50-member chapter founded in 2013. Its theme, “Legendary,” challenged entrepreneurs to reflect on their own stories, to value the circle of peers around them, and to consider how connection and collaboration are essential ingredients in shaping a business and life that leaves a legacy.

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Event host, entrepreneur, and Planning Chair, Stephen Shortt, a 13-year member from EO Ireland, set the tone of the event from its mainstage, introducing 20 different keynote speakers or performers over the course of three days to inspire the sold-out auditorium, including “Diary of a CEO” podcast host and entrepreneur, Steven Barlett, organizational psychologist and best-selling author of multiple books including, “The Science of Scaling” and “The Gap and the Gain,” Dr. Benjamin Hardy; and illusionist and master storyteller, Harris III.

An official Guinness World Records Adjudicator, or judge, also joined Shortt on stage, as members worked together to successfully complete a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title attempt from the aisles of the convention centre auditorium: the most people performing a jumping double high five simultaneously. More than 400 pairs of EO entrepreneurs executed the challenge simultaneously, earning the novel title and bragging rights for the organization.

“I could not be prouder of the event and community coming together in my home city this year. Apart from being EO’s biggest and best GLC yet, it was authentically Irish and dynamically global at the same time,” Stephen Shortt said. “It was an immense privilege and membership highlight for me to be able to share a bit of our Irish story, stories and a bit of craic, while helping to connect our peers from all over the world.”

EO’s premier event, available exclusively to EO members and their spouses and life partners, is held annually and brings together entrepreneurs from all industries and backgrounds for three days of leadership training, networking, and learning. It is designed to cultivate a sense of belonging among business owners and to equip them with tools, learning, and inspiration to support them as high performing leaders of EO’s 225 chapters and 11 regions worldwide.

Leadership training and peer connection are core components of the annual conference. More than 1,200 chapter board chairs, who serve on one of EO’s 225 distinct chapters around the world, huddled for eight hours of role preparation, breakout discussions, and offsite excursions in 13 different learning tracks. EO’s Chapter Officer Training program fosters personal growth and connection, while empowering entrepreneurs who volunteer for leadership roles the next year to return and serve as board chairs among their peers.

From the main event stage, an impressive mix of thought leaders and luminaries shared personal stories, performances, and insights on what it takes for leadership to become truly “legendary.” Also addressing EO members were its current Global Chairman, Joaquin Cordero (EO Guatemala), its incoming Global Chair for FY2026/2027, Taunya Renson-Martin (EO Belgium), and the global organization’s top staff leader and Executive Director, Jamie Pujara, (EO Kenya).

Joaquin, a 14-year EO member, brand builder, and avid rock climber who has scaled challenging peaks all over the world, reminded his peers that “leadership here is not a solo climb. It is a climb we share, inside the constraints that keep all of us moving in the same direction. That is stewardship. It is about leaving the ego outside of the room.”

Taunya, a marketing and public relations firm founder with EO Belgium and classically trained actor, spoke about the similarities between organizational leadership and collaborating with fellow actors on stage or screen.

“Leadership is not just about the role you hold,” she said on stage. “It is about the scene you step into and what you choose to make while you’re there. Because a great scene does not happen when one actor is brilliant. It happens when every actor is listening, reacting, and setting the next person up to succeed.

One of the top highlights from the stage came when world-renowned podcaster, author, and media entrepreneur Steven Bartlett joined EO Tanzania member Miranda Naiman on stage for a vulnerable conversation about ambition, experimentation, failure, and legacy.

Additional speakers or performers included:

The Gardiner Brothers, speakers, champion dancers, and social media sensations
Troy Armour, Irish founder and CEO of Junk Kouture, a global, youth-driven competition for creatives
Riverdance, the internationally renowned Irish dance and music production that has captivated 31 million people worldwide
Shivvy Jervis, Futurist, neuroscientist, and founder of TrainYourBrain
Estefany Marte, succession strategist and founder of KAI Leadership Accelerator
Philip McKernan, Irish speaker and author
Charlie Curtis, entrepreneurship expert at Oxford Saïd Business School

EO also celebrated 20 years of hosting the international mentorship program and business pitch competition, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), with one of its past global champions addressing the EO community: Vienna Sparks is a 21-year-old entrepreneur and scientist, a 3x founder, a Forbes 30 Under 30 leader in science, and the 2025 Champion of EO’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

She thanked EO members for supporting the program, adding, “GSEA has been a catalyst in many young people’s lives to continue to build world changing companies in the face of adversity and bring what they are truly passionate about to light. EO has given all of us a global stage to share our dreams of impact on which is integral to changing the world.”

Beyond the main venue site at the Convention Centre Dublin, the flagship EO event offered experiential “Learn Arounds” that exposed entrepreneurs to iconically Irish locations embodying local culture and entrepreneurial spirit. Groups of members went together on guided tours of Malahide Castle, Airfield Estate, Teeling Whiskey Distillery, and Windmill Lane Recording Studios, plus a guided journey through Dublin’s street art scene. The off-site excursions were designed to foster deeper connections between members while grounding leadership lessons in real-world context.

Exemplary EO members and chapters were also recognized throughout the three-day event. Ana Beatriz de Bickford (EO Guatemala) received the Chapter Staff of the Year Award. For more than a decade, her leadership has supported the chapter’s growth to over 120 members while consistently delivering a world-class member experience.

EO’s 30^th chapter in India, EO Uttarakhand, was celebrated with the Randi Carroll Award, which is given to the chapter with the most innovative and successful chapter launch over the previous fiscal year. From concept to launch, EO Uttarakhand became the fastest launch in the history of EO’s South Asia region, with 40 new members and six learning events in its first six months. Members from chapter were present to accept the honor on their peers’ behalf.

Hugo Salinas, a former EO Global Board Director, construction industry entrepreneur, and 21-year member with its chapter in Monterrey, Mexico, was presented with the organization’s top individual member-recognition. The Mark Lincoln Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually by the current global board chair to an EO member who embodies servant leadership and generosity, and Hugo is the first member from Latin America to earn this recognition.

The official, invite-only GLC 2026 closing social took place at the Guinness Storehouse, where EO members, their guests, and event partners enjoyed true Irish hospitality. Sponsoring partners of EO’s conference were Bloom Growth, HubSpot, Sixt, PayPal, United Airlines, and Advantage Media. EO gratefully recognized their participation and support.

EO’s 30^th Global Leadership Conference will be held from 11-13 April in Kyoto, Japan next year. Registrations will open later this year.

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Notes to Editors:

Event videos

Event website

About Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) - Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global, not-for-profit membership community of 20,000 leading business founders and owners, representing more than 100 countries and 220+ chapters worldwide. Founded in 1987, EO helps entrepreneurs move the world forward by unlocking their full potential through the power of trusted connections, leadership development, and premier learning opportunities that support the whole person. For more information or to get involved, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook, and visit our website: www.eonetwork.org