I help purpose-driven organizations, companies, and government agencies maximize their social impact, particularly through the use of digital technology. I bring expertise working in more than 30 emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as with lower income and vulnerable communities in the US. My approach is grounded in the needs of target users coupled and a strong appreciation of local social and cultural contexts. I am excited by the positive potential of technology to transform people’s lives, while also ever cognizant of the need to think about and mitigate its potentially dramatic unintended consequences.
I understand that deploying digital tools is much harder than sustaining them. I work with my clients to develop robust strategic plans and sustainability strategies to increase the likelihood that the digital technologies they deploy will last beyond initial donor funding.
Strategies aren’t meant to collect dust on a shelf. I can help you create action-oriented strategies that align your social impact objectives with realities on the ground.
Before entering into new markets or working with new market segments, it’s critical to understand existing gaps and opportunities. I can help you reduce the risk of your investments by providing you with critical insights into new markets and customer segments/beneficiary groups.
Many organizations fail to sustain technology solutions beyond donor funding or initial investment, because they have not developed realistic business models. I can help you develop realistic go to market strategies and business plans that increase the likelihood that your solution will be financially viable beyond that initial investment.
Misunderstanding the 7 As (availability, access, affordability, ability, attitudes, aspirations, and anticipated risks) of your target user is one of the biggest reasons why technologies fail to deliver. I can help you avoid this mistake through my approach to appropriate user design.
The best ideas and products are worthless without proper planning and execution. I can help you create practical, easy to implement plans—as well as supporting you with implementation—to maximize your likelihood of success and minimize potentially costly mistakes.
Uptake of technologies often requires a fair amount of behavior change and learning on the part of the user and your field force. I can help you create easy-to-understand and effective materials as well as design and implement interactive workshops and trainings to reduce the barriers to adoption and uptake.
Finding investment to test new ideas or products in the social impact space is a perennial challenge. I can help you improve your chances of unlocking funding from donors and investors by framing your work in ways that resonate with them.
Finding good partners in a country that’s new to you can be time consuming, and making the wrong choice can cause significant setbacks. I can help save you the time and hassle by connecting you with the right partners in new markets through my extensive network of social impact-minded organizations throughout significant parts of Asia, Africa, and elsewhere.
If you’re not talking about the positive impact you’re having, it hasn’t happened—at least in the minds of others. I can help you effectively communicate your work so that the world—as well as potential funders and partners—know exactly how good your work actually is.
Looking to create your mark as a leader in a particular intersection of technology and social impact? I can help you design and facilitate interactive events that let people know that you are driving the conversation on the topics you care about.
Interested in exploring how I can help you maximize your social impact? Contact me and let’s chat.