The 2024 LBS Social Impact Club Conference concluded with a keynote on leveraging technology for social impact. Radha Basu (Founder and CEO of iMerit and co-founder of Anudip Foundation) shared her journey as a pioneer in the Indian software industry and a tech entrepreneur dedicated to addressing youth unemployment. Through iMerit and Anudip, Radha has…
Last month, the Finance Club at London Business School hosted Mr. T. Rabi Sankar (Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India) to discuss the evolution of India’s digital public infrastructure in the context of global integration. Addressing Cross-Border Payment Challenges and India’s Digital Payments Infrastructure Paolo Surico (Professor of Economics at London Business School)…
As part of our International Women’s Day campaign, we interviewed Chinemelu Okafor, PhD candidate at Harvard University, and research collaborator with the Wheeler Institute. As a Nigerian American woman, Chinemelu Okafor’s journey has been marked by the convergence of multiple identities – her womanhood, race, and ethnicity. With an unwavering determination to unraveling the intricacies…
What is the causal effectiveness of large-scale infrastructure development in poverty reduction? On Friday 19th January, British International Investment (BII) hosted the latest Private Sector Development Research Network (PSDRN) seminar on ‘The Impact of Infrastructure on Development Outcomes’. What insights do policy makers require in designing interventions that maximise the developmental impact of infrastructure? What…
How might COP28 impact global finance? Last week, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development hosted ‘COP28 debrief breakfast: what can finance take away from COP28?’, in collaboration with ESG Book and the Climate Bonds Initiative, to explore some possible answers. Characterised by a sense of urgency and a challenging economic environment, COP28 marked a…
In the last few years, there has been a colossal rise in the number of startups that are focused on making a positive impact in the world. These startups are coming up with innovative solutions based on the latest technologies with a dual aim of not only solving the most pressing social and environmental problems…
Worldwide sales of luxury goods in 2019 stood at US$ 305 billion. Following a temporary fall in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sales in 2021 were US$ 294 billion. In the period of 2023 to 2028, the luxury goods market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4%. Earlier this year, the Retail,…
In our first two articles about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alexandra, we explored the typical challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and informal entrepreneurs operating in South African townships, before looking at the institutional ecosystem in which these entrepreneurs operate. Our third and final post in this 3-part series will explore the way forward: Can the disconnect…
Our previous post on informal entrepreneurship in Alexandra focused on the typical challenges encountered by mainly informal entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners. This second post will focus on the supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem: Who are the key role players, and what kind of support is available to a typical entrepreneur in Alex? Does this ecosystem provide what…
This is the first article of a 3-part series on informal entrepreneurship in emerging markets, based on empirical research conducted in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa. Elizabeth Mogale* (not her real name), a 48-year old mother of four, grills chickens on the pavement of 12th avenue in Alexandra, one of Johannesburg’s most…
