Shows
Relating to SelfTransforming unremarkable into extraordinary 🚀 {with Stephen Ladek}In this episode of the Relating to Self podcast, Joachim speaks to Stephen, for whom daily happiness is entirely relationship-driven.Â
Stephen Ladek is an explorer & entrepreneur who helps others find focus, fulfillment, and freedom through radical accountability.Â
Learn more about Stephen here:
https://www.ladek.com/
Learn more about his work in online education here:Â
https://linktr.ee/lmspulse
Topics, resources, and useful links mentioned in the episode:
How Stephen views relating to self as an act of introspectionÂ
What are the most important questions you have to ask to impr...
2022-10-1350 min
Five Star Counsel PodcastSucceeding with Your Own Online Course w/ Stephen LadekAre you thinking about building a course for clients, colleagues, or your own employees? Where do you start? How do you even approach what can be a huge undertaking? Stephen Ladek of LMS Pulse joins us - he's an e-learning expert with loads of experience in the structural design of courses, testing of skills, and e-learning tech. He's got a unique take on e-learning, and has some really great advice on how lawyers can use different methods and platforms to achieve their goals, and some concrete ways to get your course off the ground.
2021-06-0129 min
The Africa Health Ventures PodcastSide Chat: Podcasting in the Aid Industry with Stephen Ladek of the Terms of Reference PodcastIn 2019, when I started thinking about doing a podcast on innovation in aid, I looked around to see what else was out there. At the time, one podcast stood out to me for its ability to capture the spirit of innovation in aid. It was the Terms of Reference Podcast, which Stephen Ladek ran from 2014 to 2018. Stephen recorded almost two hundred episodes with aid workers, social entrepreneurs, and other change-makers. His guests included CEO of FHI360 Patrick Fine, USAID's Chief Innovation Officer Alexis Bonnell, the President of Chemonics Bernhard Kowatsch, and the Head of the Innovation Accelerator at World...
2021-04-0627 min
LMScast308: Microlearning, Engagement, Gamification, and the Elearning Success Summit with Stephen LadekStephen Ladek from LMSPulse and the Elearning Success Summit shares some insights on how to build out engagement, gamification, and online summits in this episode of the LMScast podcast. Chris and Stephen dive into the summit Stephen ran in 2020 with 6,000 attendees, and how his summit for this year is focused around the eLearning space.
Stephen has seen his audience grow with people in the K-12 space learning more about possibilities that exist in online-based education. He also has quite a few students in the corporate learning development environment.
Figuring out what goal you’re trying to achieve and isolating what yo...
2021-03-1835 min
Indie Media ClubHow To Create A Successful Virtual Summit (with Stephen Ladek of LMS Pulse)In this podcast episode, Ben Aston is joined by international development expert and online entrepreneur Stephen Ladek. Stephen's focus is on ed tech and eLearning with a bunch of projects on the go such as BKK Kids, LMS Pulse, and Social Enterprise Association.  Listen to learn about the eLearning Success Summit and how to create your own successful virtual summit. *Bonus* Tune in to find out how to snag a free 20 min strategy session with Stephen.
2021-03-0239 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR180: The Global Knowledge Initiative with Sara FarleyYou cannot live in today's world without being witness to the power of networks. Networks are all around us and constantly influence us in ways both conscious and subconscious. Immediate family and close friends, global-reaching social networks, professional networks, passion networks... the list of all the networks you're connected to gos on and on and overlaps and intersects in ways that solve problems, create opportunities and catch us in moments of incredible serendipity. So, as you might guess, networks are a powerful tool for the social sector.    My guest for the 180th Terms of Reference Podcast, is exce...
2018-01-2344 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR179: KopaGas with Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-SanchezI take for granted that I can walk away from my microphone right now, head over to my kitchen and turn on my stove to boil water, bake a cake or cook myself a meal. And, I don't even think about the fact that I have hot water available on demand at any time of the day. I just turn on the tap and its there. This is not the case for millions and millions of people throughout the world. In fact, there is a huge portion of the human population that still relies on burning wood...
2018-01-1638 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR178 - Ladies Get Paid and Red Bull Amaphiko with Claire WassermanEven though we work on hundreds of different issues across a similarly diverse group of settings, I think the argument could be made that the work of the social sector is ultimately focused on creating a world where all humans have equal opportunity to flourish. This is at the base of what we’re doing with programing that seeks to improve financial systems, agricultural practices, environmental protections, health systems and education. And, one of the things we know, unequivocally, is that women have received the short end of the stick, almost no matter how you measure it. He...
2018-01-0938 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR177 - The mSTAR project with Troy Etulain of FHI360If you're an ideas person, no matter what your field or expertise, there is nothing I can think of that is more attractive than a clear, tangible problem in need of a solution. As much as we hate to admit it in the social sector, these types of problems are not terribly common and they are almost never the lowest hanging fruit in a given situation. But in those instances where clear problems in need of solutions are identified, the next most attractive thing to an innovator is funding to play with. I mean that in the...
2017-12-1239 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR176 - The International Rescue Committee with Jodi NelsonThe International Rescue Committee is a well known force in humanitarian aid. As the organization has continued to evolve since 1933, they have literally written the book, multiple times, on how to best serve those in need. My guest for today's 176th Terms of Reference Podcast is Jodi Nelson who is IRC's Senior Vice President, Policy and Practice. Jodi has overall strategic and operational responsibility for IRC program technical units – including Research and Evaluation and Global Advocacy and Strategic Communications. And, for long time listeners, you already know all this as she was also a guest way back in...
2017-12-0542 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR175: The SPONGE Project with Sanjay Prasad of IVLLast week, we dove into an especially practical example of innovating to improve the plight of the agriculturalist. Or, more specifically, those who benefit from their yields. I'm happy that this week we have another agricultural innovation around water - but one that works in a very different way, solving a very different problem. My guest for the 175th Terms of Reference Podcast is Sanjay Prasad. He's working in an area where there is abundant, but very intermittent water supplies. His innovation, delivered under the project name SPONGE, captures water from dew and fog and transfers it...
2017-11-2127 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR174 - The Bhungroo Innovation for Agriculture with Trupi Jain of Naireeta ServicesOne of the things I love most about hosting this podcast is the sheer range of ideas, aspirations and impact I've been lucky enough to listen to over the past three years. In some cases we've talked about a digital future that we can only just now begin to see coming into shape and in others, extremely practical how-did-we-solve-this-problem-today with nuts, bolts and duct tape... and of course everything in-between. Today's show is one of those nuts and bolts conversation. For the 174th Terms of Reference Podcast I speak with Trupti Jain of Naireeta Services about BHUNGROO...
2017-11-1428 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR173 - Patents for Humanity with Edward ElliotFor most of us seeking to innovate in the social sector, solving existing problems in new ways is accomplished by bringing technologies or processes from other sectors to bear on the problems faced by the vulnerable. However, innovators are sometimes also true inventors - devising first of their kind solutions for today's most pressing problems. In these cases, it is not uncommon for the inventor to seek protection for the unique intellectual property contained in their ideas. After all, what benefits those in need may also turn out to be something that is also extremely useful for...
2017-11-0825 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR172 - A New Model For Higher Education with Eric Glustrom of WatsonLong ago, in the days of yore, when I was completing high school and looking to what was next, college was the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, as it turned out, following that path put me on a trajectory that would take 3 colleges, many majors and an embarrassing amount of tuition to finally spit me out the other side with a degree. And, here's the kicker, like so many others, when I was newly minted, I still didn't really have a clue about how to engage with the problems I wanted to help solve. That took another 5...
2017-10-3151 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR171 - The Office Of Transition Initiatives with Stephen LennonFor many years now - and its just crazy that I can say that about this podcast at this stage - I’ve been saying the social sector is filled with lots of very smart, well educated people who truly want to lift up others in pursuit of greater human flourishing. Almost always, this is a fantastic thing, I mean, having intelligent, thoughtful people on your team is something we all wish for. But, at the same time, something I’ve also noticed over my career is that when we create teams with many highly intelligent, ambitious, motiv...
2017-10-2439 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR170 - Adding Value To Technology With Indigenous Knowledge with Muthoni MasindeWhen you think of innovation, you think about the future, right? At least, that's what I think about. My mind is usually filled with flying cars, holographic displays and a moneyless world. But, I know, that's just the super geek talking. Innovation is really about solving an old problem in a different way. But the reason I bring up the future is that, typically, when I speak to those interested in innovation they are focused on how we use new - sometimes yet-to-be-invented - technologies, processes and options to solve the issues at hand. Today's guest for...
2017-10-2328 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR168: The World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator with Bernhard KowatschWhen I think of innovating for food, well, I have to admit I’m usually focused on how my family can make dinner something special. Finding a way out of the rut of eating the same food as my children is a pain. But I know, that you know, we’re not here to talk about how I can become an Iron Chef. And indeed, in today’s 168th Terms of Reference Podcast episode, we are here to explore how innovation can be applied to making sure people don’t go hungry. My guest for today’s show is Bernhard K...
2017-10-0333 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR167: A Strategy For Digital Financial Inclusion with Badal Malick of CatalystI know that I take for granted that I am able to perform financial transactions, around the world via a multitude of channels, essentially any time I want. In fact, only because of my lifestyle, my biggest headache comes from a banking system in the US that often flags my non-US transactions as suspect for fraud. Today's episode is about how we can take a look at individuals and businesses on the other side of that coin (yes, another wonderful pun). I'm referring to the vast majority of people who operate exclusively with cash, are unbanked and...
2017-09-2633 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR166: Venture Funding For Social Actors With Alix Zwane Of The Global Innovation FundMost social sector work, if not all of it at this stage, is driven by some type of results framework that is focused on outcomes. Unsurprisingly, when people (or a government or foundation) give you their money to do some good in the world - they want to know that it actually happens… or, as often happens, at least you gave it your best shot. Underpinning these frameworks are theories of change. In this paradigm, gaps in markets or social contexts are identified by the social actor and then the design programmes, products and services in an attempt to fi...
2017-09-1242 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR165 - Investing In Freedom Of The Press with Harlan Mandel of MDIFIts taken me a while to figure out how to introduce today’s topic. Not because its totally radical - but rather, because my brain is freaking out that its something I have to introduce in the year 2017. So, I’ve decided the best approach is just to dive right in: Today’s topic is, essentially, freedom of the press. Now, while I don’t spend my day to day life in the United States, I’m definitely an American. And something that is just a part of who I am is an understanding that we need fr...
2017-09-0536 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR164 - The Power and Promise of Open Contracting with Gavin HaymanHow much money did your government spend in 2016? The Government of the United States spent over $3.5 trillion dollars. China threw down $2.8 trillion and the UK just over $1 trillion. Worldwide, governments spent a combined total of $22.7 trillion. My point here is that there is a ton of money being spent by governments around the globe to procure products and services. It would be great to know where exactly all of that money goes, right? I mean, in most of the major economies out there, there is an expectation that the public should know what their hard earned taxes...
2017-08-2955 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR163: Building Leadership In Advocacy with Jamie Bay Nishi of the Global Health Technologies CoalitionToday’s conversation has two themes that I think are important for our listeners. On one level, you’re going to hear about advocating on behalf of health sector innovators, but on another level you’re going to hear about what it takes to pivot a career and take on an entirely new role, in a new sector after almost a decade of dedicated service in another. My guest for today’s 163rd Terms of Reference Podcast is Jamie Bay Nishi. For the past 9 years, Jamie was at DevEx, starting with member support and ending by leading the prod...
2017-08-2139 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR162 - How Creative Tech Agencies Can Accelerate Social Impact with Sam Applebee of Super GlobalFor as long as I’ve been in the social sector, there has been a consensus that those organizations who depend mostly on grant funding (whether from government or foundations or private donors) need to find better, and more sustainable ways to partner with the private sector, or more specifically, for-profit companies. The main reason behind this drive is the assumption that the for-profit world has resources and capabilities that can help socially focused programming achieve sustainability, inject innovative ideas and provide agility not typically found in the public sector. You’d think after a few decades that...
2017-08-1547 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR161: Supporting The Open Data Movement with Pavel Richter of Open Knowledge InternationalAccording to the May 6th, 2017 issue of the Economist, data has officially displaced oil as the world’s most valuable resource. If you’re like me, the most surprising part of this declaration is that its taken until now for it to appear. Data drives the business models of most, if not all, of the world’s most valuable companies, governments rely upon data for safety and security issues and data availability is something so many of us take for granted when we’re driving from our homes to an unfamiliar destination. As the world’s most valuable r...
2017-08-0843 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR160: Supporting the Economy of Prestige with Kurt Shaw of the Shine A Light FoundationYou’ve heard me lament more than a few times on this podcast about the fact that innovation in the social sector is often times synonymous with technology. We talk a lot about how phones and apps and data are accelerating change and opening up opportunities for those in need. And, of course, being something of a super geek, I admit I love these conversations. But, I’m also aware of this narrow focus, and so, when I get a chance to highlight other forms of innovation, I pounce. The innovator I’m excited to introduce to you on...
2017-08-0148 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR159: Keeping The Lights On with Noah Klugman and Jay Taneja of GridwatchThe availability of continuous power - that is, the assumption that you can plug in an appliance, or flip a switch without wondering whether or not electrons will flow - is a hallmark of civilization. So much so, that a great deal of what holds up our global economy would not be possible without the assurance that we can keep the lights on (or at least turn them on) 24/7. So, what do you do when the power goes out? Do you call your local utility? Do you investigate your community breaker box? Or perhaps you view it...
2017-07-2555 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR158: Why Getting Feedback (Should Be) The Expected Thing To Do with Dennis WhittleI’d like to start today’s episode with a quick, informal poll. Ask yourself: as a social sector professional, do you regularly receive calls or emails from the people who you’re trying to help where they ask - with great anticipation - about when the next version of your project or programme will be released? While this regularly happens for other sectors, like mobile phones, automobiles, and fashion, for the vast majority of us in the social sector, the answer to this question is, emphatically, no. The disconnect that this question exposes is the fo...
2017-07-1842 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR157: How Crowdfunding Is Shifting The Financial Landscape For The Social Sector with Jason BestIf there is any one question I get asked more than any other from professionals in the social sector, it is some variation of this: “How do I raise money for my organization, cause or program?” And, there is usually a quick follow up that goes something like, “and, how do I raise money sustainably?” Fundraising, marketing, business development, sales… call it what you want… will always be the greatest problem for the social sector. The reason I know this is because it remains the greatest problem for any business, regardless of the sector. Getting individuals to part with th...
2017-06-2745 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR156: Designing Products For Underserved Populations with Krista Donaldson of D-RevA great deal of the actual “work” delivered in the social sector comes in the form of services. Of these services, the lowest hanging fruit is skill building, often known as capacity building. But there are, of course, many other flavors of services - everything from helping to draft policies and plans, to the know-how behind running a power grid, to mapping service centers for at-risk youth. My point here is that delivering services is a tried and tangible means for getting your hands dirty helping others. While not new by any account, one of the more exci...
2017-06-2044 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR155: Empowering Legacy Cities with Lev Gonick of DigitalCAs you may have noticed over the past few months, I’ve been talking more and more about the “social sector.” As I’m sure you’ll have assumed, this has been intentional on my part to begin to reach out beyond my comfort zone of humanitarian aid and international development to the wider community of social actors; people who consider themselves social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and even intrapreneurs who see opportunity within their existing companies and organization to make change that will both serve those in need, but also improve our prospects for human flourishing. It is in this co...
2017-06-1353 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR154: Understanding Blended Financing with Joan Larrea of ConvergenceFor as long as I have been a social sector professional, there has always been a desire to do more partnering with the “private sector.” And, by that I mean traditional, for profit or commercial enterprises like Coke, Toyota or Airbus. In fact, 14 years ago, the capstone project of my Masters degree at American University was, I’m not kidding, “The Role of The Private Sector in Conflict Resolution.” My point here is that this is not a new topic by any stretch. No matter how you’d like to approach it, the reason why we don’t see more tra...
2017-06-0648 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR153: Defragmenting agricultural markets with Jason Wendle of the Rural and Agricultural Finance Learning LabBecause I am something of a super geek, and what I like to think of as the new-old guard (I mean, I had a TRS-80 in my house growing up), when I hear the term "defragment," the first thing I think of is hard drives. Fortunately, for everyone's sake, that's not what we are here to talk about today. Instead on today's 153rd Terms of Reference Podcast, I speak with Jason Wendle. He is the Director of the Rural and Agricultural Finance Learning Lab, which focuses on identifying more and better financial solutions for smallholders. In our...
2017-05-3042 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR152: Embracing Failure And Iteration To Find Sustainable Solutions In The Social Sector with Nithya Ramanathan of Nexleaf AnalyticsHow much do we really embrace failure in the social sector? I ask this question because, as someone who has been lucky enough to be a part of the evaluation revolution over the past decade, embracing failure at an institutional level still remains elusive. Organizations and individuals alike still remain reluctant to lay bare the shortcomings of their efforts for a number of reasons that go well beyond just the fear of losing donor funding or having a black mark on your CV. Unfortunately, I’m not here today with a clear cut answer about how to em...
2017-05-2246 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR 151: Disrupting Existing Silos Of The Social Sector with Tim France of Inis CommunicationOne of my favorite things about data analysis is when trends emerge unexpectedly. So often, when sifting through data we find exactly what we’re looking for. But its those moments when we’re presented with something unusual that are the real special event. This holds for why I love the monitoring and evaluation process in the social sector. So often I start an assignment with a client with a “view” about what will result from the research, only to find that after weeks - or more often months - of living with the data, conversations and documentation, I see alte...
2017-05-1652 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR150: Testing The Assumptions Of The Social Sector With Chris Blattman Of The University of ChicagoProfessor Chris Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at The University of Chicago, at the Harris School of Public Policy, as well as a research associate at National Bureau of Economic Research, among many other things. He's a heavyweight in the world of understanding what works - and more importantly what doesn't - in aid and development. As you'll hear on the show, Chris thinks he's a professor because he was a failed development professional. This is actually a lucky turn for the rest of us because he is a critical voice...
2017-05-0944 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR149: Rethinking the social sector with Paula Kravitz of the Social Progress ImperativeThere is a beautiful simplicity to the commercial sector. Anyone can create products and services that satisfy a real or perceived need in whatever market(s) they want. Then, with the right marketing and (hopefully) added value from the "better mousetraps" people create, the business can realize a profit. And that, ultimately, is the measure of your success. Unfortunately, finding the same simplicity in the social sector is difficult. While social enterprises, non profits and charities are on the constant lookout for, or purposeful invention of, products and services that satisfy real (or perceived) needs, rather than seeing pro...
2017-05-0251 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR148: How To Leverage Scale And Experience With Jamey Butcher of ChemonicsWe’ve be fortunate enough to have guests on this show from across the entire spectrum of the social sector and from around the world. One of the common issues we’ve talked about is resource scarcity and how that presents both unique opportunities for innovation and challenges in terms of programming, priorities and management. Today, we’re going to look at the other side of the coin and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with an organization that’s focused on helping solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, but also has scale, and the very r...
2017-04-2450 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR147: Balancing The Scales For Local Communities With Flaviano Bianchini of Source InternationalLet's say you woke up tomorrow to the sound of someone knocking at your door. And, when you answer, the person standing outside politely explained that they were a representative of a energy company that had recently acquired the rights to extract the natural gas in the area. Oh, and a great deal of that resource happens to be located under your house. Or, what if you were able to track changes in the water your community uses for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning physically change over the past few years - from a pure, clean resource...
2017-04-1732 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR146: How AI And Machine Learning Prove The Journey Is More Important Than The Destination With Dr. Kenneth StanleyHow obsessed are you with goal setting? I mean seriously - if you've been living on planet earth you know that, those invested in the science of achievement, have done an incredible of not only convincing, but actually getting us as a whole to adopt goal setting as a lifestyle. And, full disclosure, I am not only a living, breathing product of this paradigm, but I'm also one of its loudest proponents (at least in my mind). Goal setting has become something of an absolute in the design of products, services and programs in the social sector...
2017-04-111h 07
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR145: High Tech Humanitarians With Giulio CoppiTwo very common themes in the aid and development community are “resource scarcity” (some even call this resource starvation) and “locally driven solutions.” The particular resource scarcity I am referring to is a lack of funding. This is a conversation you cannot avoid, because the challenges always seem to be greater than the available pools of money, and one that, unfortunately, will only become more acute as we navigate the age of Trump and the new populism. Locally driven solutions refers to an ideal that contextualization of products and services results in solutions that are more app...
2017-04-0444 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR144: Innovation To Disrupt Supply Chains With Andrew Lamb Of Field ReadyWhile we live in a world of unprecedented prosperity for many, we also live in a world that is experiencing unprecedented levels of humanitarian crisis. You know the examples: protracted violent conflicts, devastation caused by earthquakes or hurricanes, the specters of famine or disease outbreak... unfortunately the list goes on and on. The good news is that we have a humanitarian community that does a fantastic job of responding to these crises with the resources available to them. In large part, supplies arrive, shelter is provided and people receive care until a time in which they can...
2017-03-2846 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR143: Effectively Communicating Social Impact With Angus Hervey Of Future CrunchWe've had a lot of change makers on this show over the past two years - people and organizations that are redefining old systems and creating new products and processes that demand completely new ways of thinking about how we serve those in need. Across these interviews, one of the factors critical to the success of any endeavor is the ability to communicate effectively. This skill not only entails the ability to bring facts and evidence to the table, but to weave these into a narrative that conveys the "why" behind what you believe. While I'm fairly certain that...
2017-03-2141 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR142: Creating An Innovation Mindset With Corrine Gray Of UNHCROne reason that innovation has become one of those words that you just cannot escape in social impact, is the fact that the institutions that have occupied this space for the bulk of history are the anthesis of what we would consider "shiny new objects." But really, if we sit back and think about it, for many (and maybe most, or even all) of them, the rapid or constant change that we associate with innovation is actually the exact opposite of what these institutions we're built to achieve. Seriously. The public relies on public structures like governments and international...
2017-03-1442 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR141: The Power Of The Impact Evaluation Revolution With David Evans Of The World BankI invite you to pause just for a second and take a moment to think about the last time you changed your mind about something. Specifically, I'd like for you to identify something that was either very important to you or your worldview, or something that you had taken for granted, that today you have either the complete opposite or at least a very different perspective on. Got it? Now ask yourself, what was it that made you change your mind? And, again specifically, what evidence did you unearth, or were presented with, that made the case...
2017-03-0747 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR140: Communicating Effectively At Scale About Human Exploitation With Tara Dermott Of IOM XSo, imagine for a moment that you're a college student getting ready to spend a summer working internationally. Maybe in a hotel in a tropical resort, or as an eco tour guide, or maybe helping teach children in an orphanage. The options are almost limitless if you look hard enough. This is exciting stuff! So, now your bags are packed, you've said goodby to mom and dad and you're on the plane. But, when you land at your destination, it turns out to be nothing at all like what you expected. You're passport and phone are taken from you...
2017-02-2352 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR139: Investing In An Integrated Approach To Development With Patrick Fine Of FHI 360The challenges faced by communities in developing contexts around the world are anything but simple. Climate change, protracted conflict, gender issues, food scarcity, natural resource management... these and the hundreds of other topics that development professionals work on everyday are complex by their very nature. Working effectively within these complex system requires an integrated approach that considers the many factors affecting a community, all at the same time. As one, off the cuff example, adequate health care systems require educational support, which requires funding and facilities, which need a sound foundation of infrastructure and policy. And, that's...
2017-02-2150 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR138: How To Create Lasting Change At Scale With Dr. Kevin Starr Of The Mulago FoundationDo you ever have the feeling that your work in the Social Impact sector is akin to "plowing the sea?" That is - despite all of the time and effort you've put into your particular program or project, the effects are less than expected or, worse, completely disappear in a relatively short time? This was a lament of Rainer Arnhold, a pediatrician who, despite having helped countless children around the world and dedicating his life to serving others, felt that his work had not produced lasting change. Upon Dr. Arnhold's untimely death in 1993, his family created the...
2017-02-1436 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR137: Supporting Social Impact Through Digital Strategies With Christopher WolzIf you're listening to this podcast, you're clearly a part of the digital revolution. Social media is a part of your life. Blogging may even be something you do. And... you even have a host of expectations about what minimum requirements you have for a job or an organization regarding your interaction with all things interweb. But how do we align this increasingly frenetic universe of digital options to ensure that they support the social impact we want to create? Enter Chris Wolz as my guest for the 137th Terms of Reference Podcast. Chris is the CEO...
2017-02-0732 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR136: Coordinating ICT4D at UNICEF with Sean BlaschkeWould you agree with me that it is easy to become overwhelmed - in general? If I'm honest, which I always try to be, it actually pains me that this reality is, well, a reality. But, the truth of the matter is we are all a part of this brave new world where information, opinions, new ideas and old obligations are hurtling at us with both unprecedented speed and in abundant volume. So what, then, do you do, when its you're job to coordinate the implementation of innovation - of new solutions to old problems? With the...
2017-01-3051 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR135: Ignitia With Sable BenderHave you ever stopped to think about how many things in your life depend on the weather? Everything from your mood to your travel plans to whether or not you'll get to wear that awesome brand new pair of blue suede shoes you've been dying to show off. The weather is also, of course, important for farmers. Being able to predict when it will rain (or not) could mean the difference between raising a successful crop or ending up with a field of dead plants. For farmers outside of the tropics, weather prediction has gotten fairly accurate...
2017-01-2438 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR134: Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) At UW Information School With Chris CowardWhat do libraries have to do with innovation for aid and development? Total honest answer from my side: when I was doing my research for the 134th Terms of Reference Podcast, I knew there would be high value in a conversation with Chris Coward - who is the co-founder, Principal Research Scientist, and Director of the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington - but I had no idea that our conversation would be such a fun, far ranging and wild ride. From TASHA's convening of the first tech conference in 1999 about how society...
2017-01-1740 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR133: Design Thinking For Social Impact At Dalberg With Ravi ChhatparI have a confession to make: I'm fairly certain I under-appreciate design. Especially design as the cultural phenomenon it has become in everything from mobile phones to toilets. If you're paying attention to the same types of feeds as me, (you probably need to get out more) you know that design, as a critical practice for success, has come into its own in a massive way over the past 10 years - ever since Apple took over the hardware space in technology. My guest today for the 133rd Terms of Reference Podcast, Ravi Chhatpar, believes that design...
2017-01-1035 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR132: Representing The U.S. Department Of State In Silicon Valley With Zvika KriegerI always get excited at the beginning of a new year. I think here is something important about moments like these that allow us a collective opportunity to not only enjoy time with friends and family, but also take stock of where things stand, and what we might like to change. While I remain humbled that you're now listening to the 132nd episode we're publishing here on TOR, I've also spent the closing of last year receiving feedback, working with our team and getting energized for how we will continue to grow, shape and evolve this show to do...
2017-01-0444 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR131: Young1ove with Noam AngristOne of the things I love the most about the stories here on the Terms of Reference Podcast is listening to the always incredible, but retrospectively obvious, paths which have lead all of our Aidpreneurs to their current passions. In fact, as I've documented in the eBook "Making It," this is one of the factors that defines those who have created a sustainable and satisfying career in development and humanitarian aid. My guest for the 131st episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast, Noam Angrist, is no exception to this rule. Noam is the Executive Director of...
2016-12-2034 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR130: World Food Programme Vulnerability and Analysis Mapping Initiative with Jean-Martin BauerWhat would you do if your job was to figure out, on a global scale, who doesn't have enough to eat? Or, more importantly, who had insecurity in their life specifically because of food scarcity? Just thinking about the scale of the problem blows my mind a little bit. But then, wait for it, what if you then had to also design and execute interventions that would, to a large degree, address those food security issues. Oh, and did I mention that this is a constantly evolving and changing process? This is exactly what my guest for...
2016-12-1333 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR129: Humanitarian Data Exchange with Sarah TelfordFor those of you who've been listening to the show for a while, it is fairly obvious that there is, quite literally, a ton of data out there related to development initiatives and humanitarian assistance. If you had the time, money and desire, you could find data about almost any aspect assistance: things like baseline data about a population, damage assessments, geospatial data, demographics of the people affected by a crisis, or things like which organizations, governments and companies are on the ground helping. The problem is, in the humanitarian sector, organizations don't have the time, money and people...
2016-12-0647 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR128: The Digital Finance Frontiers Initiative at CGAP with Xavier FazYou don’t have to be in development or aid to know that mobile has been disruption banking for a while. But those of us in the sector are acutely aware of how mobile banking has literally changed the lives of millions of people by providing financial access to even the most remote areas, and the results have been, generally speaking, fantastic. As just one example, we know that people who have access to mobile banking are more resilient to shocks and emergencies, a potential game changer in many parts of the world. While its well established, th...
2016-11-2940 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR127: The Tableau Foundation with Neal Myrick and Steve SchwartzSo, let's say that you had a great idea for a commercial product or service that ultimately grew into a fairly large, sustainable and profitable company. Would you be the type of founder entrepreneur who would step back and say to yourself, "I wonder how we might give back some of the success we've had to help solve some of the world's more important problems?" Lucky for everyone, that is exactly what the folks that started Tableau Software have done through the Tableau Foundation. In this, the 127th episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast, I speak...
2016-11-2253 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR126: Innovation In Education At The World Bank with Michael TrucanoFinding ways to empower those in need through better access to education has been a hallmark service of the development and aid community for decades. The education sector, like any other, is ripe for disruption, especially as we consider how we deliver curriculum over distance, customize education for individual needs, provide alternatives and outlets for both the gifted and those that have special needs, and much more. Michael Trucano, my guest for the 126th Terms of Reference Podcast, has dedicated the past 18 years of his life to thinking and advising governments how they can enhance education through...
2016-11-1545 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR125: Unistream with Hen Ben SaadonGetting an idea off the ground is incredibly difficult, even when you have access to the right resources, tools, funding and networks. So what happens when you not only have none of that access, but the very place you live is known as an active conflict zone? Can entrepreneurship be used as a bridge to not only help people out of poverty, but also to change the dynamics of conflict? My guest today on the 125th episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast, Hen Ben Saadon, believes this is possible. He is the Vice President for business...
2016-11-0836 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR124: The Global Development Lab with Alexis BonnellThere is no shortage of talk about innovation in the aid and development space - but how much of this talk has actually moved beyond small scale piloting programs into standard operations for funders and implementors? My unscientific read from the field continues to say "not much," especially in the case of large-scale implementors. Like any established system or process, fundamentally shifting the way business is done takes both time and unwavering leadership. The US Global Development Lab at USAID seeks to be a mechanism for taking ideas to change-making action. As explained by Alexis Bonnell, my...
2016-10-3044 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR123: The Humanitarian Innovation Fund with Kim ScrivenHaving an idea to change the way we help others is one thing - getting it off the ground and into reality is an entirely different matter. While there are any number of amazing stories about Aidpreneurs who have bootstrapped their way to success, even those who started with no funding eventually find themselves in a place where filling the coffers is necessary to scale, pivot or just grow. My guest for the 123rd episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast knows a thing or two about funding innovation. Kim Scriven is the Manager of the Humanitarian...
2016-10-2434 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR122: The Coexist Initiative with Wanjala WafulaSo often we find ourselves talking about innovation in the humanitarian aid and development space in terms of gadgets or technologies - the "shiny objects" of the future. While there is certainly a lot to be said about how the brave new digital world will allow us to help those in need more effectively, sometimes... it just isn't necessary to take a massive leap. My guest today on the 122nd episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast, Wanjala Wafula, is a classic problem solver and think-on-your-feet innovators. His organization, called The Coexist Initiative, has been working on...
2016-10-1735 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR121: The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs with Randall KempnerAs any Aidpreneur will readily tell you, putting together even the most simple service or product to help those in need becomes an all consuming affair rather quickly. That is, if you want to actually get it on the street, refine, grow scale and have a sense of sustainability that can see beyond the next payroll cycle. Then if you add in the need to measure impact and managing or marketing real human behavior change while satisfying the needs of government or private donors... well you see where I'm going. All of this is to say that...
2016-10-1141 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR120: The Blessing Basket Project with Theresa CarringtonWould you be willing to give up everything you have, and go into debt, to help some of the most impoverished people in the world? Would your answer change if I told you that you had to jump off that cliff without knowing exactly how you'd go about helping those people? This is exactly what my guest for the 120th episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast did when she founded the Blessings Basket Project - an organization inspired by the small acts of kindness shown to her when life didn't work out as expected in 2002. Now...
2016-10-0445 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR119: GiveDirectly with Paul NiehausEven if you are a newbie in the humanitarian aid and development community, I'm willing to bet you've heard about cash. And, by cash, I mean the very-much-growing interest and support for providing assistance to those in need by giving them cash. The theory is simple: people in need of help, especially in situations of poverty and emergencies, know the specifics of their situation better than anyone and cash provides them the best tool to getting those needs met quickly. My guest for the 119th episode of the Terms of Reference Podcast is no newcomer to the...
2016-09-2731 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR118: Give Something Back To Berlin with Annamaria OlssonYou can go ahead and admit it your yourself - I won't judge, because I do it too - that its nice when you have a substantial number of people "like" or follow something you've posted on social media. For most of us, this revolves around a picture of a vacation, something the kids did, or random silliness we happened across on the street. But what if your post went viral? I mean really viral... so much so that it resulted in you receiving so much feed back that you decided to start an organization to fulfill...
2016-09-1637 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR117: Flowminder with Linus BengtssonWhen an emergency happens, whether its unexpected like an earth quake, or the result of a steady build up like many of the violent conflicts we have in the world today, people scatter. They scatter from where they live to not only remove themselves from immediate harm, but then to also find and connect with those they care about. This movement presents one of the larger challenges with delivering humanitarian aid to those who need it. But what if there was a way to detect where people are going, or where they've gone - and determine if...
2016-09-0639 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR116: On Our Radar With Libby PowellWhat is it like to not have a voice? More specifically, what is it like to have a voice - a powerful, intelligent, passionate voice - but one that no one can hear? This is the case for, literally, millions of people in the world today who have stories to tell, and stories that need or should be heard, but who are not able to access mainstream media channels that we all still turn to for our news. These are stories about fleeing violence, about what its like to be disabled or about trying to see where the road...
2016-07-2648 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR115: Zipline with Ryan OksenhornWe have spent a fair amount of time on the Terms of Reference Podcast talking about data - big data, data collection, using (and not using) data. While I'm sure that we will continue to talk about data a lot in the future, and hopefully (and more importantly?) the useful information that data creates, today's episode focuses on the portion of the innovation spectrum in development and aid where the truly tangible, potentially game changing product or service that someone (or group of people) who has poured blood, sweat and tears into making a reality... is actually becoming a...
2016-07-1934 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR114: 3ie with Dr Jyotsna PuriThere is a good deal of energy in the development and humanitarian space focused on building an evidence base for what works - and what doesn't. Here on the Terms of Reference Podcast, we've talked with numerous individuals and organizations who are building data sets towards that end, and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation - or 3ie - has been contributing to this conversation since its founding in 2008. To date, they've funded 146 impact evaluations, 33 systematic reviews and 38 other studies in over 50 countries. But how do we properly reflect on and communicate about the evidence we've collected...
2016-07-1242 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR113: SurveyCTO with Dr. Christopher RobertThose of us in the innovation space in development and humanitarian aid often talk about making sure that what we do is market driven. Not only should following this path provide the best solution to those who are interested in using your product or service, it should also create a clear roadmap to sustainability. Because, after all, if you have created a solution with such value that the demand not only sustains your organization, but allows you to continue to refine, grow and take risks (or, in one word, thrive), you're doing something right. This relentless pursuit...
2016-06-2849 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR112: UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development With Dr. Silvia HostettlerThe field of international development and humanitarian aid is so broad and diverse that it is essentially impossible to keep up with everything that is going on. Combine that with the rapid pace of technology development, communication and all-things-internet and you wouldn't be alone if you felt a bit overwhelmed by it all. The good news is that there are a growing number of forums, groups and conferences that interested professionals can tap into to dive deeper into their area of interest, connect with others of like mind or, perhaps most importantly, take time to look up from their...
2016-06-2139 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR111: Evidence Action with Karen LevyIt is no secret that there is a very strong push from donors and policy makers that programming for development and humanitarian aid be "evidence based." This push has, to a large degree, driven the technology revolutions we are seeing in data collection and analytics, and it is also responsible for the more difficult conversations that are had around value for money. So what if you were in a position where you were responsible for both testing and building a viable path to scale for promising evidence-based interventions? This dream job is currently held by Karen Levy...
2016-06-1442 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR110: Dimagi with Mohini BhavsarSimilar to essentially any other industry, the problem of efficiently collecting project or program level data that can be readily crunched, analyzed and, ultimately, used by managers for decision making has been, and will continue, to be a conundrum for the development and humanitarian aid community for the forseeable future. I have often heard the frustration from professionals in the field, who wonder out loud why we haven't be able to put together one, or perhaps a small set of, technology solutions that can be used for monitoring any output, anytime. Beyond the actual technology itself, a key part...
2016-06-0743 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR109: Pop Data Alliance With Emmanuel LetouzéIt is no secret that we live in a truly connected world. I can speak from experience that it is possible to be online in every nook and cranny of the planet - from deep inside the Ugandan countryside, to the middle of war torn Syria to the Islands of Fiji. The opportunity to connect to "the net" anywhere, for whatever reason - business, social, and yes, even evil - is here, now. There are many consequences, externalities and unknowns associated with this connected reality - some of which we are painfully aware of, like trolling, and some we...
2016-05-311h 00
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR108: Practical Action with Paul Smith LomasIf you're like most people, you're probably listening to this podcast on a smartphone of some type - maybe your on your commute, or an after-work walk with the dog. Others will listen to it on their laptop or office desktop machine in the background as they perform some other task. When I talk about using technology, these types of examples are, what I believe, pops into most people's mind. And, rightly so. I can attest to the fact that, even in the most remote corners of Uganda, technology - as mobile devices and their applications - play a...
2016-05-2430 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR107: InZone with Barbara Moser-MercerFor most of us, a critical factor in creating a sustainable and satisfying career is the formal education we acquire. In the in development and aid space, a master's degree from a credible institution is really the minimum bar for even an entry level position at any top shelf organization. Access to this type of education, and its benefits, are things many of us simply take for granted. But what if your community were caught in the grips of conflict? Or what if you find yourself growing up in camp for displaced people? Or what if higher...
2016-05-1744 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR106: Development Gateway with Dustin HomerIf you've been a part of the "innovation" conversation in the humanitarian aid and international development sector for any amount of time, you have - more than once - admitted to yourself two things: Innovation is only second to strategy as the most overused and abused word in the development/aid lexicon, and When people are talking about innovation, they're usually talking about technology. While I am as guilty as the next person, I try my best to avoid stumbling into the trap of either of these pitfalls. However, when we mentally get past these...
2016-05-1041 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR105: Innovations For Poverty Action with Annie DufloSo often these days we hear about the need for real time monitoring, fail fast, quick results and projects that make an immediate difference in the lives of those we are serving. While these are often excellent goals to have, the cost, complications and ability to implement and simply deliver on these demands can be overwhelming to the average development worker or aid provider. At the same time, our community has often acknowledged the need for a deeper, more rigorous approach to understanding how the programming we implement ultimately creates short and medium term outcomes, and ultimately...
2016-05-0342 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR104: DevResults with Herb CaudillHow do you go about monitoring and tracking the work that you've accomplished as an implementer of humanitarian aid or development assistance? This question has been answered 1000s of times by 100s of organizations around the world. Even though we're in the year 2016, the reality of tracking progress for the vast majority of initiatives out there is one of two things: written reports in Microsoft Word or numbers on an Excel spreadsheet.... that then get translated into a narrative report in Word. I'm not kidding. I've been evaluating programming in this world for more than 10 years and...
2016-04-2638 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR103: OpenQRS with Kate Michi EttingerHow much time did you spend wondering about the potential quality of the last medical procedure you were involved with? More specifically, did you spend a lot of time consternating about whether or not the tools being used in the procedure (either by you or the medical professionals you were with) were reliable and safe? This is an intriguing question for many of us. For example, I was born in the United States, but I have lived outside the US for the last 11 years and I spend a good deal of my time in parts of the...
2016-04-1949 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR102: ALNAP with Alice ObrechtThe idea of innovation has become so popular in the development and aid community that, unsurprisingly, it is difficult to keep up. There seem to be forums, conferences, blogs (and yes, even this podcast) that are putting information out there for your consumption to the point of overwhelm and it can be difficult to cut through the noise to create a better understanding of what works - and more importantly - what doesn't when it comes to better serving those in need. Luckily, there are also people out there like Alice Obrecht who are helping to curate...
2016-04-1249 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR101: Peace Corps Innovations with Patrick ChoquettePeace Corps has had an office of innovation for almost 5 years now, and there are some very cool things happening. To learn more about them, I spoke with Patrick Choquette, who has served as the director of Peace Corps’ Office of Innovation since 2012. He is the agency’s second director of Innovation and manages a small team within the Director’s office with the mission of empowering staff and volunteers with a work environment that breeds innovation.
As you've come to expect from guests here on Terms of Reference, Patrick is no slacker: In 2014, he was awarded the pr...
2016-04-0548 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR100: WeRobotics and Direct Relief with Andrew SchroederAndrew Schroeder is the co-founder of WeRobotics, a global non-profit organization which works with local communities and international organizations to accelerate aid, development, environmental protection and global health with robotics technologies.
Andrew is also the Director of Research and Analysis for Direct Relief, a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara, CA which distributes essential medicines to local healthcare programs in over 100 countries.
Andrew is a globally recognized leader in the use of spatial analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) for humanitarian aid and health. In 2013 Andrew won the President's Award from ESRI for his contributions...
2016-03-2936 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR099: The International Organization for Migration with Dana Graber LadekDana Graber Ladek is an international development professional with 20 years of experience developing and managing humanitarian assistance and community stabilization projects around the world, in coordination with government agencies, the United Nations, and national and international organizations.
Her recent assignments include Regional Specialist for Project Development for the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Regional Office in Costa Rica, Head of the Regional Support Unit for IOM’s Budapest Regional Office, Displacement Specialist for IOM Iraq, Programme Liaison for IOM’s Washington Regional Office, Director of Outreach for The Communitarian Network, and Youth Development Volunteer for Peace Corps.
2016-03-1630 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR098: Peace Corps Philippines with Jade MorganJade Morgan is a Peace Corps Volunteer currently serving in the Philippines where she works with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 P’s) in providing life skills training, academic and professional development, tutoring, and mentorship to youth in her community.
During her time studying social work at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Jade worked with recently resettled refugees as an ESL instructor, job skills facilitator, leader in refugee women’s health groups, and mentor. After college, Jade worked as a health education specialist with the Screening Brief Intervention and Refe...
2016-03-1432 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR097: Communications And Knowledge Management With Bradley LyonBradley Lyon is a communications and knowledge management specialist. Currently, he is the Community Development Lead and Knowledge Manager at the Rocky Mountain Institute - Carbon War Room (RMI-CWR) where he is contributing to the launch of an online community of practice that targets renewable energy practitioners in the Caribbean and other island states.
Brad is also a consultant at the World Bank, where, over the past six years, he’s worked in different capacities and contracts with the Latin American and Caribbean Urban and Disaster Risk Management unit. His main contributions at the World Bank have re...
2016-02-2931 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR096: Leaders' Quest with Simon HampelSimon Hampel is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, a social enterprise that works with leaders to create a more equitable and sustainable world by challenge them to explore purpose and create positive change.
Simon spent the 90s into the new century as a serial entrepreneur, building companies in Europe, the US and Canada in the fields of financial services, leisure, consultancy and technology. Leaving these ventures behind, in 2002, he joined an Amazonian exploration, which ultimately resulted in four years doing scientific research and aid work in the Amazon, across the Himalayas, through Mongolia, and down Ethiopia’s Blue...
2016-02-2232 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR095: Ajah and PoweredByData with Michael LencznerMichael Lenczner is the CEO and founder of Ajah, a Canadian-based company which offers an online platform for researching funders to the non-profit sector. Its service, Fundtracker, merges dozens of government and public data sets with its own proprietary research so that users can track grant-making by foundations, corporations and governments. Ajah's award-winning non-profit initiative, PoweredByData leverages their expertise to develop a more effective social sector by working with various stakeholders to publish better open data.
Michael has been working in community and public interest technology since 1999, creating the community wireless group Ile sans fil, which runs...
2016-02-1528 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR094: Reboot.org with Panthea LeePanthea Lee is a Principal and lead designer at Reboot.org, a social impact firm dedicated to inclusive development and accountable governance. Panthea is focused on the practical applications of ethnography and systems thinking in delivering effective international development and governance programs.
Prior to co-founding Reboot.org, Panthea worked with the UNICEF Innovations team where she managed the development of a real-time data platform to support child rights advocacy in Iraq and mobile learning tools in Suriname and Sudan. She also contributed to the launch of Palestine's first open-source software community.
Before joining UNICEF, Panthea...
2016-02-0835 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR093: PACT and Independence with Kipp EfingerKipp Efinger is an independent consultant. Before going solo, Kipp served as Pact’s Country Director in Thailand, overseeing environmental governance and health projects funded by USAID; the Department of State; Chevron; and The Global Fund.
Before moving to Thailand in 2013, he was based in Pact's Washington, DC office, where he managed support for a diverse portfolio in the Asia/Eurasia region, including multi-million dollar start-up operations for USAID projects in Nepal and Ukraine. He was also a member of Pact’s democracy and governance technical team from 2008 until 2010.
Before Pact, Kipp served as Program Offi...
2015-11-2350 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR092: The Center For Global Development with Owen BarderOwen Barder is Vice President, Director for Europe and a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development - an organization that conducts research and analysis on a wide range of topics related to how policies and actions of the rich and powerful affect poor people in the developing world.
From 1988 to 2010, Owen was a British civil servant. During that time he worked at No.10 Downing Street, as the Private Secretary of Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister; in the UK Treasury, including as Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and in the Department for...
2015-10-2939 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR091: Thinx with Miki AgrawalMiki Agrawal is a co-founder of Thinx, a revolutionary women's underwear company that solves a problem for women in the developed world and women in the developing world during "their time of the month."
She was a recipient of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival’s Disruptive Innovation Award and named 2013’s Forbes's Top 20 Millienials On a Mission. She is also the founder of the acclaimed farm-to-table, alternative pizza concept called WILD in NYC.
2015-10-0529 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR090: Anseye Pou Ayiti with Nedgine PaulNedgine Paul is the co-founder & CEO of Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach For Haiti), works to raise education outcomes in rural Haiti by promoting teacher excellence and student success.
Nedgine's previous roles at Achievement First, the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, and WorldTeach included opportunities to manage recruitment, staff orientation, tutoring, and governance duties, as well as the development of a school principal residency program. Nedgine also worked with Partners In Health to manage onboarding, benefits, and workforce planning for the organization’s transnational teams. She has conducted teacher training seminars and extensive research about the historical, cultural, and so...
2015-09-2834 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR089: Catalpa with Anders Hofstee and David RoachDavid Roach and Anders Hofstee are co-founders of Catalpa International, a design and technology organization which provides innovative, accessible and effective solutions in low resource settings.
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Anders has been working in the field of database-driven web application development and information science for nearly twenty years. He has led the design, development, and deployment for numerous national level information management services in both the not-for-profit and profit sectors. Among other projects, Anders is the technical lead for the Timor-Leste's Maternal and Child mHealth project - Liga Inan, as well as, the Technical Lead for Myanmar's Mohinga P...
2015-09-2138 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR088: Sustainable Schools International with Kari Grady GrossmanKari Grady Grossman is the co-founder of Sustainable Schools International. After traveling to Cambodia in 2001 to adopt their son, Kari and her husband created the school, and, because of Kari, the school has the first primary school music program in Cambodia, a teacher’s residence and library. She also started a silk import business and an environmentally sustainable cooking fuel business to support schools.
A former writer for Discovery Channel Online, Kari is also the author of Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia, which was the winner of the 2008 “Peacemaker of the Year” Award from the In...
2015-09-1433 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR087: Sanergy with David AuerbachDavid Auerbach is a co-founder of Sanergy, a pioneering social enterprise in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to building healthy, prosperous communities in Africa’s informal settlements by making hygienic sanitation affordable and accessible for everyone, forever.
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Previously, David co-ran Partnerships at Endeavor, a non-profit that helps high-impact entrepreneurs in the developing world. He served as the Deputy Chair for Poverty Alleviation at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2005-6. He taught in central China for two years as a Yale-China Teaching Fellow. He began his career researching foreign policy at the Center for American Progress. David is an...
2015-09-0723 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR086: Peace Corps Partnerships with Tonia WellonsTonia Wellons has successfully straddled international development and locally oriented community-based development with full intention, skillfully borrowing lessons from one and applying them to the other. With 18 years of development experience, spanning senior leadership roles at the World Bank Group -- to social entrepreneur for a community-based social fund that she founded -- Tonia is skilled in leading global development alliances, managing multi-donor operations, and engaging local communities.
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Tonia currently serves as Associate Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships for the Peace Corps and is responsible for leading the agency’s partnerships with government, the private sec...
2015-08-3131 min
Terms Of Reference PodcastTOR002: The Private Sector with Rod MacAlisterDuring a 35-year-long career, oilman Rod MacAlister has mostly worked in Africa, managing businesses, but also keeping an eye on and supporting the communities in which he was working.Â
He served as president of the U.S. African Development Fund for several years, and with primatologist Jane Goodall, built an orphanage and sanctuary for chimpanzees in the Congo that is the largest in Africa.Â
Other projects he has spearheaded include building toilets for rural schools in Gabon, and establishing a medical clinic in the Congo.Â
Rod now works in Gabon, running a small, ind...
2014-01-1716 min