CSR And Innovation

India seems to have almost completely eliminated extreme poverty — a truly stunning achievement. Growing up in India, extreme poverty (less than $1/day) was rampant. In 1995, right around when my lower-middle-class family left Delhi to pursue the American dream, over 50% of Indians lived below the international poverty line. Fast forward to today: The latest survey shows less than 1% of Indian households are below that line. This isn’t just a story about reducing poverty — it’s about dismantling an old myth: ❌ That *only* industrialization and manufacturing pull countries out of poverty (which is still important) ✅ India’s path was tech-enabled, rural-first, and services-led How did it happen? 🔹 Agricultural productivity increased 🔹 Rural wages rose 🔹 Mobile banking + Aadhaar + UPI = cash transfers that actually reached people 🔹 A digital public infrastructure that scaled human dignity This is a third way — not the Western model, not the China model: -Distributed -Digitally native -Inclusive -Resilient Playbooks for economic development are being written not only in boardrooms in the West, but in the villages of India too. Full piece from The Economist: https://lnkd.in/gpfnCFnG

Wrapped up my latest visit to New York City, and it reaffirmed a vital truth: the iconic skyline, while breathtaking, also represents a significant carbon challenge. As buildings contribute over two-thirds of NYC's emissions, their transformation is crucial to achieving the ambitious 2050 goal of an 80% reduction.   Digital technologies offer a feasible and cost-effective solution. Consider these numbers:   Digital building management alone can achieve 42% emission reduction in offices, with payback periods of less than three years. Electrification and microgrids with renewable energy sources can further reduce emissions by 28%.   The combined impact? 70% reduction in operational carbon emissions. Achievable today, with a quick return on investment.   Now, imagine the impact at scale: New York City's iconic skyline, gleaming with clean energy. Let's make it a reality.

Nonprofits, if I had to build corporate partnerships from scratch today, here’s the real playbook: 1. Stop begging. Start collaborating. Your opening line to a company should never be: “We’re looking for sponsors.” Instead, it should be: “We’re building a movement around [cause]. Want to co-author the story?” Shift your posture from “needing help” to “offering opportunity.” 2. Ditch the gold-silver-bronze garbage. Create partnership experiences that feel custom-built: Fund an innovation lab Co-host a thought leadership series Launch a branded scholarship program Make them the hero of a tangible impact, not a logo on a step-and-repeat. 3. Play offense on LinkedIn If you’re waiting for CSR managers to stumble onto your website, you’ve already lost. Connect with CSR, ESG, HR, and Marketing leads at 50 dream companies. Post 3–4 times a week showing WHY your mission matters to their brand narrative. Share wins with attribution: “Thanks to partners like [Company], we [result].” Visibility builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust. Trust builds checks. 4. Build a Corporate Advisory Council. Invite 5–10 execs from different companies to join a “founding circle.” No donation required upfront. What you’re asking for: • Their insights • Their network • Their pride of ownership Once they feel bought in, the dollars will follow. 5. Make it ridiculously easy to say yes. No 17-page decks. No committee calls. No 90-day “we’ll get back to you” limbo. Your ask should be crystal clear: “We have a $25,000 project funding gap.” “Here’s what you’ll get in return.” “Here’s how your brand will be celebrated.” Simplicity wins deals. Period. 6. Follow up like a human, not a robot. No “just circling back” emails. No “checking in on my proposal” DMs. Send them micro-wins: “Just wanted to share, we hit 100 youth served this month!” “This story made me think of your team’s values.” Stay top of mind without being top of inbox spam. In 2025, partnerships are won by building narratives, not asking for charity. You’re not selling sponsorships. You’re offering legacy. Act accordingly. Want to learn how we’re helping nonprofits land $25K–$250K partnerships without begging? Comment “Build” or DM me. We’re opening a private training soon.

Wheel for Sustainable Business Innovation 🌎 The sustainability landscape is evolving rapidly, and businesses are increasingly expected to integrate environmental and social considerations into their innovation processes. However, traditional innovation frameworks often fall short by focusing solely on customer needs, financial returns, and technical feasibility, leaving critical planetary challenges unaddressed. A more comprehensive approach is needed—one that embeds sustainability at the core of value creation. The 130+ Value Proposition Types Wheel is a practical tool that helps organizations frame innovation efforts across four key dimensions: People, Planet, Profit, and Progress. It provides over 130 value types that businesses can leverage to ensure their projects contribute meaningful solutions to global challenges such as climate action, resource efficiency, social inclusion, and technological advancement. This approach shifts the focus beyond immediate customer needs to include long-term sustainability impacts across entire ecosystems. By using structured frameworks like this, companies can link their innovation projects directly to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing critical issues such as climate resilience, biodiversity, and social equity. The tool also encourages the use of metrics to track progress, making sustainability-driven innovation more actionable and measurable across industries. It helps businesses unlock new forms of value while addressing both environmental risks and opportunities. The tool is adaptable to different phases of the innovation process, from identifying unmet needs to scaling solutions in the market. It guides organizations in understanding how their innovations create value in areas such as climate action, circularity, supply chain management, and stakeholder engagement. This makes it relevant for both B2B and B2C companies aiming to enhance their impact while future-proofing their operations. Originally developed by Explorer Labs, this tool has been referenced in the past and continues to remain highly useful as businesses advance their sustainability journeys. As 2025 begins, leveraging tools like this can help organizations move from incremental improvements to transformative solutions, embedding sustainability into innovation processes that deliver lasting value. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #innovation #SDGs

Inclusion isn’t a one-time initiative or a single program—it’s a continuous commitment that must be embedded across every stage of the employee lifecycle. By taking deliberate steps, organizations can create workplaces where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Here’s how we can make a meaningful impact at each stage: 1. Attract Build inclusive employer branding and equitable hiring practices. Ensure job postings use inclusive language and focus on skills rather than unnecessary credentials. Broaden recruitment pipelines by partnering with diverse professional organizations, schools, and networks. Showcase your commitment to inclusion in external messaging with employee stories that reflect diversity. 2. Recruit Eliminate bias and promote fair candidate evaluation. Use structured interviews and standardized evaluation rubrics to reduce bias. Train recruiters and hiring managers on unconscious bias and inclusive hiring practices. Implement blind resume reviews or AI tools to focus on qualifications, not identifiers. 3. Onboard Create an inclusive onboarding experience. Design onboarding materials that reflect a diverse workplace culture. Pair new hires with mentors or buddies from Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to foster belonging. Offer inclusion training early to set the tone for inclusivity from day one. 4. Develop Provide equitable opportunities for growth. Ensure leadership programs and career development resources are accessible to underrepresented employees. Regularly review training, mentorship, and promotion programs to address any disparities. Offer specific development opportunities, such as allyship training or workshops on cultural competency. 5. Engage Foster a culture of inclusion. Actively listen to employee feedback through pulse surveys, focus groups, and open forums. Support ERGs and create platforms for marginalized voices to influence organizational policies. Recognize and celebrate diverse perspectives, cultures, and contributions in the workplace. 6. Retain Address barriers to equity and belonging. Conduct pay equity audits and address discrepancies to ensure fairness. Create flexible policies that accommodate diverse needs, including caregiving responsibilities, religious practices, and accessibility. Provide regular inclusion updates to build trust and demonstrate progress. 7. Offboard Learn and grow from employee transitions. Use exit interviews to uncover potential inequities and areas for improvement. Analyze trends in attrition to identify and address any patterns of exclusion or bias. Maintain relationships with alumni and invite them to stay engaged through inclusive networks. Embedding inclusion across the employee lifecycle is not just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic imperative that drives innovation, engagement, and organizational success. By making these steps intentional, companies can create environments where everyone can thrive.

Embracing Responsible AI: Navigating Ethical Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 🚀 The Transformative Power of AI and the Imperative of Responsible Innovation 🚀 As we witness the rising influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping economies, it's projected to surge global GDP by a $15.7 trillion by 2030. In the wake of this revolution, underscored by recent developments like Sam Altman's sudden dismissal and rehiring by Microsoft and the ongoing discourse on ChatGPT's ethical implications, the call for responsible AI has never been more pressing. Why Responsible AI is the Cornerstone of Future Tech 📌AI and Ethical Accountability: With AI's potential to inadvertently encode biases, prioritizing ethical AI frameworks is not just a choice but a necessity. 📌Legal and Regulatory Compliance in AI: The evolving landscape, marked by the EU Commission's directives and the White House's AI Bill of Rights, underscores the need for legal compliance in AI applications. 📌Building Trust in AI Technology: In an era where AI's ubiquity is inevitable, maintaining transparency and responsibility is key to nurturing public trust and brand credibility. Bridging the Implementation Gap in AI A pivotal study by MIT Sloan Executive Education and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) unveils a stark reality: while AI is a strategic focus for many, a mere 19% have robust responsible AI strategies in place. This gap isn't just significant; it's an urgent call for immediate action. Paving the Way Forward with Responsible AI 📈 AI Auditing: A Holistic Approach: Effective AI auditing transcends basic compliance, encompassing aspects like efficacy, reliability, bias mitigation, explainability, and data privacy. 🌐 Global Collaboration for Ethical AI: With varied initiatives from the EU to China and the US, a collaborative approach is vital for harmonized AI governance. 👩💼 Leadership in the AI Era: Our role as leaders is pivotal in guiding AI towards a trajectory that's not only innovative but also ethically sound and socially responsible. 🚨👾As AI continues to redefine our world, the real challenge lies in ensuring that this powerful tool is harnessed responsibly for inclusive and sustainable growth. 📢 Let's lead the conversation on AI ethics. Share your thoughts and engage in the discussion navigating the complex landscape of AI technology with a responsible and ethical approach. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #EthicalAI #AIethics #TechLeadership #FutureofTech #AIgovernance

Gartner's 2024 Hype Cycle for Environmental Sustainability highlights 38 essential technologies set to transform the sustainability landscape. For those new to the Hype Cycle, it tracks the evolution of new technologies through five stages: 1️⃣ Innovation Trigger: New tech gains attention. 2️⃣ Peak of Inflated Expectations: High expectations, limited real-world use. 3️⃣ Trough of Disillusionment: Challenges arise, hype fades. 4️⃣ Slope of Enlightenment: Practical applications begin to emerge. 5️⃣ Plateau of Productivity: The technology goes mainstream and delivers value. 🔹🔹 Here are my top 5 picks from this year’s Hype Cycle, focusing on software and AI-driven sustainability: 1. GreenOps: GreenOps integrates sustainability into operational practices like DevOps, helping companies track and reduce their carbon footprint throughout the software development lifecycle. 2. Cloud Sustainability: Cloud providers are optimizing workloads and infrastructure to make cloud computing greener. Despite its potential, scaling these practices remains a challenge. 3. AI for Sustainability: AI is being used to address environmental challenges like climate change and resource management, leveraging data to deliver more sustainable solutions. 4. Environmental Sustainability of Software: Organizations are adopting energy-efficient coding practices and tools to measure software's carbon footprint, making software development more eco-friendly. 5. Net-Zero Data Centers: Data centers are evolving to balance energy consumption with renewable sources, focusing on innovations in power management and clean energy adoption. 🔹❗ What’s Missing? Green AI Deserves More Focus As AI models become more resource-intensive, developing energy-efficient AI is key. Green AI ensures that progress doesn’t come with high environmental costs. 🌿 Explore my GitHub repo for Sustainable AI - https://lnkd.in/dDqMCJ6n, to learn more about promoting sustainable AI practices. Feel free to contribute to the movement toward building greener AI Sustainable AI (Green AI) may be partially addressed under some subsections, but it needs its own focus to ensure AI developments actively reduce environmental impacts. 📊 Additional Insights: Technologies like ESG Management and Reporting Software and Sustainable Procurement Lifecycle Analysis are gaining traction in the Slope of Enlightenment, though adoption has been slower. Companies are recognizing the need for robust systems to manage environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data, but mainstream use is still evolving. For more details, check out the full Gartner Hype Cycle for Environmental Sustainability 2024 here: https://lnkd.in/d2aZ4Tgf #SustainableAI #GreenOps #CloudSustainability #GreenAI #FutureTech #GreenSoftware #SustainabilityInTech #HypeCycle #ESGManagement #SustainableProcurement #NetZero

Accelerating climate action is imperative as we are on a path to surpass the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius, and we have to leverage every tool to make the progress required. AI can and must be part of the solution - our research shows that by scaling currently proven applications and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to unlock insights that could help mitigate 5-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030—and significantly bolster climate-related adaptation and resilience initiatives. Our latest AI & Sustainability paper, in partnership with BCG, hopes to provide decision makers with insights and data they need to keep building upon the successful early applications of AI for climate, mitigate any potential risks, and usher in a greener future. Find the report here. https://goo.gle/3QEE6lh

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿? 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀. AI skilling efforts can be supercharged by using social challenges. To learn, practice, grow. It’s a lot like how personal setbacks force us to put self-improvement into action: Health scares that lead to better habits. (Suddenly it's not so difficult to run at 5am!) Career roadblocks leading to new skills. (Finally using that Udemy account) Social challenges can do the same for AI practice. At scale. They can push us to practice and apply knowledge where it counts, and to build solutions that matter. And together as a society, we learn to build that AI muscle for good. Over the last few months, my team and I have been running the AI for Impact campaign, equipping hundreds with AI knowledge, skills and hands-on experiences. And here's what we're observing: When our participants tackled real-world challenges, technical skills improved. But the real magic? Not in the algorithms. It's from the collaboration, the lived experience, and the relentless curiosity of people who care. And bonus: sharpened human strengths. Empathy, critical thinking, teamwork. The best ideas emerge when people listen deeply, collaborate openly, and keep the end user, real people, at the heart of every solution. Some of the solutions we saw. 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴. AI to predict disease outbreaks early, making healthcare more proactive and accessible. 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: Personalizing government support, so citizens get the help they need, when they need it When we practice our AI skills to address humanity’s biggest needs, we don’t just build better tech, we build a better world. So, if you want to get better at AI, don’t just build another app. Get your hands dirty solving real problems. The social sector is where real stakes, real urgency, and real impact come together. 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂: What’s one social challenge you’d love to see AI help solve? #MagicMondays #AIforImpact #AIskillsatscale