Ethics of Innovation: Tools for Effectiv

Ethics of Innovation:
Tools for Effective Engagement

We may have the best of intentions when we undertake projects that we believe will have a positive social impact, but what does it take to actually work wisely, effectively, and ethically when doing community-based work? In this workshop, you’ll hear from several social entrepreneurs about their ventures and engage in an exercise to begin developing an ethical framework. Panelists will explore fundamental questions such as: What types of approaches (participatory or other) make sense for the given context? How does one work with a community to gain buy-in and support? What are potential adverse effects of an innovation on stakeholders, institutions, and markets? How does insider/outsider status affect entrepreneurs’ work? What factors influence the decision to work towards scale or not?

Sidhant Pai, Protoprint, India.

Session Speakers

Keynote speaker Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu of soleRebels.

Speakers

SIDHANT PAI

CEO, Protoprint

A current PhD student at MIT, Sidhant previously served as the CEO of Protoprint, a social enterprise in India that works collaboratively with waste-picker co-operatives to add value to the waste plastic they collect. He also serves on the board of Social Seva, a non-profit organization based in Pune. His work in the development space has focused on low-cost technology and capacity building solutions in resource-limited environments. His current research focuses on modeling the impacts of air pollution and human emissions on regional climate systems, particularly in South Asia and Africa. Sidhant is a 2014 Echoing Green Fellow, a 2014 D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellow, and has received support from the Priscilla Gray King Public Service Center and Legatum Center for his work in India.

JACKI VANDERBRUG

Investment Strategist, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Jackie VanderBrug is a managing director and investment strategist at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management within the Global Wealth & Investment Management division of Bank of America. She is a regular contributor of the thought leadership reports – IMPACT FORUM– with topics on sustainability, millennials and corporate strategy that align with investment strategies for high net worth individuals, families and foundations. She speaks frequently, representing U.S. Trust at conferences including the Nantucket Project, Clinton Global Initiative, Aspen Ideas Festival, and Social Capital Media (SOCAP).

Jackie received her M.B.A from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and her B.S. in Mathematics from Calvin College. She is an Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow and serves on the Board of the Trustees of the Donations. She also serves on the board of directors for US SIF (The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment). She has co-authored the book Gender Lens Investing: Uncovering Opportunities for Growth, Returns, and Impact.

JODIE WU

Founder & CEO, Global Cycle Solutions (GCS Tanzania Limited), Arusha, Tanzania

Jodie Wu is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Cycle Solutions (GCS), a company focused on providing access to transformative technologies through a last-mile distribution network of over 200 village entrepreneurs. Fluent in Swahili, an engineer by background, and an entrepreneur who dove straight into social enterprise at 22 years old, Wu brings unique expertise to the field having lived and worked in Tanzania since 2009. Her 30-person Tanzanian team has delivered life-improving solar lanterns, clean cookstoves, and agricultural tools to over 75,000 families. As a champion of collaboration, Wu has facilitated small-scale manufacturing of 15,000 sheet metal agricultural tools in developing markets, advised dozens of fellow entrepreneurs entering the Tanzanian market, and consulted for various international energy companies to bring new services to rural villages. Jodie holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

MIT Scaling Development Ventures