From Boardrooms to Base of the Pyramid – Stefan Engels on Reimagining Development Through Business. Meet Stefan Engels, an international development leader with a remarkable cross-sector journey—from corporate boardrooms to grassroots innovation hubs across Africa. Now based in Nairobi, Stefan brings nearly two decades of experience working at the nexus of private sector development, inclusive business models, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Stefan’s career began in the corporate world of pharmaceuticals - with Johnson & Johnson, where he rose from Sales Representative to Regional General Manager over 15 years. But he made a bold pivot—leaving behind corporate predictability to pursue purpose-driven work in international development. 

His career spans time with UNDP, GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), and multiple foundations and NGOs across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Vietnam.

In this episode, Stefan shares his insights on transitioning from the private sector to global development—navigating cultural shifts, embracing multi-stakeholder partnerships, and building resilient, systemic solutions for complex challenges. We explore the seismic shifts in development aid, the growing role of business in achieving social impact, and the enduring power of inclusive business strategies.

Expect to hear:
* Why business can (and must) be a force for good
* Lessons in systems change and co-creation
* The future of development finance and impact measurement
* Advice for businesses building social impact into their core model

Whether you're a business leader seeking to deepen your social impact strategy, a development practitioner, or simply curious about how capitalism can align with sustainable development goals (SDGs)—you might find this interesting. 

 Listen now and discover how profits can fit poverty and why Africa may just be the future’s innovation lab. 

Reimagining Development Through Business with Stefan Engels

Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty, talks with Emeritus Professor David Grayson, CBE, about his book, “All In: Why Sustainability is the Future of Business".  David shares his perspectives on business purpose, values and collaboration.

David’s experience delivering and advising on purposeful business includes being the founding CEO of the Prince's Youth Business Trust, he has served as managing-director of Business in the Community, is former chairman of one of the UK's larger social enterprises and largest eldercare providers, Housing & Care 21. David is currently chairman of the national charity Carers UK championing the role of 6.5million Britons caring for a loved one. David received an OBE for services to industry in 1994 and a CBE for services to disability in 1999.

During the interview David shares his thoughts on why business plays such a vital role in delivering societal impact, what has changed and why these are real business opportunities, quoting the late and great Peter Drucker, who in 1973 stated: “Every single social and global issue of our day, is a business opportunity in disguise.”

David also explains how the 20 years of research generated from the Globescan Sustainability Leaders survey and numerous leader interviews has shaped the new book he has co-authored with Chris Coulter and Mark Lee: The Future of Business Leadership. 

David, during this interview summarises the key findings from the book, including his practical advice to business CEOs; explaining authentic business purpose, forward looking innovation, openness to partnering and willingness to stand up and be counted through advocacy are vital elements for the long term success of big business.

David Grayson, Professor Emeritus, Cranfield School of Management

“Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

This podcast marks the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. On this day, 2nd October 2019, India will begin a nationwide ban of single use plastic.

Prathyusha Parakala, Hydrabad millennial, radio DJ and climate ambassador, joins us to share her first-hand experiences – about the wave of social and environmental actions sweeping across India.

To provide some background: in 2014 India became the first nation to make it mandatory for all companies with a net worth over US $70 million to spend a minimum of two percent of their average three year net profits on CSR. This sits alongside the ‘extended producer responsibility’ or EPR – where sellers of plastic and e-waste have a responsibility for collecting and recycling it. Both of these laws have since been tightened, with fines and possible imprisonment for non-compliance with the former and tighter monitoring and targets for the latter.  

During this interview Prathyusha explains why she cares about environmental impact and how her Antarctic expedition has set her on a journey to do everything she can to tackle climate change. And as the founder of the social impact trust Praana, which means Life, Prathyusha explores, during this podcast, how business and civil society are taking action and where this is being driven grassroots up. 

As Prathyusha says: We should never under estimate the power of like-minds coming together to tackle problems.

To find out more, Prathyusha can be found on twitter and instragram using the handle: @PrathyushaCFA18

Prathyusha Parakala, Hydrabad Millennial, Radio DJ, Climate Ambassador and Social Entrepreneur

Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty, interviews Naureen Hyat, Co-Founder and Business Head at Tez Financial Services and Visa Everywhere Initiative: Fintech Challenge Winner.

During this week’s Spotlight interview podcast, we speak with Naureen Hyat. Naureen is a serial entrepreneur ranked on the Women in FinTech Powerlist 2017.

She is co-founder of Tez Financial Services – the first fully digital financial institution in Pakistan, providing frictionless financial access to the unbanked and underbanked. She has been an Assessor of the SMART Campaign – with the aim to accelerate financial inclusion. She is also a Pakistan Credit Rating Agency alumnus.

During our conversation with Naureen she explains how technology can provide the missing pieces to the financial inclusion business case by speeding up access, creating efficiencies and reducing risk. However, says Naureen, the challenge is that the formal sector so often isn’t ready to adopt technological innovations, either due to their legacy mindsets or lower prioritisation in the budget ladder.

Listen to Naureen’s top three trends she foresees revolutionising the future of inclusive finance: Artificial Intelligence and robotics for acquisition, growth and risk reduction; Sharing Economy with partnerships driving the new business model and Blockchain for more customer centric use cases. Naureen is a young woman on a mission, to make finance inclusive and accessible to all. As she explains, “It’s empowering.” She believes in the importance of purpose-centricity – businesses with purpose at their heart,  but isn’t convinced many she sees are really moving beyond customer acquisition.

And how does she run her own businesses and be successful? “Stay focused and stay strong. Be flexible enough to pivot when the need arises.”

Naureen Hyat: Co-Founder and Business Head, Tez Financial Services

Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty interviews Ravinol Chambers, Founder, Producer and Director at Be Inspired Films.

Have you ever considered setting up a social enterprise or pondered how to deliver really impactful communications? If the answer is yes, then this podcast is for you.
Ravinol Chambers, Founder of the B Corp, Be Inspired Films, takes listeners on his journey from aspirational stockbroker, to monk, to award-winning filmmaker and social entrepreneur; whilst arguably providing 25 minutes of free coaching. 
This succinct podcast is packed full of helpful tips and provides insight from someone who walks the walk as well as talks the talk.
Ravinol explains that to be a successful social entrepreneur he must create excellent work above all else, learn to track the numbers and go all in. Whilst he requires a hero, clarity of purpose and a keen BS sensor to make great films!
During our conversation, Ravinol also reveals details about his newest and most exciting project to date: His first feature-length documentary – Road to Vrindavan. The film explores the challenges girls in India face fulfilling their potential and the importance of engaging men as allies to help make a difference.
If you feel inspired to support the documentary, check out the crowdfunding campaign and help bring the film to the world - http://bit.ly/roadtovrindavan. To enquire about hosting a private screening, partnership opportunities or anything else, you can contact Ravinol on ravinol@beinspiredfilms.com / 0208 123 1183
Listen to learn more about the film and to hear Ravinol’s advice on running a business with a purpose beyond profit and how to create great films for social impact.

Ravinol Chambers, Founder, Producer and Director, Be Inspired Films

Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty interviews Hilary Cottam.

From a Guerrilla army in Ethiopia to leading welfare social entrepreneur – Hilary Cottam joins our podcast to share her wisdom.
Hilary’s career may be varied, but her understanding of the welfare reform challenge is far-reaching. During this podcast Hilary explains the problems facing modern society and the mounting challenges of reducing poverty. An estimated 14.2 million people live in poverty in the UK today, and this number is growing. Hilary shares the ugly truth that these large numbers include many people in work within the private sector. 
Hilary calls on us, through this podcast and her new book: Radical Help, to re-examine poverty. Understanding that having a job should mean that you aren’t in a financial crisis. Hilary challenges us that government and the public sector alone cannot solve these problems, that fixing blunt welfare instruments designed in the 1950s simply won’t work. 
Instead says Hilary, we all need to be part of the solution. She’s on the hunt for people with big ideas and new industrialists to re-think welfare and the future of work: “We need to join up social action, bringing thinking and action together in new ways.” 

If you would like to know more or get in touch with Hilary, you can do so through her website: http://www.hilarycottam.com or contact Hilary on twitter: @hilarycottam

Hilary Cottam, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur

Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty, interviews Natalia Pshenichnaya, Head of GSMA’s AgriTech programme.

It’s tough enough to keep up with mobile technology innovations in developed markets, where there are multi-million-pound marketing budgets to promote them. Listen to this podcast to learn about the cutting-edge mobile technology developments taking place in emerging markets. Technology that is not only providing connectivity but is lifting people out of poverty and saving lives.

Natalia Pshenichnaya from the mobile industry association - GSMA  takes us on a whistle stop tour of the innovations in mobile agricultural technology. 

Hear how: 
•	Mobile operator Telenor in Pakistan is helping 8.5 M farming customers with access to agricultural advice in their local language via voice messages and a dial in agri show;
•	The newest innovations in big data are enabling weather tracking in emerging areas; 
•	And how the latest payment models are creating access to irrigation in rural Africa.

Natalia stresses that for her the guiding principles are about taking action on things you care about and how climate change is the biggest factor we must all act on.  She says: “If we don't address the climate crisis all other things we are doing to try to help the poor will be short lived and wasted.” Calling on us all to ask ourselves: “How can I integrate environmental thinking into the work I am doing?”

This podcast takes us to the edges of trends, opportunities and innovations in the mobile technology agri space. Listen now to find out more.

Further links mentioned in this podcast include:

GSMA CleanTech programme: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/cleantech/
 
GSMA Innovation Fund for the digitisation of Agricultural Value Chains:  https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/agritech/innovation-fund/

Yvon Chouinard‎’s Let my people go surfing: https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-revised-paperback-book/BK067.html

Natalia Pshenichnaya, Head of GSMA’s AgriTech programme

Meet Siamak Sam Loni – a man on a mission to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the power of young people and their global expertise.

Sam is part of The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (the SDSN) and founder of their Youth programme. 

Sam shares how he and the SDSN are championing and supporting young people’s innovations tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges. Providing insight into how you too could get involved with their Youth Solutions Program.

During this podcast Sam shares his second aim: to transform learning environments globally and make schools the hubs of education and leadership on the SDGs through the SDSN Global Schools Program. 

“If we want to tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time, we need our citizens around the world to have the knowledge, skills and values that are consistent with sustainability.” Explains Sam.

This revealing conversation delves into Sam’s first-hand insight into what great leadership looks like; thanks to the time he has spent with Greta Thunberg, the Pope and Ban Ki-Moon. As well his argument for the organisation of the UN and the importance of business in reaching global sustainability. 

The SDSN Youth Solutions Program: http://youthsolutions.report
The SDSN Global Schools Program: https://www.globalschoolsprogram.org

Business Fights Poverty

Siamak Sam Loni, Program Director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Meet Payal Dalal, Vice President for Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. The Center is the philanthropic hub of Mastercard and is focused on developing new partnership models and activating Mastercard assets.
 
During this podcast Payal shares the latest thinking in groundbreaking partnerships and highlights some of the Center’s key partnerships including with Accion to modernise and digitise financial service providers and CARE USA to support female entrepreneurs in emerging markets; she also flags a new model of partnership: private-private partnerships and cites two examples of private-private partnerships with the garment and FMCG sectors. Links to more information about these partnerships can be found below. She also talks about the role partnerships play in delivering the SDGs.
 
This podcast is also really useful if you are newly exploring the potential of business to deliver social or environmental good. Payal takes us on a succinct journey through the evolution of this agenda. From businesses simply giving away money to local charities forty years ago through to the latest thinking about shared growth and commercially sustainable social impact.
 
And finally hear Payal’s career advice. She is someone who has successfully moved across sectors, from NGO, to political, to multinational business. Two words – “Be flexible.” I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I do.

Payal Dalal, Vice President, Global Programs, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

Activist innovators and intrapreneurs’ inspiration, thought leader and all-round cheerleader is our podcast interviewee this week - Maggie De Pree.

Maggie is the co-founder of The League of Intrapreneurs, co-author of The Social Intrapreneur: A Field Guide for Corporate Changemakers. Intrapreneurs, she says: “are people working for a better world from inside business and other organisations.”

Maggie has spent over a decade harnessing the innovation potential of business to address issues ranging from climate change to healthcare, working with companies such as GSK, BMW and Nike. 

During our conversation, Maggie shares some of the stories of the people behind the innovations emerging from big business.

Hear about:

Miriam Sidibe, who went from a PhD exploring handwashing into the depths of the soap business, working for producer and distruster Unilever;

Miriam Turner, who inspired carpet manufacturer Interface, to utilise the ghost nets that pollute oceans – engaging coastal communities along the way to become part of the solution and value chain and;

Jake Hirsch-Allen who is leveraging LinkedIn’s Learning Solutions to close skills gaps through their workforce development and higher education systems.

This podcast interview is a shout out to all those heroes within businesses and other organisations, courageously turning their ideas into reality and creating societal positive impact by doing so. It is also a thank you to all those leaders creating space and agency for their employees and teams to innovate and be creative. 

And for those just starting out, with the nugget of an idea, Maggie’s sage advice: “Just start [and] don't keep it to yourself.”

For those managers of people, supporters and leaders listening, Maggie explains: “Intrapreneurs need mentors, fairy godmothers and champions – ask yourself, are you creating space for people to be successful?”

Links:
The League of Intrapreneurs: https://www.leagueofintrapreneurs.com
The Social Intrapreneur: A Field Guide for Corporate Changemakers: https://sustainability.com/our-work/reports/the-social-intrapreneur/

Maggie De Pree, Co-Founder, League of Intrapreneurs

Hello, and welcome to the Business Fights Poverty podcast, where we bring you engaging conversations with social impact trailblazers. Dive into a wealth of insights, diverse perspectives, and valuable advice, all designed to enlighten and inspire. Gain first-hand understanding of how businesses and thought leaders are addressing the world's most pressing social challenges, empowering you to make well-informed decisions and take meaningful action. So, sit back and join us as we explore the frontiers of business-driven social impact.

Reimagining Development Through Business with Stefan Engels

Business Fights Poverty

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