NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - Bringing Talent to the BoP Sector - Comments

response

Moses Lee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:19:16 -0500

I think the business skill sets needed for someone looking to support or start a BoP organization/venture would be similar to those skill sets that one needs to run or support a start-up/SME business in the developed world. In other words, I’m talking about skill sets in management, finance, accounting, supply chain management, etc. In addition, soft-skills are also critically important, such as tenacity in the marketplace, perseverance in the face of uncertainty, risk-taking, flexibility, and an optimistic attitude. Many of these skill set can be developed at various work experiences in the States -- and they are definitely transferable to the developing world. Are advanced degrees needed? In some cases, yes. If you want to work in certain specializations (i.e. clean water, health), advanced degrees are helpful. But didn’t Bill Gates not graduate from college?

However, there are other major and necessary skill sets that generally are not and cannot be learned in the developed world. Operating a venture in the context of the BoP is extremely different not only because it is in a different business environment (i.e. legal, financial, political), but also because it is in a different cultural context (i.e. values, perspective, religions). On top of that, a BoP venture’s goal is not only profits, but also poverty alleviation. And since poverty alleviation is not something that we come across very much in the develop world, it is another area of understanding that needs to be gained.

As for now, how does one build it? I think it means if you are working in the private sector, continue to gain those transferable skills and if an opportunity arises to do something cross-cultural, do it! Hopefully, BoP organizations can find scalable ways to give professionals from the developed the experiences and opportunities to gain these “other” skill sets so that we can see more contributors and partners in the BoP movement.

But for those living in the BoP, the skill sets that are lacking are those that many of us are honing every day as we go to work in the private sector. Hopefully we will be able to bring opportunities and training to business minded people living in the BoP context.

Other people have thoughts on this?

meaning...

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:22:58 -0500

can you delve more into the definition of talent? mba? cpa? private sector experience? government experience? ivy league education? what skill sets are needed, and how does one build it?

Bringing Talent to the BoP Sector

Moses Lee — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:46:55 -0500

Last summer, while writing case studies for the William Davidson Institute on base of the pyramid (BoP) related organizations, I had the opportunity to meet and interview a number of practitioners to discuss their approaches towards using market-based solutions to address poverty.

The conversations were highly stimulating and insightful, giving me much to mull over. After taking time to reflect on all that was said, I observed this reoccurring theme: outside of financial resources, one of the greatest needs in the BoP sector, at both the intermediary and venture level, is talent.

A great challenge for BoP intermediaries and the ventures that they support is making themselves a place of choice for professionals from the developed world. From interviews and my own personal experiences, I believe that the greatest barrier to accomplishing this goal is career development. For many professionals who are considering a career in the BoP sector, it is not compensation that deters them, but the lack of training and development.

Currently, there are very few BoP organizations that are heavily investing in training programs for their personnel; this primarily because of limited time and financial resources. As a result, in many cases, once a professional joins a BoP organization, there is limited to no career path. If BoP organizations can find ways to work together to develop professional training and career paths for their personnel, this will significantly help in attracting and retaining professionals to the field and making it a place of choice for the best and the brightest.

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