Outcome-led, delivery-focused.
We design and deliver system-change interventions with clear outcomes, defined accountability, and measurable results.
Selected examples below:
Pathways to prosperity for African businesses
Applied research and innovation activities to assess critical success factors and design pathways that enable African startups to successfully scale and catalyse socio-economic development: www.africanscalecraft.com
Rethinking innovation as public reform infrastructure
Co-authored with i4Policy, we diagnosed the systemic absorption failures behind Africa’s challenge programmes and introduced a readiness-led design framework to embed innovation into procurement, budgets, and state capability over time.
Cross-functional collaboration
Worked with MTN executives via a co-creation approach to break down silos, then generated sustainability concepts to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Diagnosing scale in Ethiopia’s startup ecosystem
Co-developed with a globally leading Professor, we devised a diagnostic framework integrating firm-level and ecosystem data to create four systemic growth metrics that allow policymakers to assess whether reforms are translating into firm-level scale.
Driving focus and attention towards innovation
Helped develop the strategy necessary for Nesta to position its innovation agenda as high-priority to key political and industry stakeholders, allowing them to positively influence the UK’s public policy agenda.
Advancing the UK as the prime HQ location for tech-based innovation
Helped to design, and win, a competitive bid to co-locate a significant tech investment in London, rather than other capital hubs.
Advancing corporate responsibility before the mainstream
Establishing - then repeating several times - a Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) course at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Insights to inform policy at the highest levels of government
Commissioned to write an advisory report to the Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister and activate business stakeholder engagement which subsequently shaped education policy.
Strategic foresight in advance of the most disruptive system change in a generation
Providing advice related on the political dynamics and potential systems impacts to IKEA in advance of the 2015 Brexit referendum to help support future public positioning and mitigate internal shocks.
Systems interventions for township entrepreneurs
Commissioned to support the South African innovation ecosystem for the U.K government. Our work targeted township entrepreneurs to effect positive social welfare improvements for those most disadvantaged.
Architect for an East African data (for impact) collaborative model
Diagnostics and design pathways for a data observatory model focused on impact growth ventures operating Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda for the FCDO sponsored Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA Fund).
Cutting-edge approaches to skills development and the future of work to address youth unemployment
Supported an innovative, comprehensive and scalable 21st century solution to South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis.