today I’d like to tell you a little bit about how I came about going from being
about how I came about going from being
about how I came about going from being a brand ambassador to social
a brand ambassador to social
a brand ambassador to social entrepreneur and to focus on our social
entrepreneur and to focus on our social
entrepreneur and to focus on our social venture the nexus center like many of
venture the nexus center like many of
venture the nexus center like many of you 30 years ago I started my education
you 30 years ago I started my education
you 30 years ago I started my education at seven oaks went on to be a studied
at seven oaks went on to be a studied
at seven oaks went on to be a studied master master’s in biochemistry and did
master master’s in biochemistry and did
master master’s in biochemistry and did my MBA and spent about 15 years working
my MBA and spent about 15 years working
my MBA and spent about 15 years working in the fmcg business at blue tech
in the fmcg business at blue tech
in the fmcg business at blue tech companies but I like maybe some of you
companies but I like maybe some of you
companies but I like maybe some of you will also undergo at one point in life
will also undergo at one point in life
will also undergo at one point in life you start to wonder whether this is
you start to wonder whether this is
you start to wonder whether this is really what happened what you will make
really what happened what you will make
really what happened what you will make you happy and whether this is what you
you happy and whether this is what you
you happy and whether this is what you want to keep on doing and typically so
want to keep on doing and typically so
want to keep on doing and typically so becoming a mother actually starts to
becoming a mother actually starts to
becoming a mother actually starts to make you question these things and
make you question these things and
make you question these things and whether you want to climb that corporate
whether you want to climb that corporate
whether you want to climb that corporate ladder it’s not something which happens
ladder it’s not something which happens
ladder it’s not something which happens overnight actually it’s a process a
overnight actually it’s a process a
overnight actually it’s a process a clarity really set in about six years
clarity really set in about six years
clarity really set in about six years ago when I was allowed to look through
ago when I was allowed to look through
ago when I was allowed to look through the eyes of teenagers in Rotterdam
the eyes of teenagers in Rotterdam
the eyes of teenagers in Rotterdam through that how were less privileged
through that how were less privileged
through that how were less privileged than newer so I worked at a project
than newer so I worked at a project
than newer so I worked at a project called the Rotterdam European Youth
called the Rotterdam European Youth
called the Rotterdam European Youth capital where we developed programs for
capital where we developed programs for
capital where we developed programs for teenagers less fortunate and their
teenagers less fortunate and their
teenagers less fortunate and their dreams wishes and ambitions really
dreams wishes and ambitions really
dreams wishes and ambitions really impress me because they were filled with
impress me because they were filled with
impress me because they were filled with creativity to help others filled with
creativity to help others filled with
creativity to help others filled with creativity to question the status quo
creativity to question the status quo
creativity to question the status quo and also filled with carrot averti to
and also filled with carrot averti to
and also filled with carrot averti to help sustain our planet at that point I
help sustain our planet at that point I
help sustain our planet at that point I knew that it was time to do something
knew that it was time to do something
knew that it was time to do something different and taking my experience as a
different and taking my experience as a
different and taking my experience as a marketeer together with my partner who
marketeer together with my partner who
marketeer together with my partner who has a lot of experience in sustainable
has a lot of experience in sustainable
has a lot of experience in sustainable technologies in offshore and shipping we
technologies in offshore and shipping we
technologies in offshore and shipping we decided to venture off onto a new
decided to venture off onto a new
decided to venture off onto a new business called water tech trading now
business called water tech trading now
business called water tech trading now to come back to the thought of how many
to come back to the thought of how many
to come back to the thought of how many people actually have access to basic
people actually have access to basic
people actually have access to basic services I wonder if you know what
services I wonder if you know what
services I wonder if you know what actually he just told you but
about half and half of humanity does not
about half and half of humanity does not have access to basic services and this
have access to basic services and this
have access to basic services and this is a hell of a lot of people because
is a hell of a lot of people because
is a hell of a lot of people because actually it’s not that difficult to do
actually it’s not that difficult to do
actually it’s not that difficult to do to solve this problem but besides
to solve this problem but besides
to solve this problem but besides geographical and political reasons there
geographical and political reasons there
geographical and political reasons there are really four main reasons why this is
are really four main reasons why this is
are really four main reasons why this is this doesn’t happen the first being that
this doesn’t happen the first being that
this doesn’t happen the first being that governments in developing countries have
governments in developing countries have
governments in developing countries have no incentives to actually invest in
no incentives to actually invest in
no incentives to actually invest in off-grid areas or infrastructure in
off-grid areas or infrastructure in
off-grid areas or infrastructure in off-grid areas they have no taxation
off-grid areas they have no taxation
off-grid areas they have no taxation systems in place on public goods so
systems in place on public goods so
systems in place on public goods so there’s actually no money to actually
there’s actually no money to actually
there’s actually no money to actually renovate or innovate the the current
renovate or innovate the the current
renovate or innovate the the current systems or even let alone make sure that
systems or even let alone make sure that
systems or even let alone make sure that there are systems in in off good areas
there are systems in in off good areas
there are systems in in off good areas NGOs a lot of NGOs out there that do a
NGOs a lot of NGOs out there that do a
NGOs a lot of NGOs out there that do a really good job however for them to come
really good job however for them to come
really good job however for them to come up with sustainable solutions they need
up with sustainable solutions they need
up with sustainable solutions they need to start thinking commercially which is
to start thinking commercially which is
to start thinking commercially which is not really in their DNA some of them are
not really in their DNA some of them are
not really in their DNA some of them are starting but it will take a while before
starting but it will take a while before
starting but it will take a while before this happens a lot of big corporations
this happens a lot of big corporations
this happens a lot of big corporations are finding it really difficult to
are finding it really difficult to
are finding it really difficult to invest in bottom of the pyramid markets
invest in bottom of the pyramid markets
invest in bottom of the pyramid markets because basically the margins and that
because basically the margins and that
because basically the margins and that the markets are much more complex there
the markets are much more complex there
the markets are much more complex there are some that have cracked the code and
are some that have cracked the code and
are some that have cracked the code and they they’ll start to actually provide
they they’ll start to actually provide
they they’ll start to actually provide services but this will take a while
services but this will take a while
services but this will take a while before it really rolled out properly and
before it really rolled out properly and
before it really rolled out properly and last but not least financial
last but not least financial
last but not least financial institutions are risk averse by
institutions are risk averse by
institutions are risk averse by definition and setting up projects in
definition and setting up projects in
definition and setting up projects in developing countries are risky by
developing countries are risky by
developing countries are risky by definition so trying to find financing
definition so trying to find financing
definition so trying to find financing for projects in developing countries is
for projects in developing countries is
for projects in developing countries is quite a difficult thing to do so when
quite a difficult thing to do so when
quite a difficult thing to do so when you hear some of these reasons you
you hear some of these reasons you
you hear some of these reasons you wonder why I would even venture on
wonder why I would even venture on
wonder why I would even venture on trying to fix these solutions because
trying to fix these solutions because
trying to fix these solutions because trust me there are many times when we’ve
trust me there are many times when we’ve
trust me there are many times when we’ve looked at each other and said why are we
looked at each other and said why are we
looked at each other and said why are we doing this well it’s actually quite
doing this well it’s actually quite
doing this well it’s actually quite simple the reason why we’re doing this
simple the reason why we’re doing this
simple the reason why we’re doing this is because of Krishna Krishna is the
is because of Krishna Krishna is the
is because of Krishna Krishna is the girl in green she’s 20 years old she
girl in green she’s 20 years old she
girl in green she’s 20 years old she lives in Maddy chitwan close to the
lives in Maddy chitwan close to the
lives in Maddy chitwan close to the Indian border has no available drinking
Indian border has no available drinking
Indian border has no available drinking water off or safe drinking water very
water off or safe drinking water very
water off or safe drinking water very little electricity available
little electricity available
little electricity available and she needs to boil her water on a
and she needs to boil her water on a
and she needs to boil her water on a daily basis to actually be able to have
daily basis to actually be able to have
daily basis to actually be able to have some safe drinking water Krishna knows
some safe drinking water Krishna knows
some safe drinking water Krishna knows at least 10 people that have suffered
at least 10 people that have suffered
at least 10 people that have suffered from lead poisoning or arsenic poisoning
from lead poisoning or arsenic poisoning
from lead poisoning or arsenic poisoning in the water and contaminated water is
in the water and contaminated water is
in the water and contaminated water is something which happens on a daily basis
something which happens on a daily basis
something which happens on a daily basis so Krishna has dreams just like you do
so Krishna has dreams just like you do
so Krishna has dreams just like you do so in order to help Krishna we set up my
so in order to help Krishna we set up my
so in order to help Krishna we set up my business part my Swiss business partner
business part my Swiss business partner
business part my Swiss business partner we connects and i set up nexus center
we connects and i set up nexus center
we connects and i set up nexus center which is a sustainable community hub
which is a sustainable community hub
which is a sustainable community hub that provides safe water and energy and
that provides safe water and energy and
that provides safe water and energy and rental space for entrepreneurs to set up
rental space for entrepreneurs to set up
rental space for entrepreneurs to set up shop whatever they would like whether
shop whatever they would like whether
shop whatever they would like whether it’s a remittance offers an internet
it’s a remittance offers an internet
it’s a remittance offers an internet cafe a mom-and-pop store or even a place
cafe a mom-and-pop store or even a place
cafe a mom-and-pop store or even a place to actually print your documents as long
to actually print your documents as long
to actually print your documents as long as it provides economic independence
as it provides economic independence
as it provides economic independence currently we have seven of these running
currently we have seven of these running
currently we have seven of these running in nepal and we started in September so
in nepal and we started in September so
in nepal and we started in September so it’s all very very fresh and quite
it’s all very very fresh and quite
it’s all very very fresh and quite exciting to see whether we’ll be able to
exciting to see whether we’ll be able to
exciting to see whether we’ll be able to prove that our concept actually works if
prove that our concept actually works if
prove that our concept actually works if you look at the numbers we provide fresh
you look at the numbers we provide fresh
you look at the numbers we provide fresh drinking water for about 800 families at
drinking water for about 800 families at
drinking water for about 800 families at an affordable price the normal pricing
an affordable price the normal pricing
an affordable price the normal pricing of bottled water in Nepal is about 12
of bottled water in Nepal is about 12
of bottled water in Nepal is about 12 times more expensive and we create 12
times more expensive and we create 12
times more expensive and we create 12 jobs per center so this includes the
jobs per center so this includes the
jobs per center so this includes the operators the maintenance and actually
operators the maintenance and actually
operators the maintenance and actually the distribution of the water plus the
the distribution of the water plus the
the distribution of the water plus the entrepreneurs so how does this affect
entrepreneurs so how does this affect
entrepreneurs so how does this affect Krishna well actually Krishna is
Krishna well actually Krishna is
Krishna well actually Krishna is actually one of our operators and she
actually one of our operators and she
actually one of our operators and she now has a job and has access to safe
now has a job and has access to safe
now has a job and has access to safe drinking water so from a sustainable
drinking water so from a sustainable
drinking water so from a sustainable social social and economical point of
social social and economical point of
social social and economical point of view Krishna is doing really well and we
view Krishna is doing really well and we
view Krishna is doing really well and we really would like to help more people
really would like to help more people
really would like to help more people like Krishna so our dream is to go from
like Krishna so our dream is to go from
like Krishna so our dream is to go from seven centers to 100 centers in the next
seven centers to 100 centers in the next
seven centers to 100 centers in the next year which is quite ambitions but you
year which is quite ambitions but you
year which is quite ambitions but you need to have high ambitions to get
need to have high ambitions to get
need to have high ambitions to get anywhere so I’d like to introduce you to
anywhere so I’d like to introduce you to
anywhere so I’d like to introduce you to merritt merritt has been in
merritt merritt has been in
merritt merritt has been in Nepal for the last six months helping us
Nepal for the last six months helping us
Nepal for the last six months helping us set up these centers and she will now
set up these centers and she will now
set up these centers and she will now tell you from our own experience what it
tell you from our own experience what it
tell you from our own experience what it was like namaste sevenoaks cool I guess
was like namaste sevenoaks cool I guess
was like namaste sevenoaks cool I guess by now you all have a good idea about
by now you all have a good idea about
by now you all have a good idea about what the nexus Center is by the
what the nexus Center is by the
what the nexus Center is by the explanation of Katina I would like to
explanation of Katina I would like to
explanation of Katina I would like to tell you a little bit more about my
tell you a little bit more about my
tell you a little bit more about my experience working in country like Nepal
experience working in country like Nepal
experience working in country like Nepal if I had to describe it in one word I
if I had to describe it in one word I
if I had to describe it in one word I would definitely say challenging
would definitely say challenging
would definitely say challenging challenging because it’s such a
challenging because it’s such a
challenging because it’s such a different world and things like thinking
different world and things like thinking
different world and things like thinking efficient thinking in a long term is
efficient thinking in a long term is
efficient thinking in a long term is something that people are not familiar
something that people are not familiar
something that people are not familiar with in Nepal it means that whenever you
with in Nepal it means that whenever you
with in Nepal it means that whenever you want to show them your possibilities the
want to show them your possibilities the
want to show them your possibilities the things that you see that you really need
things that you see that you really need
things that you see that you really need to take time and you really need to show
to take time and you really need to show
to take time and you really need to show them look if you do this then maybe in
them look if you do this then maybe in
them look if you do this then maybe in six months or maybe in three months it
six months or maybe in three months it
six months or maybe in three months it can grow into this and it can grow into
can grow into this and it can grow into
can grow into this and it can grow into this it takes patience and an other
this it takes patience and an other
this it takes patience and an other challenge is the culture difference and
challenge is the culture difference and
challenge is the culture difference and of course a language barrier and in the
of course a language barrier and in the
of course a language barrier and in the culture and if all people will never
culture and if all people will never
culture and if all people will never give you no for an answer it means that
give you no for an answer it means that
give you no for an answer it means that whenever you’re asking a question they
whenever you’re asking a question they
whenever you’re asking a question they will always say yes but most of the time
will always say yes but most of the time
will always say yes but most of the time at the end they do something else and
at the end they do something else and
at the end they do something else and they will also never give you straight
they will also never give you straight
they will also never give you straight feedback but always say something to
feedback but always say something to
feedback but always say something to protect your face or either their face
protect your face or either their face
protect your face or either their face so if you really want to get the
so if you really want to get the
so if you really want to get the information you need for example when
information you need for example when
information you need for example when you’re trading people you want to have
you’re trading people you want to have
you’re trading people you want to have read feedback it’s really hard and on
read feedback it’s really hard and on
read feedback it’s really hard and on the other side but I really like about
the other side but I really like about
the other side but I really like about Nepal is that people enjoy our life make
Nepal is that people enjoy our life make
Nepal is that people enjoy our life make the best of what they have as spend a
the best of what they have as spend a
the best of what they have as spend a lot of time with their friends and
lot of time with their friends and
lot of time with their friends and family and I guess they better
family and I guess they better
family and I guess they better understood what is really important in
understood what is really important in
understood what is really important in life I’m glad that I had this experience
life I’m glad that I had this experience
life I’m glad that I had this experience with the nexus center because I strongly
with the nexus center because I strongly
with the nexus center because I strongly believe that this can be the answer for
believe that this can be the answer for
believe that this can be the answer for a lot of problems in developing
a lot of problems in developing
a lot of problems in developing countries that it can be an answer to
countries that it can be an answer to
countries that it can be an answer to all the NGOs who spend a lot of money
all the NGOs who spend a lot of money
all the NGOs who spend a lot of money but without being sustainable and I
but without being sustainable and I
but without being sustainable and I really hope that the next sensor can
really hope that the next sensor can
really hope that the next sensor can grow into more and more more that we can
grow into more and more more that we can
grow into more and more more that we can buy that make a real difference
buy that make a real difference
buy that make a real difference difference it has been a great adventure
difference it has been a great adventure
difference it has been a great adventure for me and I wish you all same
for me and I wish you all same
for me and I wish you all same adventures like this
well thank you mad at two words
well thank you mad at two words challenging and rewarding and that’s
challenging and rewarding and that’s
challenging and rewarding and that’s really what it’s all about now if
really what it’s all about now if
really what it’s all about now if there’s three things that I would really
there’s three things that I would really
there’s three things that I would really like you to remember from this
like you to remember from this
like you to remember from this presentation is what it really takes to
presentation is what it really takes to
presentation is what it really takes to be a social entrepreneur I guess I’d
be a social entrepreneur I guess I’d
be a social entrepreneur I guess I’d like to challenge you to never be afraid
like to challenge you to never be afraid
like to challenge you to never be afraid of thinking big you have to think big
of thinking big you have to think big
of thinking big you have to think big you have to believe in your dreams I
you have to believe in your dreams I
you have to believe in your dreams I think someone else said that to today or
think someone else said that to today or
think someone else said that to today or more people have said it today because
more people have said it today because
more people have said it today because you will meet more people along your
you will meet more people along your
you will meet more people along your path that will tell you it can’t be done
path that will tell you it can’t be done
path that will tell you it can’t be done it’s a silly an idea why are you doing
it’s a silly an idea why are you doing
it’s a silly an idea why are you doing this than people that say hey I
this than people that say hey I
this than people that say hey I understand you I’ll help you I’ll take
understand you I’ll help you I’ll take
understand you I’ll help you I’ll take you we’ll take that path together you
you we’ll take that path together you
you we’ll take that path together you need to have a sense of humor because
need to have a sense of humor because
need to have a sense of humor because trust me things never go as you think
trust me things never go as you think
trust me things never go as you think they’ll go to give you an example we’d
they’ll go to give you an example we’d
they’ll go to give you an example we’d created a label for our jars and our
created a label for our jars and our
created a label for our jars and our bottles and sent it to the printer and
bottles and sent it to the printer and
bottles and sent it to the printer and lo and behold we got 5,000 labels which
lo and behold we got 5,000 labels which
lo and behold we got 5,000 labels which were totally different design than what
were totally different design than what
were totally different design than what we’d actually given him because what
we’d actually given him because what
we’d actually given him because what happened was he couldn’t actually do the
happened was he couldn’t actually do the
happened was he couldn’t actually do the color coding so instead of telling us he
color coding so instead of telling us he
color coding so instead of telling us he went back to the drawing board and made
went back to the drawing board and made
went back to the drawing board and made his own label and printed 5000 for us so
his own label and printed 5000 for us so
his own label and printed 5000 for us so now you can get really angry because
now you can get really angry because
now you can get really angry because you’ve got 5,000 labels that you can do
you’ve got 5,000 labels that you can do
you’ve got 5,000 labels that you can do nothing with or you can go back to the
nothing with or you can go back to the
nothing with or you can go back to the drawing board and try and figure a way
drawing board and try and figure a way
drawing board and try and figure a way that you could kind of circumvent these
that you could kind of circumvent these
that you could kind of circumvent these things last but not least and you’ve
things last but not least and you’ve
things last but not least and you’ve seen the hashtag that in the
seen the hashtag that in the
seen the hashtag that in the presentation I think you need to be a
presentation I think you need to be a
presentation I think you need to be a poet and a farmer so you need to be
poet and a farmer so you need to be
poet and a farmer so you need to be creative and you need to dream but you
creative and you need to dream but you
creative and you need to dream but you have to do things yourself and you have
have to do things yourself and you have
have to do things yourself and you have to keep at it because there will be no
to keep at it because there will be no
to keep at it because there will be no support team there’ll be no assistance
support team there’ll be no assistance
support team there’ll be no assistance there’ll be no departments to help you
there’ll be no departments to help you
there’ll be no departments to help you there will be just a group of small
there will be just a group of small
there will be just a group of small people that are dedicated to try and do
people that are dedicated to try and do
people that are dedicated to try and do your do the concept or do the dream and
your do the concept or do the dream and
your do the concept or do the dream and actually get the job done so keep at it
actually get the job done so keep at it
actually get the job done so keep at it so one more thing i guess my final
so one more thing i guess my final
so one more thing i guess my final question is what can you contribute what
question is what can you contribute what
question is what can you contribute what would you what would you like to
would you what would you like to
would you what would you like to contribute and what is your impact I
contribute and what is your impact I
contribute and what is your impact I you actually crazy enough Steve Jobs
you actually crazy enough Steve Jobs
you actually crazy enough Steve Jobs said it’s actually the crazy ones that
said it’s actually the crazy ones that
said it’s actually the crazy ones that it’s actually the crazy ones that think
it’s actually the crazy ones that think
it’s actually the crazy ones that think they can change the world that actually
they can change the world that actually
they can change the world that actually do change the world so if you are one of
do change the world so if you are one of
do change the world so if you are one of those crazy ones and you would like to
those crazy ones and you would like to
those crazy ones and you would like to change the world or have some somebody
change the world or have some somebody
change the world or have some somebody say I understand I’ll listen to you then
say I understand I’ll listen to you then
say I understand I’ll listen to you then please feel free to contact me I think
please feel free to contact me I think
please feel free to contact me I think the PowerPoint has gone a little bit
the PowerPoint has gone a little bit
the PowerPoint has gone a little bit weird because it didn’t look like this
weird because it didn’t look like this
weird because it didn’t look like this this morning but if you just put the
this morning but if you just put the
this morning but if you just put the last letters at the end you’ll have the
last letters at the end you’ll have the
last letters at the end you’ll have the right contact details so thank you very
right contact details so thank you very
right contact details so thank you very much and I wish you a lot of luck on
much and I wish you a lot of luck on
much and I wish you a lot of luck on your journeys
your journeys
your journeys [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment