good afternoon today I want to share a story a story about the transformative
story a story about the transformative
story a story about the transformative effect that business can have in
effect that business can have in
effect that business can have in addressing some of society’s greatest
addressing some of society’s greatest
addressing some of society’s greatest challenges and as I share this today I’d
challenges and as I share this today I’d
challenges and as I share this today I’d like to encourage you all to think about
like to encourage you all to think about
like to encourage you all to think about ways your businesses your organizations
ways your businesses your organizations
ways your businesses your organizations can harness your core assets
can harness your core assets
can harness your core assets perhaps in unorthodox ways to make a
perhaps in unorthodox ways to make a
perhaps in unorthodox ways to make a meaningful difference against some of
meaningful difference against some of
meaningful difference against some of the challenges that our society faces
the challenges that our society faces
the challenges that our society faces both near and far this story begins
both near and far this story begins
both near and far this story begins almost 10 years ago in fact exactly 10
almost 10 years ago in fact exactly 10
almost 10 years ago in fact exactly 10 years ago this week in Davos Switzerland
years ago this week in Davos Switzerland
years ago this week in Davos Switzerland at the World Economic Forum this is an
at the World Economic Forum this is an
at the World Economic Forum this is an annual gathering of business and
annual gathering of business and
annual gathering of business and political leaders and that year Ken
political leaders and that year Ken
political leaders and that year Ken Powell was the newly named chairman and
Powell was the newly named chairman and
Powell was the newly named chairman and CEO of General Mills he was three weeks
CEO of General Mills he was three weeks
CEO of General Mills he was three weeks on the job and was at his first World
on the job and was at his first World
on the job and was at his first World Economic Forum and I guess as happens
Economic Forum and I guess as happens
Economic Forum and I guess as happens there he was challenged by Kofi Annan
there he was challenged by Kofi Annan
there he was challenged by Kofi Annan who was the at the time recently retired
who was the at the time recently retired
who was the at the time recently retired UN secretary-general and Kofi challenged
UN secretary-general and Kofi challenged
UN secretary-general and Kofi challenged can with the idea of what could General
can with the idea of what could General
can with the idea of what could General Mills do as a six largest food company
Mills do as a six largest food company
Mills do as a six largest food company to address issues of food security and
to address issues of food security and
to address issues of food security and nutrition in Africa Ken was wired to get
nutrition in Africa Ken was wired to get
nutrition in Africa Ken was wired to get this question and he was wired to want
this question and he was wired to want
this question and he was wired to want to answer it and so he came back and he
to answer it and so he came back and he
to answer it and so he came back and he put a team together and began wrestling
put a team together and began wrestling
put a team together and began wrestling with that question
with that question
with that question how could General Mills not only use
how could General Mills not only use
how could General Mills not only use their money but perhaps even more
their money but perhaps even more
their money but perhaps even more importantly use their expertise to make
importantly use their expertise to make
importantly use their expertise to make a difference on this important issue at
a difference on this important issue at
a difference on this important issue at that time I was living in Lusaka Zambia
that time I was living in Lusaka Zambia
that time I was living in Lusaka Zambia with my family and had at that point my
with my family and had at that point my
with my family and had at that point my career spent about half of it in
career spent about half of it in
career spent about half of it in business with organizations like Cargill
business with organizations like Cargill
business with organizations like Cargill and in relief and development and I’d
and in relief and development and I’d
and in relief and development and I’d come to the firm conclusion after living
come to the firm conclusion after living
come to the firm conclusion after living on the continent that what was most
on the continent that what was most
on the continent that what was most needed was business investment and
needed was business investment and
needed was business investment and economic development so at that point I
economic development so at that point I
economic development so at that point I was approached by a member of Ken’s team
was approached by a member of Ken’s team
was approached by a member of Ken’s team and asked to consider helping them
and asked to consider helping them
and asked to consider helping them direct this nascent effort this was in
direct this nascent effort this was in
direct this nascent effort this was in 2008 and as some of you might recall
2008 and as some of you might recall
2008 and as some of you might recall that year there was a global
that year there was a global
that year there was a global food crisis there were food shortages
food crisis there were food shortages
food crisis there were food shortages around the world in many different
around the world in many different
around the world in many different regions and a shock to the system and
regions and a shock to the system and
regions and a shock to the system and one of the outcomes of that was it woke
one of the outcomes of that was it woke
one of the outcomes of that was it woke up a lot of governments including our
up a lot of governments including our
up a lot of governments including our own to the fact that we had really
own to the fact that we had really
own to the fact that we had really stopped investing in food systems for
stopped investing in food systems for
stopped investing in food systems for the previous 30 years and we were
the previous 30 years and we were
the previous 30 years and we were instead paying for relief on the back
instead paying for relief on the back
instead paying for relief on the back end during famines and so at the g8 that
end during famines and so at the g8 that
end during famines and so at the g8 that year in Italy our government along with
year in Italy our government along with
year in Italy our government along with the seven other members of the g8 all
the seven other members of the g8 all
the seven other members of the g8 all committed to re-up being and investing
committed to re-up being and investing
committed to re-up being and investing in AG food systems so this was the
in AG food systems so this was the
in AG food systems so this was the backdrop that we started investigating
backdrop that we started investigating
backdrop that we started investigating this challenge we started if you think
this challenge we started if you think
this challenge we started if you think of a food value chain it’s it’s the the
of a food value chain it’s it’s the the
of a food value chain it’s it’s the the path our food moves most often from the
path our food moves most often from the
path our food moves most often from the farmer through storage to processing and
farmer through storage to processing and
farmer through storage to processing and milling to distribution and then
milling to distribution and then
milling to distribution and then ultimately into our mouths so if you
ultimately into our mouths so if you
ultimately into our mouths so if you think about that food value chain we
think about that food value chain we
think about that food value chain we started in Africa with the farmer with
started in Africa with the farmer with
started in Africa with the farmer with farmers like Dorothy this is a woman
farmers like Dorothy this is a woman
farmers like Dorothy this is a woman outside of the Longway Malawi and like
outside of the Longway Malawi and like
outside of the Longway Malawi and like many of you know most food in Africa is
many of you know most food in Africa is
many of you know most food in Africa is still grown by women like Dorothy on an
still grown by women like Dorothy on an
still grown by women like Dorothy on an acre or two and as we got to know
acre or two and as we got to know
acre or two and as we got to know Dorothy and others like her we quickly
Dorothy and others like her we quickly
Dorothy and others like her we quickly realized that we were not the the entity
realized that we were not the the entity
realized that we were not the the entity or the organization or the company to
or the organization or the company to
or the organization or the company to help farmers like that one there were a
help farmers like that one there were a
help farmers like that one there were a lot of organizations already doing that
lot of organizations already doing that
lot of organizations already doing that well and to our expertise didn’t line up
well and to our expertise didn’t line up
well and to our expertise didn’t line up well with a smallholder farmer but the
well with a smallholder farmer but the
well with a smallholder farmer but the good news is that a lot of that
good news is that a lot of that
good news is that a lot of that investment that I mentioned that started
investment that I mentioned that started
investment that I mentioned that started happening in 2008 started flowing to
happening in 2008 started flowing to
happening in 2008 started flowing to help farmers like Dorothy grow more
help farmers like Dorothy grow more
help farmers like Dorothy grow more crops on their acre or two we began to
crops on their acre or two we began to
crops on their acre or two we began to follow
follow
follow Dorothy’s crops down the value chain and
Dorothy’s crops down the value chain and
Dorothy’s crops down the value chain and began encountering individuals like
began encountering individuals like
began encountering individuals like Robert this is Robert near Enda who is
Robert this is Robert near Enda who is
Robert this is Robert near Enda who is an entrepreneur outside of Arusha
an entrepreneur outside of Arusha
an entrepreneur outside of Arusha Tanzania and he had a small food company
Tanzania and he had a small food company
Tanzania and he had a small food company that bought crops from farmers like
that bought crops from farmers like
that bought crops from farmers like Dorothy to turn those into value-added
Dorothy to turn those into value-added
Dorothy to turn those into value-added goods for his community this was the
goods for his community this was the
goods for his community this was the first big insight we had and the aha
first big insight we had and the aha
first big insight we had and the aha moment was if we can find companies like
moment was if we can find companies like
moment was if we can find companies like this we can help build their business
this we can help build their business
this we can help build their business and accomplish a couple things one we
and accomplish a couple things one we
and accomplish a couple things one we can create demand for the crops that are
can create demand for the crops that are
can create demand for the crops that are now starting to become a little bit more
now starting to become a little bit more
now starting to become a little bit more abundant
abundant
abundant and on the other end of the spectrum
and on the other end of the spectrum
and on the other end of the spectrum I’ll talk about that in a minute we
I’ll talk about that in a minute we
I’ll talk about that in a minute we could help consumers this was on Roberts
could help consumers this was on Roberts
could help consumers this was on Roberts sixtieth birthday and he announced that
sixtieth birthday and he announced that
sixtieth birthday and he announced that day to us that his goal was to double
day to us that his goal was to double
day to us that his goal was to double his business in the next five years and
his business in the next five years and
his business in the next five years and I’m glad to be able to say that he went
I’m glad to be able to say that he went
I’m glad to be able to say that he went on to do that and more but when we
on to do that and more but when we
on to do that and more but when we started finding companies like Roberts
started finding companies like Roberts
started finding companies like Roberts we thought we can help companies like
we thought we can help companies like
we thought we can help companies like this even though they’re eight thousand
this even though they’re eight thousand
this even though they’re eight thousand miles away the challenges and problems
miles away the challenges and problems
miles away the challenges and problems they’re facing are very very much like
they’re facing are very very much like
they’re facing are very very much like the ones that Joyner Mills is facing the
the ones that Joyner Mills is facing the
the ones that Joyner Mills is facing the other thing that happened out of this is
other thing that happened out of this is
other thing that happened out of this is we kept following Roberts his his
we kept following Roberts his his
we kept following Roberts his his products we started encountering the
products we started encountering the
products we started encountering the other end of the spectrum from the
other end of the spectrum from the
other end of the spectrum from the farmer kids like Johnson Johnson is a
farmer kids like Johnson Johnson is a
farmer kids like Johnson Johnson is a young man outside of Nairobi Kenya this
young man outside of Nairobi Kenya this
young man outside of Nairobi Kenya this was at a school in each day his school
was at a school in each day his school
was at a school in each day his school had a school lunch that was provided by
had a school lunch that was provided by
had a school lunch that was provided by the World Food Program and we realized
the World Food Program and we realized
the World Food Program and we realized that by helping food companies like
that by helping food companies like
that by helping food companies like Roberts not only were we helping the
Roberts not only were we helping the
Roberts not only were we helping the farmer we were able to improve
farmer we were able to improve
farmer we were able to improve nutritional outcomes for kids like
nutritional outcomes for kids like
nutritional outcomes for kids like Johnson to improve products that he was
Johnson to improve products that he was
Johnson to improve products that he was eating to make them more nutritious to
eating to make them more nutritious to
eating to make them more nutritious to extend the shelf life to make them more
extend the shelf life to make them more
extend the shelf life to make them more accessible and so by helping that
accessible and so by helping that
accessible and so by helping that processor in the middle we could help
processor in the middle we could help
processor in the middle we could help the farmer and we could help the
the farmer and we could help the
the farmer and we could help the consumer and if you’re an optimist and
consumer and if you’re an optimist and
consumer and if you’re an optimist and believe that Johnson will join the
believe that Johnson will join the
believe that Johnson will join the growing middle class in Africa when he
growing middle class in Africa when he
growing middle class in Africa when he goes to shop at the local supermarket
goes to shop at the local supermarket
goes to shop at the local supermarket Nairobi increasingly there will be
Nairobi increasingly there will be
Nairobi increasingly there will be products that were grown produced and
products that were grown produced and
products that were grown produced and processed in his country when we lived
processed in his country when we lived
processed in his country when we lived in Zambia we would buy peanut butter
in Zambia we would buy peanut butter
in Zambia we would buy peanut butter they came across too inefficient borders
they came across too inefficient borders
they came across too inefficient borders from South Africa a mile from where we
from South Africa a mile from where we
from South Africa a mile from where we shop Zambians grew peanuts it makes a
shop Zambians grew peanuts it makes a
shop Zambians grew peanuts it makes a whole lot more sense to buy peanut
whole lot more sense to buy peanut
whole lot more sense to buy peanut butter that is made and grown in a
butter that is made and grown in a
butter that is made and grown in a country where you’re living so as we got
country where you’re living so as we got
country where you’re living so as we got going we realized that to do this at any
going we realized that to do this at any
going we realized that to do this at any level of scale that would actually make
level of scale that would actually make
level of scale that would actually make a difference we would need local staff
a difference we would need local staff
a difference we would need local staff so we began hiring local food
so we began hiring local food
so we began hiring local food technologists the woman on the left was
technologists the woman on the left was
technologists the woman on the left was our very first staff person on the
our very first staff person on the
our very first staff person on the continent Naima Maremma
continent Naima Maremma
continent Naima Maremma she’s a Tanzanian food technologist very
she’s a Tanzanian food technologist very
she’s a Tanzanian food technologist very talented we gave her additional training
talented we gave her additional training
talented we gave her additional training and her job was to find companies like
and her job was to find companies like
and her job was to find companies like Roberts understand what their challenges
Roberts understand what their challenges
Roberts understand what their challenges and opportunities were and then scoped
and opportunities were and then scoped
and opportunities were and then scoped those into projects that we could go
those into projects that we could go
those into projects that we could go to work on and that’s exactly what began
to work on and that’s exactly what began
to work on and that’s exactly what began to happen the bottom picture on the
to happen the bottom picture on the
to happen the bottom picture on the right is is Christian des Eaux our
right is is Christian des Eaux our
right is is Christian des Eaux our latest hire he’s in Accra Ghana this
latest hire he’s in Accra Ghana this
latest hire he’s in Accra Ghana this happened to be on his first day of work
happened to be on his first day of work
happened to be on his first day of work and I love this picture because one you
and I love this picture because one you
and I love this picture because one you see his his passion and enthusiasm
see his his passion and enthusiasm
see his his passion and enthusiasm coming out and his smile he also is a
coming out and his smile he also is a
coming out and his smile he also is a trained food technologist a food
trained food technologist a food
trained food technologist a food scientist and the woman next to him was
scientist and the woman next to him was
scientist and the woman next to him was a potential client we were introducing
a potential client we were introducing
a potential client we were introducing him to and she is in the midst of
him to and she is in the midst of
him to and she is in the midst of scaling up her food company in fact
scaling up her food company in fact
scaling up her food company in fact we’re standing in a new facility that
we’re standing in a new facility that
we’re standing in a new facility that was going to be ten times bigger than
was going to be ten times bigger than
was going to be ten times bigger than her past facility so she was in over her
her past facility so she was in over her
her past facility so she was in over her head a little bit and we had just got
head a little bit and we had just got
head a little bit and we had just got done explaining the role that Christian
done explaining the role that Christian
done explaining the role that Christian would put play and being a bridge to the
would put play and being a bridge to the
would put play and being a bridge to the expertise and know-how of a company like
expertise and know-how of a company like
expertise and know-how of a company like General Mills and you can see on her
General Mills and you can see on her
General Mills and you can see on her face
face
face the almost relief and sense of okay I’m
the almost relief and sense of okay I’m
the almost relief and sense of okay I’m not on my own on this the last piece of
not on my own on this the last piece of
not on my own on this the last piece of the puzzle and really our unique
the puzzle and really our unique
the puzzle and really our unique contribution is the expertise of people
contribution is the expertise of people
contribution is the expertise of people like Dave and Angela Dave and Angela to
like Dave and Angela Dave and Angela to
like Dave and Angela Dave and Angela to General Mills employees Dave is an
General Mills employees Dave is an
General Mills employees Dave is an engineer and angela is a product
engineer and angela is a product
engineer and angela is a product developer and between the two of them
developer and between the two of them
developer and between the two of them just the two of them they have almost 40
just the two of them they have almost 40
just the two of them they have almost 40 years of know-how and expertise imagine
years of know-how and expertise imagine
years of know-how and expertise imagine what they know what that means to a
what they know what that means to a
what they know what that means to a nascent entrepreneur a food entrepreneur
nascent entrepreneur a food entrepreneur
nascent entrepreneur a food entrepreneur in Africa and that’s just two of the
in Africa and that’s just two of the
in Africa and that’s just two of the tens of thousands of employees that we
tens of thousands of employees that we
tens of thousands of employees that we can tap into I mentioned the first
can tap into I mentioned the first
can tap into I mentioned the first insight we had was working with small
insight we had was working with small
insight we had was working with small and growing food companies the second
and growing food companies the second
and growing food companies the second insight we had that that contributed to
insight we had that that contributed to
insight we had that that contributed to the success of this was that if we had
the success of this was that if we had
the success of this was that if we had to send Dave and Angela over to an
to send Dave and Angela over to an
to send Dave and Angela over to an African country 8,000 miles away then we
African country 8,000 miles away then we
African country 8,000 miles away then we could maybe help four or five companies
could maybe help four or five companies
could maybe help four or five companies a year on a dozen projects but if we
a year on a dozen projects but if we
a year on a dozen projects but if we could instead take an hour or two a week
could instead take an hour or two a week
could instead take an hour or two a week from not only Dave and Angela but
from not only Dave and Angela but
from not only Dave and Angela but hundreds and ultimately thousands of
hundreds and ultimately thousands of
hundreds and ultimately thousands of employees and aggregate that and aim
employees and aggregate that and aim
employees and aggregate that and aim that at very specific problems that were
that at very specific problems that were
that at very specific problems that were identified on the ground then we could
identified on the ground then we could
identified on the ground then we could look at this issue at the scale that it
look at this issue at the scale that it
look at this issue at the scale that it deserved and that’s exactly what we did
deserved and that’s exactly what we did
deserved and that’s exactly what we did we knew we could succeed in this because
we knew we could succeed in this because
we knew we could succeed in this because that’s exactly how General Mills runs
that’s exactly how General Mills runs
that’s exactly how General Mills runs its own R&D there’s about 1,600 people
its own R&D there’s about 1,600 people
its own R&D there’s about 1,600 people most of whom are
most of whom are
most of whom are ace right here in the Twin Cities
ace right here in the Twin Cities
ace right here in the Twin Cities working on problems and products and
working on problems and products and
working on problems and products and challenges of the global business so it
challenges of the global business so it
challenges of the global business so it was not a stretch for us to imagine that
was not a stretch for us to imagine that
was not a stretch for us to imagine that even though the food company might be
even though the food company might be
even though the food company might be thirty miles from a paved road in the
thirty miles from a paved road in the
thirty miles from a paved road in the Eastern Province of Zambia if we could
Eastern Province of Zambia if we could
Eastern Province of Zambia if we could understand what the problem or challenge
understand what the problem or challenge
understand what the problem or challenge was then we could build a team of
was then we could build a team of
was then we could build a team of experts to go to work against that so
experts to go to work against that so
experts to go to work against that so from the beginning with that model we
from the beginning with that model we
from the beginning with that model we were able to think big and over the
were able to think big and over the
were able to think big and over the years we went from helping Robert who
years we went from helping Robert who
years we went from helping Robert who was our first client for now helping
was our first client for now helping
was our first client for now helping more than 725 food companies across the
more than 725 food companies across the
more than 725 food companies across the continent and this this is this grew we
continent and this this is this grew we
continent and this this is this grew we realized we were going to outstrip even
realized we were going to outstrip even
realized we were going to outstrip even General Mills supply and so that’s what
General Mills supply and so that’s what
General Mills supply and so that’s what led to the creation of partners and food
led to the creation of partners and food
led to the creation of partners and food solutions and we started bringing on
solutions and we started bringing on
solutions and we started bringing on other food companies like Cargill the
other food companies like Cargill the
other food companies like Cargill the Hershey Company and just this week we
Hershey Company and just this week we
Hershey Company and just this week we announced our six partner a company
announced our six partner a company
announced our six partner a company called ardent Mills which is the largest
called ardent Mills which is the largest
called ardent Mills which is the largest flour milling business in the world
flour milling business in the world
flour milling business in the world based in Denver so we now have access to
based in Denver so we now have access to
based in Denver so we now have access to literally hundreds of thousands of
literally hundreds of thousands of
literally hundreds of thousands of talented people to address the problems
talented people to address the problems
talented people to address the problems and challenges of food companies in
and challenges of food companies in
and challenges of food companies in Africa and with that kind of expertise I
Africa and with that kind of expertise I
Africa and with that kind of expertise I think our six partner companies have
think our six partner companies have
think our six partner companies have almost 700 years of operating know-how
almost 700 years of operating know-how
almost 700 years of operating know-how there’s not a challenger problem an
there’s not a challenger problem an
there’s not a challenger problem an African food company could face that we
African food company could face that we
African food company could face that we can’t find the experts to go to work on
can’t find the experts to go to work on
can’t find the experts to go to work on so I’ll close with a couple of
so I’ll close with a couple of
so I’ll close with a couple of reflections on on lessons we’ve learned
reflections on on lessons we’ve learned
reflections on on lessons we’ve learned and I think guiding principles that have
and I think guiding principles that have
and I think guiding principles that have aided us the first is a phrase that my
aided us the first is a phrase that my
aided us the first is a phrase that my friend and co-founder John Minh – I’m
friend and co-founder John Minh – I’m
friend and co-founder John Minh – I’m sure some people in this room know
sure some people in this room know
sure some people in this room know longtime General Mills employee early on
longtime General Mills employee early on
longtime General Mills employee early on coined the phrase stumbling forward
coined the phrase stumbling forward
coined the phrase stumbling forward stumbling forward partners food
stumbling forward partners food
stumbling forward partners food solutions was born out of an RD
solutions was born out of an RD
solutions was born out of an RD community for research and development
community for research and development
community for research and development and R&D people fail a whole lot more
and R&D people fail a whole lot more
and R&D people fail a whole lot more than they succeed when they’re trying to
than they succeed when they’re trying to
than they succeed when they’re trying to do new things you fail and so when we
do new things you fail and so when we
do new things you fail and so when we got this going we we took that mindset
got this going we we took that mindset
got this going we we took that mindset of stumbling forward and the idea of
of stumbling forward and the idea of
of stumbling forward and the idea of that is that we had a direction we
that is that we had a direction we
that is that we had a direction we wanted to go we wanted to improve food
wanted to go we wanted to improve food
wanted to go we wanted to improve food security nutrition economic development
security nutrition economic development
security nutrition economic development Africa but we didn’t know exactly how we
Africa but we didn’t know exactly how we
Africa but we didn’t know exactly how we were going to get there and we
were going to get there and we
were going to get there and we understood inherently that we were going
understood inherently that we were going
understood inherently that we were going to trip along the way and I think a lot
to trip along the way and I think a lot
to trip along the way and I think a lot of times especially as America
of times especially as America
of times especially as America when we’re thinking about doing
when we’re thinking about doing
when we’re thinking about doing something new we want to try to plan it
something new we want to try to plan it
something new we want to try to plan it out from A to Z and if we had done that
out from A to Z and if we had done that
out from A to Z and if we had done that with this effort we would have probably
with this effort we would have probably
with this effort we would have probably not done it because it wasn’t going to
not done it because it wasn’t going to
not done it because it wasn’t going to work so encourage all of you think about
work so encourage all of you think about
work so encourage all of you think about stumbling forward on the ideas you have
stumbling forward on the ideas you have
stumbling forward on the ideas you have just start we started with a single food
just start we started with a single food
just start we started with a single food company and that grew to two and then it
company and that grew to two and then it
company and that grew to two and then it grew to four and kept going from there
grew to four and kept going from there
grew to four and kept going from there so that’s the idea of stumbling forward
so that’s the idea of stumbling forward
so that’s the idea of stumbling forward second one is another term a friend coin
second one is another term a friend coin
second one is another term a friend coin one of our partners is an organization
one of our partners is an organization
one of our partners is an organization called root capital root Capital is a
called root capital root Capital is a
called root capital root Capital is a impact investor and their founder Willy
impact investor and their founder Willy
impact investor and their founder Willy foot I believe coined the phrase of
foot I believe coined the phrase of
foot I believe coined the phrase of pathological collaboration pathological
pathological collaboration pathological
pathological collaboration pathological collaboration if you’re trying to
collaboration if you’re trying to
collaboration if you’re trying to address a major challenge in society
address a major challenge in society
address a major challenge in society whether that’s local or global there is
whether that’s local or global there is
whether that’s local or global there is no one individual no one organization no
no one individual no one organization no
no one individual no one organization no one approach that is going to have all
one approach that is going to have all
one approach that is going to have all the answers to that problem and so
the answers to that problem and so
the answers to that problem and so embedded even in our name partners and
embedded even in our name partners and
embedded even in our name partners and food solutions from the beginning we set
food solutions from the beginning we set
food solutions from the beginning we set out to find those organizations in those
out to find those organizations in those
out to find those organizations in those entities that can complement what we’re
entities that can complement what we’re
entities that can complement what we’re doing and so for us that meant
doing and so for us that meant
doing and so for us that meant ultimately what began at General Mills
ultimately what began at General Mills
ultimately what began at General Mills became six other food companies hundreds
became six other food companies hundreds
became six other food companies hundreds of food companies across the continent
of food companies across the continent
of food companies across the continent Africa u.s. aid which is our US
Africa u.s. aid which is our US
Africa u.s. aid which is our US government aid arm the Bill and Melinda
government aid arm the Bill and Melinda
government aid arm the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation impact investors
Gates Foundation impact investors
Gates Foundation impact investors individual donors and most importantly
individual donors and most importantly
individual donors and most importantly thousands of volunteers from our
thousands of volunteers from our
thousands of volunteers from our corporate partners so this idea that
corporate partners so this idea that
corporate partners so this idea that when you’re starting something that
when you’re starting something that
when you’re starting something that you’re trying to create impact with be a
you’re trying to create impact with be a
you’re trying to create impact with be a pathological collaborator find people
pathological collaborator find people
pathological collaborator find people who can come alongside you and that’s
who can come alongside you and that’s
who can come alongside you and that’s how you succeed so I’ll close with that
how you succeed so I’ll close with that
how you succeed so I’ll close with that thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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