imagine suspending your job to start working on something you care about
working on something you care about
working on something you care about imagine the challenge of doing something
imagine the challenge of doing something
imagine the challenge of doing something you have no idea about you don’t know
you have no idea about you don’t know
you have no idea about you don’t know how it works and you have no education
how it works and you have no education
how it works and you have no education or background on anything that you will
or background on anything that you will
or background on anything that you will be doing how would you feel on your
be doing how would you feel on your
be doing how would you feel on your first day
first day
first day curious excited afraid I’m a physicist
curious excited afraid I’m a physicist
curious excited afraid I’m a physicist by background about four major
by background about four major
by background about four major management consulting firm as a business
management consulting firm as a business
management consulting firm as a business consultant after bid more than two years
consultant after bid more than two years
consultant after bid more than two years I also spend at my very renowned highly
I also spend at my very renowned highly
I also spend at my very renowned highly stimulating job and started working for
stimulating job and started working for
stimulating job and started working for Deutsche Welle one of the largest German
Deutsche Welle one of the largest German
Deutsche Welle one of the largest German NGOs working in humanitarian development
NGOs working in humanitarian development
NGOs working in humanitarian development and aid I had absolutely no idea about
and aid I had absolutely no idea about
and aid I had absolutely no idea about development cooperation and no clue how
development cooperation and no clue how
development cooperation and no clue how an NGO operates why would I do that the
an NGO operates why would I do that the
an NGO operates why would I do that the answer is a number eight hundred million
answer is a number eight hundred million
answer is a number eight hundred million eight hundred million people in the
eight hundred million people in the
eight hundred million people in the world suffer from hunger and
world suffer from hunger and
world suffer from hunger and malnutrition 800 million people do not
malnutrition 800 million people do not
malnutrition 800 million people do not have sufficient or sufficiently
have sufficient or sufficiently
have sufficient or sufficiently nutritious food 800 million that’s more
nutritious food 800 million that’s more
nutritious food 800 million that’s more than the entire population of Europe
than the entire population of Europe
than the entire population of Europe this makes me angry sad and it also made
this makes me angry sad and it also made
this makes me angry sad and it also made me feel powerless I mean how could
me feel powerless I mean how could
me feel powerless I mean how could anyone make a difference to that number
anyone make a difference to that number
anyone make a difference to that number but maybe I could make a difference to
but maybe I could make a difference to
but maybe I could make a difference to someone maybe I could cause some change
someone maybe I could cause some change
someone maybe I could cause some change at the very least I wanted to try and so
at the very least I wanted to try and so
at the very least I wanted to try and so my journey began for 18 months I worked
my journey began for 18 months I worked
my journey began for 18 months I worked in Germany Zimbabwe India and Bangladesh
in Germany Zimbabwe India and Bangladesh
in Germany Zimbabwe India and Bangladesh fighting for a world without hunger a
fighting for a world without hunger a
fighting for a world without hunger a business consultant ed an NGO
business consultant ed an NGO
business consultant ed an NGO the archetypical representative of
the archetypical representative of
the archetypical representative of capitalism in the nonprofit world
capitalism in the nonprofit world
capitalism in the nonprofit world lemonade one of these know-it-all guides
lemonade one of these know-it-all guides
lemonade one of these know-it-all guides in there tight suits fancy suitcases
in there tight suits fancy suitcases
in there tight suits fancy suitcases rationalizing away jobs staying up all
rationalizing away jobs staying up all
rationalizing away jobs staying up all night to draw piles of slides rather
night to draw piles of slides rather
night to draw piles of slides rather than listening to people I remember an
than listening to people I remember an
than listening to people I remember an encounter during my first week you must
encounter during my first week you must
encounter during my first week you must be this consultant we’ve worked with you
be this consultant we’ve worked with you
be this consultant we’ve worked with you guys once didn’t go so well so I knew I
guys once didn’t go so well so I knew I
guys once didn’t go so well so I knew I had to work extra hard to overcome these
had to work extra hard to overcome these
had to work extra hard to overcome these judgments and stereotypes to avoid
judgments and stereotypes to avoid
judgments and stereotypes to avoid fulfilling the cliches people were
fulfilling the cliches people were
fulfilling the cliches people were expecting and so I was open curious
expecting and so I was open curious
expecting and so I was open curious eager to learn and fully let myself into
eager to learn and fully let myself into
eager to learn and fully let myself into this new and familiar NGO world and
this new and familiar NGO world and
this new and familiar NGO world and amazingly in return people were open to
amazingly in return people were open to
amazingly in return people were open to and great collaboration emerged I could
and great collaboration emerged I could
and great collaboration emerged I could work on topics that make a difference to
work on topics that make a difference to
work on topics that make a difference to people’s lives
people’s lives
people’s lives I got to see new countries and cultures
I got to see new countries and cultures
I got to see new countries and cultures and allowed something new every day this
and allowed something new every day this
and allowed something new every day this was the most rewarding experience of my
was the most rewarding experience of my
was the most rewarding experience of my life much of this was somehow to be
life much of this was somehow to be
life much of this was somehow to be expected or at least hoped for
expected or at least hoped for
expected or at least hoped for however there were also some surprising
however there were also some surprising
however there were also some surprising unintended consequences of me as a
unintended consequences of me as a
unintended consequences of me as a former business consultant in the
former business consultant in the
former business consultant in the nonprofit sector at one time I was
nonprofit sector at one time I was
nonprofit sector at one time I was working with the fundraising department
working with the fundraising department
working with the fundraising department that has the main task of attracting
that has the main task of attracting
that has the main task of attracting private donations for example by sending
private donations for example by sending
private donations for example by sending out letters to households one should be
out letters to households one should be
out letters to households one should be the question they would ask themselves
the question they would ask themselves
the question they would ask themselves was how many donations have we won by
was how many donations have we won by
was how many donations have we won by mailings focus around would say
mailings focus around would say
mailings focus around would say nutrition in schools so one of their
nutrition in schools so one of their
nutrition in schools so one of their team members would go through all the
team members would go through all the
team members would go through all the lists of all the mailings look for those
lists of all the mailings look for those
lists of all the mailings look for those with nutrition in schools and manually
with nutrition in schools and manually
with nutrition in schools and manually some of the numbers then she would
some of the numbers then she would
some of the numbers then she would repeat that procedure for mailings
repeat that procedure for mailings
repeat that procedure for mailings around Lea drinking water and compare
around Lea drinking water and compare
around Lea drinking water and compare their yield when I asked her why she
their yield when I asked her why she
their yield when I asked her why she would not simply use automated tables to
would not simply use automated tables to
would not simply use automated tables to do the job she said oh really
do the job she said oh really
do the job she said oh really that’s a true for that I was puzzled
that’s a true for that I was puzzled
that’s a true for that I was puzzled because to me using like automated
because to me using like automated
because to me using like automated tables felt so natural that it did not
tables felt so natural that it did not
tables felt so natural that it did not even occur to me that this might not be
even occur to me that this might not be
even occur to me that this might not be true to others in my previous
true to others in my previous
true to others in my previous environment both among my consulting
environment both among my consulting
environment both among my consulting colleagues and at my clients
colleagues and at my clients
colleagues and at my clients everybody was familiar with this
everybody was familiar with this
everybody was familiar with this technique and had been trained the
technique and had been trained the
technique and had been trained the skills to apply it what seemed basic and
skills to apply it what seemed basic and
skills to apply it what seemed basic and not noteworthy to me was special in a
not noteworthy to me was special in a
not noteworthy to me was special in a different environment so we sat down
different environment so we sat down
different environment so we sat down together did a small training with her
together did a small training with her
together did a small training with her and her colleagues learning learning the
and her colleagues learning learning the
and her colleagues learning learning the required skills enabled them to ask more
required skills enabled them to ask more
required skills enabled them to ask more meaningful questions and soon rather
meaningful questions and soon rather
meaningful questions and soon rather than describing the numbers they
than describing the numbers they
than describing the numbers they achieved they started meaningful
achieved they started meaningful
achieved they started meaningful discussions like which fundraising
discussions like which fundraising
discussions like which fundraising measures to extend ultimately this led
measures to extend ultimately this led
measures to extend ultimately this led to more successful marketing and higher
to more successful marketing and higher
to more successful marketing and higher donations and all of this triggered but
donations and all of this triggered but
donations and all of this triggered but something completely unintended buy me
another time when I was in Zimbabwe
another time when I was in Zimbabwe there was a project piloting additional
there was a project piloting additional
there was a project piloting additional income streams for marginalised farmers
income streams for marginalised farmers
income streams for marginalised farmers one attempt was an incubator for chicken
one attempt was an incubator for chicken
one attempt was an incubator for chicken eggs so farmers would bring their
eggs so farmers would bring their
eggs so farmers would bring their fertilized eggs to the incubator where
fertilized eggs to the incubator where
fertilized eggs to the incubator where they would be kept at perfect
they would be kept at perfect
they would be kept at perfect temperature for 20 days until the chicks
temperature for 20 days until the chicks
temperature for 20 days until the chicks hatched the farmers would yield higher
hatched the farmers would yield higher
hatched the farmers would yield higher hatching raids and the operator would
hatching raids and the operator would
hatching raids and the operator would receive a small fee for the service
receive a small fee for the service
receive a small fee for the service everybody would win the team had been
everybody would win the team had been
everybody would win the team had been working hard for weeks together setup
working hard for weeks together setup
working hard for weeks together setup right now finding a suitable operator
right now finding a suitable operator
right now finding a suitable operator getting the right equipment finding
getting the right equipment finding
getting the right equipment finding customers for the service still they
customers for the service still they
customers for the service still they will not yet conclusive if that approach
will not yet conclusive if that approach
will not yet conclusive if that approach was actually worth pursuing it should be
was actually worth pursuing it should be
was actually worth pursuing it should be scaled up in the car on our way back I
scaled up in the car on our way back I
scaled up in the car on our way back I did a quick back of the envelope
did a quick back of the envelope
did a quick back of the envelope calculation taking into account the
calculation taking into account the
calculation taking into account the price for chicks and eggs capacity of
price for chicks and eggs capacity of
price for chicks and eggs capacity of the incubator and the equipment’s cost
the incubator and the equipment’s cost
the incubator and the equipment’s cost insured out that it would take the
insured out that it would take the
insured out that it would take the operator three years just to pay off the
operator three years just to pay off the
operator three years just to pay off the initial investment not allowing for any
initial investment not allowing for any
initial investment not allowing for any repairs and not getting any money from
repairs and not getting any money from
repairs and not getting any money from it until then so there was no way this
it until then so there was no way this
it until then so there was no way this was a valid business case in rural
was a valid business case in rural
was a valid business case in rural Zimbabwe a people need fast and secure
Zimbabwe a people need fast and secure
Zimbabwe a people need fast and secure return on their investments so now it
return on their investments so now it
return on their investments so now it was clear that he
was clear that he
was clear that he that I need to shift their focus away
that I need to shift their focus away
that I need to shift their focus away from that attempt to what’s one of the
from that attempt to what’s one of the
from that attempt to what’s one of the other approaches they were testing the
other approaches they were testing the
other approaches they were testing the team had been so focused on the
team had been so focused on the
team had been so focused on the technical feasibility and the
technical feasibility and the
technical feasibility and the socio-cultural socio-cultural challenges
socio-cultural socio-cultural challenges
socio-cultural socio-cultural challenges of the trial that it did not also check
of the trial that it did not also check
of the trial that it did not also check the economics they simply had not
the economics they simply had not
the economics they simply had not thought about it in the business way
thought about it in the business way
thought about it in the business way before lagging the fundraising example
before lagging the fundraising example
before lagging the fundraising example what I did see natural to me but my
what I did see natural to me but my
what I did see natural to me but my colleagues did not even consider doing
colleagues did not even consider doing
colleagues did not even consider doing this since they were from a very
this since they were from a very
this since they were from a very different sector
what are these examples and there’s many
what are these examples and there’s many more of these have in common so first of
more of these have in common so first of
more of these have in common so first of all this is not about pointing out that
all this is not about pointing out that
all this is not about pointing out that NGOs are incompetent of unprofessional
NGOs are incompetent of unprofessional
NGOs are incompetent of unprofessional I strongly believe that the opposite is
I strongly believe that the opposite is
I strongly believe that the opposite is true from what I have experienced this
true from what I have experienced this
true from what I have experienced this particular NGO is very strong and
particular NGO is very strong and
particular NGO is very strong and efficient and annual independent award
efficient and annual independent award
efficient and annual independent award to test that the people working there
to test that the people working there
to test that the people working there are not only dedicated but also highly
are not only dedicated but also highly
are not only dedicated but also highly skilled and experienced the marketing
skilled and experienced the marketing
skilled and experienced the marketing team in in Germany highly talented in
team in in Germany highly talented in
team in in Germany highly talented in motivating and engaging people the
motivating and engaging people the
motivating and engaging people the project managers in Zimbabwe highly
project managers in Zimbabwe highly
project managers in Zimbabwe highly experienced and are very sensitive to
experienced and are very sensitive to
experienced and are very sensitive to what they are doing in a fragile
what they are doing in a fragile
what they are doing in a fragile environment so why is it that I as an
environment so why is it that I as an
environment so why is it that I as an individual with no experience in any of
individual with no experience in any of
individual with no experience in any of their fields was able to add value
their fields was able to add value
their fields was able to add value within hours I only realised this when
within hours I only realised this when
within hours I only realised this when one colleague in Zimbabwe said to me
one colleague in Zimbabwe said to me
one colleague in Zimbabwe said to me Benjamin
Benjamin
Benjamin you know a lot of stuff we don’t but
you know a lot of stuff we don’t but
you know a lot of stuff we don’t but most importantly you think differently
most importantly you think differently
most importantly you think differently and I think he hit the nail on the head
and I think he hit the nail on the head
and I think he hit the nail on the head I realize that I carry with me a
I realize that I carry with me a
I realize that I carry with me a skillset and a mindset that is very
skillset and a mindset that is very
skillset and a mindset that is very common in business context but specially
common in business context but specially
common in business context but specially in a nonprofit environment I could add
in a nonprofit environment I could add
in a nonprofit environment I could add more value by applying what I do in
more value by applying what I do in
more value by applying what I do in another field even if it does not strike
another field even if it does not strike
another field even if it does not strike me as special this insight got me
me as special this insight got me
me as special this insight got me thinking shouldn’t this then be true for
thinking shouldn’t this then be true for
thinking shouldn’t this then be true for other people as well and many of us good
other people as well and many of us good
other people as well and many of us good at what we are doing bid in business or
at what we are doing bid in business or
at what we are doing bid in business or academics or
academics or
academics or Fields isn’t it sure that many of us are
Fields isn’t it sure that many of us are
Fields isn’t it sure that many of us are not aware of that we might actually be
not aware of that we might actually be
not aware of that we might actually be good at something I believe this is
good at something I believe this is
good at something I believe this is great news for everyone who has ever
great news for everyone who has ever
great news for everyone who has ever wondered if he or she could actually
wondered if he or she could actually
wondered if he or she could actually make a difference yes you can and
make a difference yes you can and
make a difference yes you can and there’s plenty of possibilities maybe
there’s plenty of possibilities maybe
there’s plenty of possibilities maybe you will discover some new strengths
you will discover some new strengths
you will discover some new strengths some hidden potential slumbering inside
some hidden potential slumbering inside
some hidden potential slumbering inside you if you expose yourself to a
you if you expose yourself to a
you if you expose yourself to a different environment like the nonprofit
different environment like the nonprofit
different environment like the nonprofit sector I invite you to think about
sector I invite you to think about
sector I invite you to think about opportunities what cause do I care about
opportunities what cause do I care about
opportunities what cause do I care about they might already have a connection
they might already have a connection
they might already have a connection beach in my neighborhood or amongst my
beach in my neighborhood or amongst my
beach in my neighborhood or amongst my friends you don’t necessarily need to
friends you don’t necessarily need to
friends you don’t necessarily need to create your job there are other ways to
create your job there are other ways to
create your job there are other ways to get engaged and it might not even be a
get engaged and it might not even be a
get engaged and it might not even be a large effort for you but for the cause
large effort for you but for the cause
large effort for you but for the cause you could make a big difference if this
you could make a big difference if this
you could make a big difference if this is true for individuals like you and me
is true for individuals like you and me
is true for individuals like you and me what does it mean for nonprofit
what does it mean for nonprofit
what does it mean for nonprofit organizations although in NGO staff is
organizations although in NGO staff is
organizations although in NGO staff is comprised from a wide variety of
comprised from a wide variety of
comprised from a wide variety of backgrounds I have only met very few
backgrounds I have only met very few
backgrounds I have only met very few people with the business background most
people with the business background most
people with the business background most of my colleagues had been working in the
of my colleagues had been working in the
of my colleagues had been working in the nonprofit sector for most of their lives
nonprofit sector for most of their lives
nonprofit sector for most of their lives they care about their cause and they are
they care about their cause and they are
they care about their cause and they are very strong and everything that’s at the
very strong and everything that’s at the
very strong and everything that’s at the core of their mission but sometimes this
core of their mission but sometimes this
core of their mission but sometimes this leaves a blank spot it leaves a blank
leaves a blank spot it leaves a blank
leaves a blank spot it leaves a blank spot for some kinds difficult
spot for some kinds difficult
spot for some kinds difficult discussions like the cost-benefit ratio
discussions like the cost-benefit ratio
discussions like the cost-benefit ratio of measures which are all doing
of measures which are all doing
of measures which are all doing something good it leaves a blank spot
something good it leaves a blank spot
something good it leaves a blank spot for skills like exit tricks which are
for skills like exit tricks which are
for skills like exit tricks which are not at the core of a humanitarian worker
not at the core of a humanitarian worker
not at the core of a humanitarian worker it leaves a blank spot for skills and
it leaves a blank spot for skills and
it leaves a blank spot for skills and mindsets which are usually found in the
mindsets which are usually found in the
mindsets which are usually found in the for-profit space thus I believe that
for-profit space thus I believe that
for-profit space thus I believe that NGOs need to actively in sauce these
NGOs need to actively in sauce these
NGOs need to actively in sauce these skills and mindsets this cannot be
skills and mindsets this cannot be
skills and mindsets this cannot be achieved by attending one or two
achieved by attending one or two
achieved by attending one or two business conferences getting this
business conferences getting this
business conferences getting this perspective requires working with people
perspective requires working with people
perspective requires working with people who breathed this different skill in my
who breathed this different skill in my
who breathed this different skill in my that we can carry it into the
that we can carry it into the
that we can carry it into the organization and spread it maybe NGO
organization and spread it maybe NGO
organization and spread it maybe NGO should even consider deliberately
should even consider deliberately
should even consider deliberately recruiting few people with an NGO
recruiting few people with an NGO
recruiting few people with an NGO background today after my 18 months have
background today after my 18 months have
background today after my 18 months have passed I’m back to management consulting
passed I’m back to management consulting
passed I’m back to management consulting I’ve had a highly rewarding time and
I’ve had a highly rewarding time and
I’ve had a highly rewarding time and learned a lot about the world we live in
learned a lot about the world we live in
learned a lot about the world we live in which helps me keep things in
which helps me keep things in
which helps me keep things in perspective rather they are different
perspective rather they are different
perspective rather they are different ways of doing things and I learned a lot
ways of doing things and I learned a lot
ways of doing things and I learned a lot about myself
about myself
about myself but most importantly I could make a
but most importantly I could make a
but most importantly I could make a difference which is all I wanted to
difference which is all I wanted to
difference which is all I wanted to achieve in the first place I could even
achieve in the first place I could even
achieve in the first place I could even make a difference beyond what I was
make a difference beyond what I was
make a difference beyond what I was expecting and that’s the reason why I’m
expecting and that’s the reason why I’m
expecting and that’s the reason why I’m back your management consultant for now
back your management consultant for now
back your management consultant for now because I believe there are more things
because I believe there are more things
because I believe there are more things to learn more skills to master more
to learn more skills to master more
to learn more skills to master more thinking to be shaped and this will
thinking to be shaped and this will
thinking to be shaped and this will allow me to make even a greater
allow me to make even a greater
allow me to make even a greater difference in the future because one
difference in the future because one
difference in the future because one thing I know for sure one day I’ll be
thing I know for sure one day I’ll be
thing I know for sure one day I’ll be back thank you
back thank you
back thank you [Applause]
”
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