Going from a high-level intervention concept to the reality of implementing it on the ground in an unfamiliar country very different from one’s own is a massive leap. First of course it’s necessary to choose which country makes sense for the fledgling charity to start with. In Clear Solutions case, we used a geographic assessment … Continue reading Our path to Country Visits (Weeks 5-8)

This post comes to you from the domestic departure lounge at Abuja airport, Nigeria, where we’ve spent most of the day waiting for a flight to Gombe, northeast Nigeria. Dry, dusty conditions and strong winds in Gombe are causing dust clouds that reduce visibility below the minimum for aircraft to land. We are now in … Continue reading Our path to Country Visits (Weeks 1-4)

The grand finale of the CE Incubation Program is submission of a written proposal to a seed funding circle of folks who donate to turn proposed charities into reality. We did that, funders approved, and now Clear Solutions - a charity aimed at increasing oral rehydration solution and zinc usage to prevent childrens' deaths from … Continue reading Clear Solutions, we’re official!

7 weeks into the Charity Entrepreneurship (CE) Incubation Program and things have moved swiftly! Meeting the cohort and CE team in person back in Week 4 was a step-change in levels of engagement and the ability to get to know potential-cofounders. The educational projects continued (pitching practice, country selection, building a cost-effectiveness analysis), but the … Continue reading Idea, check. Co-founder, check. Funding, cheque … soon, we hope!

It's the end of Incubation Program week 3. The bunch of 10 strangers in the cohort are quickly becoming trusted confidantes, all excited to be meeting in person for the first time next week. And the 6 charity ideas on the table for turning into reality are becoming more familiar, in their strengths, risks, implementation … Continue reading 3 Weeks in – what’s it like?

Why walk away from a lucrative job with a great employer to do something highly uncertain for a lot less money?  There's 4 broad factors that combined to make a clear decision. 1. A general desire to have a greater positive impact in the world. Perhaps it's a function of age, or having kids, reaching … Continue reading Why?

So I'll soon be a part of the Charity Entrepreneurship (CE) Incubation Program.  The Program has 2 primary inputs: a cohort of aspiring charity founders from around the world. 10 people including me for this H2'23 instance, with a European centre of gravity, but participant locations spanning also Australia, Kenya and US.  a shortlist of … Continue reading More about the Incubation Program

I'm leaving Google - yesterday was my official last day after 15½ years, though I've had the last month off to reorient, travel, entertain the kids, write blog posts, etc.  On announcing my resignation, I received a mixture of surprise, baffled looks and praise when I told colleagues that I was going to "join a … Continue reading Farewell Google, Hello Charity Entrepreneurship