News - William Davidson Institute

WDI Leads Research in Gender Equity Impact Investment Effort
WDI Leads Research in Gender Equity Impact Investment Effort
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
WDI's Performance Measurement & Improvement team is leading the research for the Gender-Smart Enterprise Assistance Research Coalition (G-SEARCh) which includes six impact investors. The group came together with a shared goal of supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets to incorporate gender across their respective business models.
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competition Launches
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competition Launches
Thursday, October 29, 2020
WDI Publishing and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and its Sanger Leadership Center are joining together to address this important movement by launching the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Global Case Writing Competition.

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WDI to Launch New Labor Practices Group
WDI to Launch New Labor Practices Group
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
WDI is teaming up with University of Michigan Professor Achyuta Adhvaryu, who leads the Good Business Lab (GBL), to launch a new Labor Practices group at the Institute. As part of the Institute's consulting services team, this new practice area will add value to the work happening across WDI, and will enhance the learning available at Ross Michigan Ross and U-M.

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Perspective: Letting Businesses Lead Research
Perspective: Letting Businesses Lead Research
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Too often, global development research hinges on the interest of researchers, rather than the knowledge needs of small business people and, most importantly, their impacted communities. But there are times when growing businesses in low- and middle-income countries should lead the researchers – not the other way around.
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Latin America: Women’s Health & Investment Opportunities
Latin America: Women’s Health & Investment Opportunities
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Supporting businesses that provide healthcare services specifically to women around the world is critical to empowering their financial independence and overcoming other gender-based inequalities. A new WDI report explores impact investment opportunities for ventures in Colombia and Peru.
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Perspective: How Covid-19 Impacted Monitoring and Evaluation—in 2 Examples
Perspective: How Covid-19 Impacted Monitoring and Evaluation—in 2 Examples
Thursday, July 30, 2020
COVID-19 has left many unable to travel within and across country borders. As a monitoring and evaluation researcher, who works directly with businesses in country to measure socio-economic impacts, WDI's Yaquta Fatehi explains how to adapt to a new global reality in two recent WDI projects.
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Perspective: From SMEs to MNCs, Responsible Leadership is Key
Perspective: From SMEs to MNCs, Responsible Leadership is Key
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
"Responsible leadership," or the mindset of addressing societal challenges, is relevant for all businesses – no matter the size, sector, or growth stage. Nor is it exclusive to those identifying as social enterprises or multinational corporations, writes WDI's Kristin Babbie Kelterborn.
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WDI, Ford Fund Partner for Virtual Training to Aspiring Social Entrepreneurs
WDI, Ford Fund Partner for Virtual Training to Aspiring Social Entrepreneurs
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
How does an educator convene a global classroom across a dozen countries, numerous cultures and differing perspectives? Sometimes, it’s better to instead let the students set the pace. WDI’s Education Sector team recently tailored two fully online courses for The Ford Motor Company Fund as part of the Ford…
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Our Renewed Commitment to Racial Justice and Opportunity
Our Renewed Commitment to Racial Justice and Opportunity
Thursday, June 18, 2020
WDI’s Founder, William Davidson, once said: “We are the coworkers for the cause of economic and social freedom.” The killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery are just a few examples of atrocities targeting black people in this country, and of a system that denies much of…
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Congratulations to the 2020 Davidson Field Scholars
Congratulations to the 2020 Davidson Field Scholars
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
The University of Michigan’s 2020 Spring Commencement was unlike any other in its more than 200 years, with graduates across the university accepting their degrees at home via online ceremonies. While U-M and universities around the country hosted virtual celebrations, the hard work and sacrifice of students and their families…
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NextBillion

NextBillion is dedicated to promoting strategies that open opportunities and improve quality of life for the world’s four billion low-income producers and consumers. By stimulating discussion, raising awareness, and providing platforms for sharing ideas, NextBillion is a growing community of practitioners, academics, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are promoting market solutions to poverty. Managed solely by WDI, NextBillion features in-depth analysis and opinion from wide variety of global contributors, an editor-curated newsfeed, an events calendar and a career center with the latest job opportunities across the development through enterprise space.