Members of the WDI Energy and Mobility team meet with faculty and leadership at a lab at the Technological Institute of Monterrey—Chihuahua campus.
The next big energy and mobility technology breakthroughs can come from anywhere in the world, and many have their roots in university labs and research centers. Building on more than three years of collaboration, the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (WDI) is partnering with multiple stakeholders in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico to create new pathways for energy and mobility tech innovations to leap from the lab to commercial application.
In partnership with the Chihuahua Secretaría de Innovación y Desarrollo Económico (SIDE), and nonprofit organizations Desarrollo Económico de Ciudad Juárez (DECJ) and Frente Norte, WDI will support select universities and research centers, working collaboratively to create customized commercialization roadmaps for each institution, as well as evaluate prototypes related to energy and mobility with commercial potential. These institutions initially will include Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH), Technological Institute of Ciudad Juárez (ITCJ), Center of Advanced Materials Research (CIMAV), and Technological Institute of Monterrey (ITESM) – Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez campuses.
The commercialization project builds on the WDI/Chihuahua Charging Forward project. In that initiative and related work, WDI’s Energy & Mobility team and local economic development organizations worked with companies, researchers and innovators to identify opportunities related to the electric vehicle value chain. Through the collaboration, WDI facilitated multiple delegations from Mexico to U-M’s Ann Arbor campus as well as innovation hubs in Detroit. For example, in July 2024 WDI hosted engineering faculty from six different universities and research institutes in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, as part of the Zero-Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) academic partnership implemented by WDI with support from the U.S. Mission Mexico Public Diplomacy Section.
“It’s important for us to support local innovation and we are interested in novel approaches to help to commercialize promising technologies and solutions to energy and mobility challenges,” said Cynthia Lopez, Executive Director of DECJ. “We’re excited to again join forces with WDI to co-develop new collaborations with our local universities and research centers to help innovators and entrepreneurs advance their ideas, while helping our region compete.”
In addition to leveraging assets and resources already existing in Chihuahua, WDI brings substantive experience supporting commercialization of multiple technologies in low- and middle- income countries, and will draw on expertise and experience from the broader University of Michigan network. WDI previously has worked with faculty to commercialize clean energy innovations as well as with organizations such as Technological Institute of the Philippines, which recently partnered with WDI to develop a strategic roadmap for commercializing technologies produced through funded research and special projects.
“Commercializing technology innovations within university labs unlocks the potential to improve so many lives,” said Dana Gorodetsky, WDI Program Manager, Energy & Mobility. “WDI has a great track record in breaking down barriers, while also building up new networks to catalyze innovation and business development. We’re excited to begin this next phase of our partnership with the State of Chihuahua to support researchers looking to develop prototypes into products.“
WDI and the partners in Chihuahua will undertake the project in phases, starting with assessing what is already happening in Chihuahua and generating a state-level mapping of key academic commercialization activity, resources and gaps. WDI will support select universities or research centers by working collaboratively to create customized commercialization roadmaps for each institution, as well as profiles of relevant prototypes. Finally, WDI will work closely with innovators developing these prototypes to advance their commercialization, developing commercial feasibility reports and recommended next steps, involving students, faculty and researchers in the process.
Beyond advancing the commercial goals, WDI will apply a broader learning lens, working with participating universities and research centers to unlock new learning opportunities for all involved.
“The goal is to create new networks and expand capabilities at both the institutional and state level—regardless of the market outcomes of these technologies,” Gorodetsky added.
About WDI
At the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, unlocking the power of business to provide lasting economic and social prosperity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is in our DNA. We gather the data, develop new models, test concepts and collaborate with partners to find real solutions that lead to new opportunities.
About SIDE
SIDE, a government office of the State of Chihuahua, fosters and facilitates the economic development of Chihuahua, in coordination with economic actors, increasing the competitiveness of business through innovation, to generate wealth and employment, and enhance the quality of life for the people of Chihuahua.
About Frente Norte
Frente Norte is a smart specialization strategy for Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, intended to help the city focus its efforts and resources on a limited number of ambitious and achievable priorities that can promote economic competitiveness, as well as the well-being and integral sustainability of the region in an increasingly complex and uncertain global context.
With submissions from South Africa to Colombia and from Ireland to India, WDI Publishing proudly announces the winners of its 2024 HealthTech and the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competitions.
The two competitions generated a combined total of 43 total case submissions, representing 37 different universities and higher learning organizations in nine different countries. This was the first year for the HealthTech Global Case Writing Competition, but the fourth year of the DEI Case Writing Competition, which is sponsored by U-M’s Ross School of Business and the William Davidson Institute. The HealthTech contest sought out academic cases around novel technology appropriate for a low- and middle-income country that contributes to improving, maintaining or monitoring the health of a given population. The DEI competition is designed to identify and publish new, relevant academic case studies that focus on DEI in business and/or feature diverse protagonists as business leaders.
“We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm for the contests continue to grow, in terms of both the number of submitted cases and the quality of those cases, according to our finalist judges,” said Sandra Draheim, Manager of WDI Publishing.
A division of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, WDI Publishing produces and distributes high-quality, cutting-edge business cases and other teaching materials for business schools around the globe. Case studies provide real-world lessons at the core of many business schools, and serve as an opportunity for students to apply the business concepts to their current or future careers.
All of the winning cases are available on wdi-publishing.com.
Below is a list of the winning authors, their cases, and finalist judges for each case writing competition:
Global Firm and Local Labor: Delivering Paid Parental Leave
Authors: Ahmmad Brown, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, USA; Ritu Tripathi, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, USA
TriBrown Services is a fictional leading industrial technology company headquartered in the United States, with operations in 70-plus countries. After serving as an affiliate of larger companies for almost four decades, TriBrown established itself as an independent entity in 2017 and embarked on a major strategic restructuring. This included development of a people strategy that was inseparable from TriBrown’s DEI goals, a primary one being increased representation of women in all echelons of the organization. Protagonist Maya Marshall is hired as Vice President of DEI in 2018 and very soon her role is expanded to include People in the title. One key focus for her is to integrate the DEI initiatives with the organizational culture and build the internal talent pipeline for women to rise to leadership positions. A primary pain point that Marshall sets out to address is attrition among women team members due to child-bearing and caring roles in families.
The case focuses on the conflicting forces that Marshall must grapple with as she confronts unanticipated obstacles while trying to drive cultural transformation within the multinational company.
Sheroes Hangout: Empowering India’s Acid Attack Survivors to Face the Future
Authors: David Wernick, Professor, Florida International University, USA; Johanna Clancy, Lecturer in Business Enterprise, University of Galway, Ireland; Priya Grover, Associate Professor, Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Noida, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India; Nidhi Phutela, Director, Symbiosis Center for Management Studies, Noida, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India; Jannik Pesch, PhD Student, Florida International University, USA
This case focuses on Sheroes Hangout, a social enterprise chain of cafés in India, initiated by the founders’ grassroots campaign Stop Acid Attacks (SAA) under its nonprofit organization, Chhanv Foundation. The name Sheroes — a combination of “she” and “heroes” — was chosen to underscore the courage of acid attack survivors who went on to staff and manage the cafés. The first café, based in the city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, initially employed five acid survivors; by 2024 the foundation employed over 30 survivors in four cafés, making it the largest employer of acid attack survivors in India.
The case centers on Alok Dixit, one of three Sheroes Hangout founders. As he reflects on his decade at the helm of the Chhanv Foundation, he is determined to take Sheroes to the next level. The question is how to do so given constraints of time, talent, and financial resources.
Between Autonomy and Concession: A Female Entrepreneur’s Struggle in Latin America
Authors: Marisleidy Alba Cabañas, Professor, Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz, Colombia; Luis Demetrio Gómez García, Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Peru
The case involves Liliana Gutiérrez de Piñeres, a Colombian entrepreneur who runs Lemaître, a management consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance. Liliana faces discrimination from businessmen in her industry because she is a woman, and is tired of this situation. In 2022, the context of an international project in Chile—where she faced repeated slights from the client that appeared gender-based—catalyzed Liliana’s desire to leave the business. By the end of the case, she wonders whether to remain at the company’s helm as a female entrepreneur and face the challenges of a macho context, or put her husband in charge of the business, or sell the company altogether.
Finalist Judges, 2024 DEI Global Case Writing Competition: Latoya Booker, Director Inclusion Equity Institute at Grand Valley State University; Kenlana Ferguson, Psychologist and Director Equity, Learning & Culture at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation; Heather McBride Leef, Managing Director of Deloitte’s DEI Institute; John Lafkas, Senior Editor, Cases and Pedagogy, Harvard Business Publishing; Greg Merkley, Director Case Publishing at Northwestern’s Kellogg School
Authors: Steven Samford, Assistant Professor of Organizational Studies, University of Michigan – College of Literature Science and the Arts,
USA; Samantha Feldman, Student, University of Michigan – College of LS&A, USA
This case focuses on a widespread health concern to highlight the difficulties microenterprises in emerging economies encounter in the adoption of improved technologies. Specifically, it focuses on the common use of lead-oxide in ceramics production in Mexico, which has been identified by the government as a key health challenge for millions of Mexicans, both producers and users. Multiple international nonprofits and the Mexican government itself have made efforts to alleviate this problem, including helping develop a lead-free glaze to replace the long-used version. Uptake and diffusion have been mixed, though, highlighting the difficulties microenterprises have in dealing with the perpetuation of health and labor problems.
The case asks students to take on the role of a program director in an international non-profit that plans to deploy a pilot training program to help diffuse the use of the lead-free alternative in ceramics production.
HealthX Africa: Empathetic Leadership as an Asset in Telehealth
Authors:
Soni Jha, Assistant Professor, Strategic Management, Purdue University – Ft. Wayne, Indiana, USA; Ravi Ranjan, Assistant Professor, Africa Business School, Morocco; Rajneesh Narula, Director, Dunning Africa Centre, Henley Business School, South Africa
HealthX Africa is a telemedicine provider with a mission to provide a doctor for every Kenyan, wherever they are in the country, and at whatever time (day or night) they need to access healthcare services. HealthX focuses on primary healthcare services, using advances in information technologies to enhance the quality, accessibility, inclusiveness, and affordability of healthcare services in Kenya.
This case focuses on HealthX’s scaling issues when the adoption of telemedicine started to level off after the COVID-19 pandemic faded. Despite experiencing meteoric success from 2021-2023, HealthX now faces challenges.
HealthX’s chief medical officer—Radha Karnad — harnessed the power of empathetic leadership to differentiate HealthX from other telemedicine startups in Kenya.
Modern Health Tech and Ancient Ayurveda: A New Business Venture?
Authors:
Krantee Jamdaade, Associate Professor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India; Harshali Patil, Associate Professor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India; Avadhut Patwardhan, Assistant Professor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India; Anuja Agarwal, Adjunct Faculty, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India
Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old medical system, employs individualized lifestyle interventions and natural treatments, therapies, and remedies to balance body, mind, and spirit with the surrounding world.
This case study exemplifies the innovative amalgamation of Ayurvedic healthcare principles with modern data science and technology. Students will follow the protagonist’s journey from research to entrepreneurship in developing a personalized wellness treadmill that would provide monitoring information to physicians, and enable users to quickly apply self-improvement.
Finalist Judges, 2024 Health Tech Global Case Writing Competition: Emma Hannay, former Chief Access Officer, FIND; Monique Mrazek, Senior Investment Officer, International Investment Corporation; Matthias Ruger, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Global Surgery Foundation; Praveen Suthrum, Co-founder, NextServices and NovoLiver
Over the past 40 years, economic reforms and global trends have pushed Vietnam’s economy from one of the poorest in the world to a middle-income economy, according to the World Bank. In line with its continual and steady development, the country expects 5.5% growth in 2024, up from 5% in 2023. This expansion has put Vietnam well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045.
WDI has managed programs in Vietnam for the last 20 years, as part of the Institute’s mission in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2004, the Institute hosted a six-week management education program for executives from Vinacomin, Vietnam’s national mining country. In 2017, MBA students from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan worked with Vietnam Partners LLC to develop a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a venture capital fund focused on start-ups. Another group of MBA students joined Solagron, a high-tech agricultural company that relies on solar energy to cultivate and process microalgae, in 2024 to build a market entry strategy.
“Vietnam has all the characteristics of a market perfect for WDI’s involvement,” said Amy Gillett, WDI Vice President of Education “Its economy is an innovative one. Its players want to diversify, support start-ups, and strengthen managerial skills, so it’s the ideal time for us to be there. There is massive potential.”
Over the last three years, WDI has been elevating Vietnamese business leaders’ skills through its Advanced Mini-MBA Program at the FPT School of Business & Technology (FSB). This partnership brings together educators and business leaders to expand participants’ management skills, bolster business education opportunities and encourage economic growth in the country.
“Helping countries transition from centrally planned economies to market economies is WDI to its essence,” Gillett said. “When you make that transition, you need to cultivate and rely on a new level of management skills. WDI is perfectly equipped to train business leaders in these important skills, whether it’s in Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia.”
Not only has the government supported economic growth in the country through improved infrastructure and healthcare, but the nation’s businesses have pushed for inventive ways to accelerate their industries. The country is experiencing a steady increase in GDP per capita and improved infrastructure access.
“Vietnam is an interesting setting for management training because of the unique characteristics of the business environment. The high degree of government participation in the economy, for example, means that a company’s go-to-market strategy must respect this government — or, even better, leverage the government participation for competitive advantage,” said John Branch, clinical associate professor of business administration at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He teaches in the Mini MBA Program in both Vietnam and in Riga, Latvia.
The certificate program was co-developed by Gillett and David Estrada, WDI Education program administrator, specifically for the Vietnamese market. It digs into how to leverage these government relationships and requirements, and it also covers critical lessons on foundational business skills. WDI-affiliated faculty and FSB instructors teach executive students about strategy, sales management, marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, leadership, negotiations, human resources and more. Through a combination of in-person and online sessions, the program pushes participants to focus on digital transformation, leadership expansion, practical decision-making and organizational-level thinking.
“The program is mutually beneficial,” said Nguyen Viet Thang, Dean of FSB. “WDI has brought us new values and perspectives, and having top WDI professors participate in teaching is a great benefit for Vietnamese students and faculty. Conversely, we hope WDI gains significant value in understanding the corporate management culture of Eastern countries in general and Southeast Asia in particular.”
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Nguyen Viet Thang, Dean of FPT School of Business & Technology of FPT University; Paul Clyde, Former President of WDI; Dr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman and CEO of FPT Corporation; Bradley Lalonde, Co-founder and Chairman of Vietnam Partners LLC; Ha Nguyen, Academics Head of FPT School of Business.
WDI has brought us new values and perspectives, and having top WDI professors participate in teaching is a great benefit for Vietnamese students and faculty. Conversely, we hope WDI gains significant value in understanding the corporate management culture of Eastern countries in general and Southeast Asia in particular.
This year’s program will run from July through October 2024, and each module is deeply connected to real-world dilemmas and solutions. At the end of the program, participants complete a final group project around current management challenges they face in their own businesses. Participants are asked to consider a specific issue, analyze it, and formulate a practical solution. Groups then present their project, which includes market analysis, implementation plans and feasibility decisions, to the class. At the program’s culmination, participants receive a co-branded WDI-FSB certificate — emphasizing the deep value of these global relationships and cross-cultural educational opportunities.
“The WDI and FSB partnership is a win-win situation. It fosters knowledge exchange, expands access to valuable educational programs, and ultimately contributes to the development of a strong and globally competitive business community in Vietnam,” noted Bradley Lalonde, co-founder and chairman of Vietnam Partners LLC, in a recent business newsletter. Lalonde, a private equity and fund management expert who served as the first CEO of Citibank Vietnam, played an essential role in the development of the partnership program.
This unique FSB partnership program was created to strengthen both individual business skills and the larger economy. To achieve that goal, the curriculum is directed toward those in leadership roles – in many cases, the people driving the evolution of their industries. Participants in the program must have at least five years of management experience, and their expertise and sincerity show in their dedication to the course.
“What I admire in any learner is curiosity, and the Vietnamese learners in this program are especially curious,” Branch said. “They always ask questions. They try to dig deeper into the concept theories, and they want to see direct application to their own situations.”
For students, the program is an opportunity to learn from some of the best business faculty in the world, build a network of global business leaders and transform their own skills. For WDI, the program is a chance to bring its connections and educational prowess to a newly booming nation — an effort that aligns perfectly with its mission of unlocking the power of business to provide lasting economic and social prosperity.
“From my perspective, the partnership between WDI and FSB holds significant value for both institutions and, ultimately, for the business landscape in Vietnam,” said Lalonde.
WDI works with the Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia (WCEE) at U-M to offer NGO Leadership workshops to non-profit leaders from across central and southeastern Europe. The workshop in Slovakia covers marketing, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, fundraising and management to help NGOs run more effectively and sustainably. In 2024, the spring NGO Leadership workshop will be held in June in partnership with Bratislava-based partner, Hekima. Twenty five participants will come from Ukraine. Supplementary online modules on topics including leadership, social media marketing, and conflict resolution will be available to participants.
WDI works with the Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia (WCEE) at U-M to offer NGO Leadership workshops to non-profit leaders from across central and southeastern Europe. The workshops cover strategic planning, resource mobilization, resilience and digital security to help NGOs run more effectively and sustainably. The fall 2024 NGO Leadership workshop will be held in October in Warsaw.
WDI works with the Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia (WCEE) at U-M to offer NGO Leadership workshops to non-profit leaders from across central and southeastern Europe. The workshop in Bratislava covers marketing, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, fundraising and management to help NGOs run more effectively and sustainably. In 2023, the workshop will be held in June in partnership with Bratislava-based partner, Hekima. Twenty five participants will come from Ukraine. Supplementary online modules on topics including leadership, social media marketing, and conflict resolution will be available to participants.
Q&A
with Amy Gillett on NGO Leadership Workshop in Lublin
Since 2015, the William Davidson Institute (WDI) and its partners have provided NGO Leadership Workshops to nonprofit leaders from across Central and Southeastern Europe. In September, the eleventh such workshop was held in Lubin, Poland. In partnership with the University of Michigan’s Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia (WCEE) and in cooperation with Warsaw-based partner FED (Fundacja Edukacja dla Demokracji) the workshop is designed to equip NGO leaders with the skills and networks to run their organizations more effectively and sustainably.
September’s workshop was focused solely on Ukrainian organizations and attracted 24 humanitarian and nonprofit leaders.
Amy Gillett: This was our eleventh NGO Leadership Workshop and the first specifically for Ukrainian NGOs. It was also the first time we held the event in Lublin, a city in Southern Poland close to the Ukrainian border. The attendees included 23 women and one man, and all are at the front lines of providing critical services for the war effort. Participants were able to travel to Lublin by bus or train, though it was an arduous journey for many due to the heavy lines at the border crossings.
It was particularly difficult for this group of participants to leave their organizations and their families. At the beginning of the workshop, we provided an opportunity for participants to express their fears and expectations for the week. This fostered an atmosphere where participants could communicate openly and feel supported.
Another great aspect of this workshop was our diversity of trainers, bringing a variety of viewpoints and perspectives. Our trainers came from three countries: the USA, Poland and Ukraine. They represented both academics, NGO leaders and trained facilitators.
Amy Gillett: Our curriculum was geared toward addressing their most pressing needs, with training on conflict resolution, negotiations, dealing with people with PTSD, burnout prevention, and building resilience.
Among those teaching in the workshop was University of Michigan LSA professor Eric Fretz, who also served for 24 years in the U.S. Navy and was able to draw on his experiences in conflict zones including Iraq. Following the event, he posted this look back.
Every session included lots of interaction and hands-on activities – by the end of the workshop, the entire wall of the training room was covered with Post-it notes and colorful posters. And each instructor had their own approach to training, which helped keep the energy up throughout the four days.
“This workshop gave me the confidence that I am a leader, that I have the strength and ability to continue to support women. I have to take care of my team, prevent burnout and conflicts, and lead ethical policies, then the world will be a better place.”
—NGO Leadership Workshop Participant
Amy Gillett: Their NGOs focused on a range of activities, including: providing critical medical services, offering psychological assistance, defending human rights, preventing gender based violence, providing legal services, and preserving Ukrainian cultural heritage.
Among the workshop participants was noted video blogger Anna Danylchuk, who along with running an NGO focused on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Ukraine, releases daily video dispatches on the war in Ukraine. In fact, she continued to broadcast from our workshop, using her hotel room as her studio.
Amy Gillett: This workshop offered practical skills for improving wellbeing, building resilience, preventing burnout and increasing emotional intelligence. Many participants spoke out about how useful these areas are given the current situation. The fighting spirit of the Ukrainians is very impressive — participants always speak of “when we win the war.” The week in Lublin was a chance for participants to recharge and renew their energy for this ongoing battle. As one participant commented to me at the closing dinner, “I’m in a good place emotionally and psychologically and that means I can do more to help others.”
The workshop also enhanced the participants’ confidence as leaders. This will help them guide their organizations through these very challenging times. As one participant expressed, the workshop gave her the strength and ability to continue in her organizational mission of supporting women.
Many participants also found cooperation opportunities with each other. They are now embarking on new joint projects, combining resources and ideas to undertake high-impact work together.
Amy Gillett: Here are some notable quotes from participants:
“This workshop gave me the confidence that I am a leader, that I have the strength and ability to continue to support women. I have to take care of my team, prevent burnout and conflicts, and lead ethical policies, then the world will be a better place.”
“The workshop is really helpful and important for my personal development and beneficial to my organization. Lots of insights, practical instruments, brilliant speakers!”
“Ukrainian civil society has proven to be very brave, effective and productive. Invest in it and together we will win!”
The next workshop is planned for June 2024 in Košice, Slovakia and will again focus on Ukraine, with the NGO leaders coming from Ukraine and nearby countries. Learn more about upcoming and previous workshops here.
Photo: Participants at the NGO Leadership Workshop Warsaw during a session on Networking.
For decades, the William Davidson Institute (WDI) at the University of Michigan has held Ukraine close to its mission. When the Institute was founded more than 30 years ago, Eastern Europe was its very first geographical focus area — and for good reason. At the time, there was no guarantee that countries on the other side of the fallen Berlin Wall would embrace and deliver market-driven economies. Rather, there was concern that they would revert to government-planned economies. Those early WDI educational projects in Eastern Europe reflected the Institute’s core purpose: sharing the tools of commercial success with students, partners and other stakeholders to build both lasting economic and social prosperity.
While the conditions in Ukraine and Eastern Europe have certainly changed over the course of three decades, WDI’s commitment to the region has remained strong — even stronger after Russia invaded Ukraine nearly one year ago.
WDI’s NGO Leadership Workshops are one example of this dedication. Run in partnership with the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) at the University of Michigan, the workshops engage and guide nonprofit groups providing a variety of social services during times of struggle. The most recent workshop, which took place in October in Poland, showed just how crucial these sessions can be for participants.
With the destabilizing impact of war in the region, it is more important than ever to invest in civil society, explained Geneviève Zubrzycki, Director of the WCEE. And NGOs are key in that process.
“For NGOs working with Ukrainian refugees, there’s a level of urgency and human tragedy that we can’t ignore,” said Zubrzycki.
These biannual four-day workshops have been held in Slovakia and Poland since 2015. They bring together nonprofit leaders to network with one another, learn about topics close to their work, and connect with global experts. The sessions regularly cover planning and sustainability, NGO management, marketing strategies, advocacy and fundraising.
It’s powerful work that many of these managers would be unable to tackle on their own, but through the support of WCEE, they can come together without being saddled with the cost of tuition, room, or travel. Leaders can focus entirely on boosting their impact at home, and the coursework is built to do exactly that. “Each session raised important points that I will consider in my work with my team at our NGO,” said a Romanian participant, one of the 24 leaders who joined the workshop in Warsaw.
For NGOs working with Ukrainian refugees, there’s a level of urgency and human tragedy that we can’t ignore.
For NGOs working with Ukrainian refugees, there’s a level of urgency and human tragedy that we can’t ignore.
The 2022 workshop in Warsaw was scheduled prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. War had fallen on communities across the country, and Ukrainians fled the violence with whatever they could carry, clinging to family members and ditching cars when they ran out of gas. According to the UN Refugee Agency, 6.3 million people from Ukraine have been recorded crossing international borders into neighboring countries including Poland and Moldova since the invasion. The effects have sent a wave of challenges through the continent.
As WDI planned the workshop in 2022, it was impossible to ignore the growing pressure placed on regional nonprofits. WDI and WCEE worked to adapt the program to meet the realities on the ground.
“Dedicating the workshop to NGOs working with Ukrainian refugees made it possible for us to tailor sessions to their specific needs. It also created a safe space for them to discuss difficult topics,” said Zubrzycki.
WDI similarly shifted its curriculum to meet the needs of the many NGOs in the area serving Ukrainian refugees. Experts joined to share advice on maintaining digital security, planning strategically during crises, avoiding staff burnout, and working with people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“The entire workshop was driven by on-the-ground needs,” explains Amy Gillett, Vice President of Education at WDI. “It was developed with a design-thinking approach. We considered what the organizations’ immediate needs were and what they were grappling with, and then we created the curriculum around that, focusing on the most pressing needs.”
Working for an NGO operating in a warzone carries “all of the stresses and drama of a normal workplace raised to 11, then add in the fact that everyone you’re working with has left everything they own, is stressed through the roof, and perhaps has lived through various war-related traumas,” explained Eric Fretz, a professional educator and coach focused on personal development, emotional intelligence, and resilience who teaches at the University of Michigan. Fretz led conversations at the workshop about post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, emotional intelligence and mental strength.
He dug into the basics of trauma with participants and shared advice on managing their own stress, which he hopes will create a ripple effect. “Leaders can share this with their team, and then everyone on their team is much more able to take care of those that they encounter. It’s an upward lift.”
Relationships are everything — in serving people, in building businesses, and in running nonprofits. “These groups need to know each other to be more effective,” Gillett said. “The connections that take place outside of the formal instruction are just as important as the skills that they’re learning in the classroom sessions. It’s during these informal conversations where resources and ideas are shared that are critical to their success.”
Participants at the NGO Leadership Workshop spent time together talking about their struggles, joys and plans. They shared tips over morning coffee for better reaching refugees and advice on soliciting global support for long-term aid while walking through Warsaw’s Old Town on a guided tour offered as part of the workshop. “We were left with so many brilliant acquaintances and friendships, and we have gathered priceless information,” said one participant from Georgia.
WDI has seen the bonds built during past workshops flourish after participants returned home — and the Institute is just as dedicated to continuing to support long-standing connections in Ukraine. Though it was forced to suspend a project that would have sent four University of Michigan MBA students to the Lviv Business School of Ukrainian Catholic University (LvBS), WDI President Paul Clyde recently spoke to the university’s Vice Rector Sophia Opatska about the role universities and students will play in country’s resistance and rebuilding.
Workshop participants, particularly ones from Ukraine, were grateful to learn alongside leaders from other countries who were working on the ground with them. David Estrada, Program Coordinator at WDI, said “They were thankful that we were able to provide a space for them and be around other people doing this same type of work.”
Two NGO Leadership Workshops are planned for 2023, in Bratislava, Slovakia and Warsaw, Poland.
WDI is partnering with the FPT School of Business & Technology’s business school, FPT, on a new general management certificate program: the Advanced MiniMBA program. The program is running in the fall of 2024 and combines online instruction with in-person training in Vietnam. Topics covered are competition, marketing, finance, strategy and leadership.
As an independent nonprofit with an education focus, the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (WDI) has relied on students as essential drivers for impact since its founding 30 years ago. Students participate in each stage of WDI’s projects, from data analysis to strategy development to implementation. And for the last three years, the University of Michigan students most dedicated to WDI’s mission to equip economic decision-makers in emerging markets with the tools for success have earned special recognition as Davidson Field Scholars.
WDI again is proud to welcome its next cohort of these important student contributors.
“Davidson Field Scholars provide valuable insights into multiple WDI projects, ranging from consulting work with partners to program support for organizations in low- and middle-income countries,” said WDI President Paul Clyde. “They play a critical role in our Michigan Academy for Developing Entrepreneurs and WDI’s International Investment Fund.”
This year’s group of Davidson Field Scholars is no different. Each brings distinct expertise — from medical to high-level marketing experience — to the specific challenges of WDI’s global partners. In collaboration with WDI partners, students have helped organizations execute technology updates in global markets, push forward local health equity measures, and develop go-to-market strategies for essential products, among other efforts.
Students who become Davidson Field Scholars are dedicated to finding business-empowered approaches to many economic and social issues in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They also demonstrate students’ commitment to understanding and sharing business solutions with partners through consulting, analyzing, and managing complex dilemmas for organizations around the globe, Clyde said.
To earn the designation, scholars must complete two courses or programs through WDI. Many students work with WDI to complete their Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) as part of their MBA degree. Scholars may also participate in a WDI-supported internship, independent study, the International Investment Fund, or the Michigan Academy for the Development of Entrepreneurs (MADE). Through these opportunities, partner organizations secure imperative guidance and students gain meaningful skills. “Within just a couple years, these scholars develop experiences that many of our partners rely on,” said Clyde.
WDI is looking forward to working closely with its current team of Davidson Field Scholars and seeing the powerful contributions they will undoubtedly bring to its global partners, academic programming, and the business world as a whole.
Learn more about this program on our Students page.
Burnett is dedicated to guiding brands toward powerful marketing plans, and she is working toward her Ross MBA with the goal of driving brand management strategies. Before beginning her MBA, she earned her Anthropology degree from Dartmouth College. Burnett completed a WDI-sponsored MAP project in Uganda, where she developed a go-to-market strategy for diabetic products. She plans to work with the International Investment Fund and participate in either a WDI-supported internship or independent study. After graduation, Burnett plans to return to PepsiCo Frito-Lay, where she completed a marketing internship.
Hendon worked with cloud software development and global technology expansion teams at Deloitte before beginning his MBA program at Ross. He also earned his degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Georgia prior to starting at U-M. With a concentration in healthcare management, Hendon is focusing on healthcare product commercialization, growth strategies and health equity. He has traveled to Uganda to build a diabetes product commercialization strategy as part of a MAP project and interned with Medtronic’s Surgical Innovation team to evaluate global startups. Hendon is also slated to work on a project for a rehabilitation clinic in Ghana and plans to join the International Investment Fund.
Jahnke is focused on pivoting to a career in healthcare investment banking. After earning her undergraduate degree in history and political science from the University of Michigan, Jahnke worked in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. As a Ross MBA student, she completed a WDI-coordinated MAP project at the Aravind Eye Care Hospital in India. She is currently a research assistant on a project designed to understand the role of Aravind’s culture in a hospital they have been involved in starting and running in Nigeria. Jahnke will be joining Morgan Stanley after completing her degree at the Ross School of Business.
Lam is a dual-degree student, expecting to graduate with a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. Before joining the Ross School of Business, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology at U-M. Lam has completed a WDI-sponsored MAP with TIP Global Health, mapping the production cycle and delivering a cost analysis for ready-to-use therapeutic food for people who are malnourished. She not only grew her business experience but also boosted her understanding of poverty and desire to live as a global citizen. Lam plans to begin a WDI-approved independent study and then work at a development-centered organization.
Before joining the Ross School of Business, McMichael earned her Biomolecular Science degree from U-M. She is currently pursuing both a Ross MBA and a Doctor of Medicine, hoping to make impactful, system-level changes to the worlds of academic medicine and global health equity. She completed an internship focused on developing a business plan for a rehabilitation clinic in Ghana, merging her business and healthcare expertise. McMichael has completed a WDI-sponsored MAP project and plans to participate in a WDI-approved independent study.
Before beginning his Master of Business Administration, Naovarat earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Texas A&M University, graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Medical School, and worked as a physician-researcher. He has focused much of his time at the Ross School of Business on venture capitalist endeavors including participating in venture fellowships, founding the Michigan Venture Consulting group, and interning at UPMC Enterprises. He also joined a WDI-sponsored MAP project, working with Clínica de Familia La Romana in the Dominican Republic to aid in the implementation of a new imaging device for the clinic. Naovarat plans to participate in the International Investment Fund with WDI and transition to a venture firm, perhaps with a focus on biotech, after graduation.
Plamondon has been a member of the WDI-supported International Investment Fund, where he is the Managing Director. Before beginning his MBA, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, he traveled to Zambia to work with a mobile payments company, and he has since worked with a healthcare business in Kenya. He led the International Investment Fund’s first investment, supporting a startup in Kenya. Plamondon hopes to work at a startup focused on clean energy or financial inclusion for sub-Saharan African populations after completing his MBA.
Rao graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology and completed a Master’s of Public Health with a focus in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Regulatory Affairs from Yale University in 2018. Before pursuing an MBA Ross, Rao worked in healthcare analytics at several large firms, including CVS Health and Blue Health Intelligence. Rao is developing an independent case study, evaluating the Aravind Eye Care System model and its replicability in Nigeria. In the Winter 2023 term, Rao plans to participate in the WDI-supported BA685: Healthcare Delivery in Emerging Markets, with a special focus on the Kisii Hospital Vision Center in Kenya. Rao plans to apply her degree and experiences after graduation at Boston Consulting Group, with a focus on health care.
Rajabian graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2011 and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan. A resident of Detroit, Rajabian has worked for DTE Energy for ten years, including currently as General Supervisor at DTE Energy’s Warren Service Center. Rajabian also is a co-owner of an engineering company and a fintech start-up, Relic. Rajabian participated in a WDI-sponsored Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) by providing international market entry analysis for a US healthcare provider in Vietnam. As a Davidson Field Scholar, Rajabian is interested in providing consulting services in healthcare, energy, or financial technology — focus areas he plans to apply to his career post graduation.
Note: This article was updated Jan. 5, 2023 to reflect the addition of Geetika Rao and Bryce Rajabian.