Entrepreneurship and innovation can help reduce poverty. New innovations make life easier for users, and entrepreneurs developing innovations provide opportunities for decent work. How, then, can we encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in resource-constrained settings? How can we support entrepreneurs in developing and scaling their ideas? I am interested in answering these questions through a behavioral science lens. By understanding entrepreneurs’ beliefs, behaviors, and motivations, we can create environments that allow them to innovate and thrive. 

My passion for entrepreneurship and innovation stems from my work experience. At Busara, I have led projects across a number of sectors that analyze innovation from the perspective of end-users. My team and I have conducted many studies to identify why and how end-users take up and use innovations, from HIV self-testing kits to climate-resilient agriculture solutions. We have also designed interventions and nudges to make existing products and services more innovative and user-centric, such as our research to improve remote training for health workers using small airtime incentives, certificates, and gamification. 

I began my career at The Vanguard Group before pivoting to development and joining the Peace Corps in Benin. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I used my private sector work experience to support entrepreneurs and small business owners in developing their business operations. I have a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration from Drexel University. 

Languages: English, French (although I haven’t spoken in years, and my French has evolved into Franglais) 

Profile: Linkedin