Good Business Lab, in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and The 21st Century India Center at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, recently hosted the conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The event aimed to explore evidence-based approaches and partnerships for enhancing worker well-being and fostering inclusive private sector growth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

| Title: Future of Work and Skills for Emerging Markets
| Date: 27 October 2023

Acknowledging the challenges faced by workers and workplaces in these regions, the event highlighted the importance of data-driven approaches and rigorous evidence to address critical areas such as skills development, worker well-being, women entrepreneurship, and supply chain relationships.

Esther Duflo delivered a compelling keynote, delving into crucial issues surrounding economic growth in LMICs. During one of the panels, our co-founder Anant Nyshadham emphasized the role of  women in economic growth and the  necessity to reconsider traditional job roles and leadership positions for women.  Additionally, our co-founder Achyuta Adhvaryu played a pivotal role in moderating the session on “Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Digital Skills?: Up-skilling India’s Workforce.” He posed discussion points on the collaboration between the government and the private sector, shedding light on challenges related to worker training and retention. 

The conference provided a collaborative platform for knowledge exchange, fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders, researchers and experts  to drive positive change in emerging markets.   

PANELS

The Role of the Private Sector in Reducing Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Development 

This keynote session was structured as a fireside conversation with Professor Esther Duflo.

• Esther Duflo (speaker), Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, MIT and co-founder, J-PAL 
• Julie Cobill (moderator), ESG and Corporate Partnerships Lead, J-PAL

Using Evidence to Accelerate Women’s Leadership and Skills Development across Sectors and Industries 

• Claudia Paz Martinez Alvear (speaker), Economics Lead Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank
• Komala Ramachandra (speaker), Director for Social, Labor & Human Rights, Gap Inc.
• Manuela Angelucci (speaker), Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
• Anant Nyshadham (moderator), Associate Professor, University of Michigan and co-founder, Good Business Lab 

Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Digital Skills?: Up-skilling India’s Workforce

• J.D. Giri (speaker), Vice President, Shahi Exports
• Achyuta Adhvaryu (moderator), Professor of Economics, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and Director, 21st Century India Center and co-founder, Good Business Lab 

Supporting Entrepreneurship and Sustainability through Supply Chain Relationships

• David Atkin (speaker), Professor, MIT and J-PAL Firms Sector Co-chair
• Chris Mejía Argueta (speaker), Founder & Director, MIT Food and Retail Operations Lab
• Lourdes O. Montenegro (speaker), Director of Research and Digitisation, World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)
• Jorge Tamayo (moderator), Assistant Professor, Harvard Business School

Empowering Women Informal Entrepreneurs: Credit, Skills and an Enabling Environment 

• Françoise Carré (speaker), Statistics Director, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) 
• Nkechi S. Owoo (speaker), Health and Demographic Economist, University of Ghana and J-PAL African Scholar 
• Jing Cai (moderator), Associate Professor, University of Maryland and J-PAL Firms Sector Co-chair

Roundtable Discussion: Future of Work, Partnership, and Role of Evidence: Myths to Reality 

• Jennifer Hansel (speaker), Senior Program Officer – Global Policy & Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Guillermo Tovar Mantilla (speaker), Economist – Labor and Skills GSG, World Bank
• David Wofford (speaker), Senior Director, United Nations Foundation
• Alison Fahey (moderator), Director of Policy and Communications, J-PAL Global

You can refer to the Insights doc for more information on the event.
For more detailed insights into the conference, please tune into the recording of the event, available below: