Omar Yaqub

Resume

I solve problems in business and development using behavioural economics, and technology commercialization. I have worked across the globe at the intersection of business, innovation, and development. My accomplishments include conducting global health research, building a support network for 30 organizations in East Africa, pioneering new types of adult education and brand building in Nigeria, and building cutting edge IT systems in Canada.

Social Enterprise Fund

CSR: Class 3

As promised, here are the slides: Class 3: Corruption, Image, and Bottom Lines [12MB pdf]

If You're just interested in the Final Grading Breakdown:
Financial [40%]
Have they specified how they will achieve sustainability?
Have they mentioned a break even/profit point?
What is the growth strategy?
How do you compare to your alternatives?

Social [40%]
Are there clear social benefits?
Have they thought about overcoming obstacles?
What metrics will they use to measure success?

Other [20%]
How well is the problem articulated?
Are they focussed?
Is it achievable/practical?
Was the presentation clear?

Corporate Social Responsibility

I'm somewhat enamoured with the Edward Tufte manner of presentation, where slides are used sparingly, and compliment, not compete, with the presenter. I've tried to deploy this approach in my class, and the result is what I hope to be a more engaging experience. However, the downside is that slides lose their context without me speaking.
Anyway, for the students that have requested slides be put up, here they are…

Class 1: Social Innovation [9MB pdf]

Class 2: Base of the Pyramid [12MB pdf]

Bonus:
A remote presentation I created based on the social marketing component of class 2 about my work in Nigeria

Social Marketing bed nets with Nollywood [Quicktime 45MB]
This presentation actually does have written notes on it.

Also, if you're interested in my presentation ideology see PresentationZen.

Meet the Press

IÃ¢â¬â¢m back in Edmonton, sooner than expected. I had high hopes for DC, but alas things donÃ¢â¬â¢t always go according to plan. On the upside, IÃ¢â¬â¢m back home and the work with Nollywood has been getting some fairly good press, in addition to the Business 2.0 Article (What Work’s, August 2007), the story was picked up by CNN.com: [The do-gooder’s MBA], The Edmonton Journal / Canada.com [For MBAs without Borders, the profit is in saving lives:
Selling ‘ugly’ mosquito nets to reluctant, malaria-plagued Nigerians ‘essentially a marketing problem’], the Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Foundation [pending], and today Global TV will be airing a segment about it on Global National with Kevin Newman, nation wide at 5:30pm [Global National’s Everyday Hero: Netting a different kind of profit: Omar Yaqub].

In the follow-up for the press, I’ve been really happy to see that the project has taken on a life of it’s own. The nets are appearing in new movies, and the door has been opened for potentially bigger things. I’m also really happy to see the attention MBAs Without Borders is getting.

I never set out to do the work that I do for attention. ThatÃ¢â¬â¢s the last reason to pursue this type of work. ItÃ¢â¬â¢s a bit odd to see myself like this. I donÃ¢â¬â¢t think my work has any more merit than a teachersÃ¢â¬â¢ or a person who dedicates themselves to helping their community a little bit each week.