Development Through Digitization: The New Path for Emerging Markets

Date
Oct 11, 2018, 4:30 pm4:30 pm
Location
JRR 301

Speakers

Details

Event Description

Social impact enterpreneurs Nadeem Hussain & Shahryar Reza will discuss the technological revolution taking place across emerging markets (particularly Pakistan, Egypt, and the UAE), analogous to the 19th Century Industrial revolution in the West in terms of the transformational impact on development and society. Digitization, data, microfinance and nano-finance can further financial inclusion and usher millions into the mainstream economy, while simultaneously boosting business efficiency and profitability.

About the speakers

Nadeem Hussain is one of Asia’s leading social impact entrepreneurs, technology investors and financial inclusion pioneers. He is the founder of Telenor Microfinance Bank (formerly known as Tameer Bank), lauded by the World Bank as one of the most socially impactful banks in its field. Its EasyPaisa offering is the world’s second largest branchless banking payments solutions, moving over 5% of Pakistan’s GDP in 2017. In its first entry into the Pakistan market, Alibaba-Ant Financial has recently acquired a 45% stake in the company at a $410m valuation representing a 41.0x multiple of the initial 2005 founding capital of the business. Nadeem’s subsequent venture Planet N Group is an emerging markets social impact and technology investment firm with portfolio companies in Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE and UK. Key sectors include: nano & micro finance, fintech, data science & analytics, machine learning & AI, blockchain, e-health, e-education e-media and e-commerce.  Planet N is dedicated to the goals of furthering financial inclusion and fostering development through digitization. Nadeem Hussain is globally recognized for his dedication and service to financial inclusion. He has chaired the United Nation’s MDG Session on Financial Inclusion, is Chairman of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, is a frequent speaker at international forums on branchless banking and Microfinance, and has held numerous global board and committee positions in the sector

Shahryar Reza is President of Planet N’s International Division & CEO of their Data Analytics portfolio company, Albion AI. Shahryar studied at Wharton & INSEAD, and will outline (in his introduction to Nadeem) his journey from student to social impact and data science entrepreneur and will also discuss internship and career opportunities within the Group.

Nadeem and Shahryar are joined by Planet N Bord Member, Lauren Arnold, Strategic advisor to the UAE Ministry of Health and the Chief Clinical Officer for the Dubai Healthcare City University Hospital Project. Lauren focuses on E-Health and Healthcare Social Impact.

Sponsor
The Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance