Displaying Posts Tagged ‘economic opportunity’

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

Connie K. Duckworth / January 24th, 2011 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, economic sustainability, sustainable economic development / 1 comment

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

– Albert Einstein

“Systems thinking” is about understanding how individual component parts influence each other within a whole framework. In a science lab, for example, systems thinking can be easily observed when small amounts of a catalyst create big chemical reactions.

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An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

Connie K. Duckworth / January 12th, 2011 / posted in afghan people, business social responsibility, economic sustainability, opportunity, social change, social investment / 1 comment

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

– Albert Einstein

Everyone I know personally or professionally shares a singular perspective—how glad we are to see 2010 in the rear view mirror. The past two years, in fact, have been exhausting on every front—economically, politically, globally—and our collective fatigue level is high. It’s hard to run life unceasingly at DEFCON 2. At the same time, there’s an innate optimism that comes with flipping to the blank slate of a new calendar year. It refreshes our spirits, revives our energy, stiffens our resolve and restores our hope for positive change.

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Frugal Thinking

Connie K. Duckworth / August 23rd, 2010 / posted in business social responsibility, economic sustainability, opportunity / 1 comment

I recently read an interesting report by Booz & Company called ” The Importance of Frugal Engineering.” It cites the development process of the Tata Nano car as a case study to illustrate the imperative of this approach in designing products for the developing world. To me, the idea of “frugal” can and should be extended to the larger platform of international development. This is the vision of sustainable community development that is very different from the standard approach taken today.

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Afghan Women’s Rights Are Non-negotiable. Full Stop.

Connie K. Duckworth / July 15th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan women, economic sustainability, opportunity / no comments

Washington’s trial balloon of “reintegrating” the Taliban raises red flags for those of us working to help Afghan women keep their seat at the table in the “new Afghanistan.” We’re worried that women will get traded away when the final deal gets cut, and we know this would be a disastrous mistake.

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What Afghans Want

Connie K. Duckworth / June 28th, 2010 / posted in afghan people, economic sustainability, opportunity, social responsibility, sustainable community / 2 comments

This week, the press has been in full “scoop” mode. Since I am not a reporter, a talking head, a think tank expert, an academic, a government employee (whether military, political or civil), or even a “vampire squid,” (although I did spend 20 years at Goldman Sachs), I am certainly insufficiently credentialed to opine on the military or political strategy of how the U.S. and ISAF are prosecuting the war in Afghanistan.

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Operation Magic Carpet Ride

Connie K. Duckworth / June 21st, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, economic sustainability, opportunity, social programs, sustainable economic development / 3 comments

If my blog has been conspicuous by its absence for the last ten days, at least I have a good excuse. I’ve been in Afghanistan – at Camp Leatherneck, Northern Helmand Province to be precise – at the invitation of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Needless to say, it’s been a once in a lifetime experience.

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“Expeditionary Economics” : A New Weapon in Our Arsenal

Connie K. Duckworth / June 15th, 2010 / posted in economic sustainability, sustainability strategy, sustainable economic development / no comments

Until a month ago, I had never heard the term. Then, someone sent me an article from the May/June issue of Foreign Affairs entitled “Expeditionary Economics: Spurring Growth After Conflicts and Disasters.” It was written by Carl Schramm, President and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, the world’s largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship, whose mission is “to foster a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities.”

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