Impact Connect

I had the privilege of meeting the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, dear Abed Chowdhury bhai, at the Bangladesh Agro Conclave 2025 held today, May 25, at Amari Dhaka. The event, organized by SAF Bangladesh and LightCastle Partners, brought together national and global stakeholders to discuss the transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. Thanks to Mizan bhai for the networking opportunity.

The idea of using mangroves for climate resilience is not entirely new. Large-scale reforestation programs are increasingly common, but many fail due to two key reasons: Planting the wrong species in unsuitable locations. There are around 110 species of mangrove trees, and their suitability depends on factors such as land quality, salinity, and timing. Overlooking the socio-economic drivers of mangrove degradation. This is crucial for long-term sustainability. Mangroves take 5 to 20 years to mature, and during this period, communities need viable alternative sources of income. The critical question is: How can communities take ownership of these initiatives? For long-term success, local livelihoods must be closely tied to the mangrove ecosystem. If communities do not see direct, tangible benefits, they are unlikely to engage with or sustain restoration efforts.

“We never fail”. Mentioned by a senior public policymaker in Bangladesh. The issue was innovation in public service. That’s what I emphasized to senior government policymakers back in 2016, during a series of innovation reforms, policy dialogues, and public events I was involved in. At that time, I strongly believed that in innovation initiatives, failure is not just acceptable — it is essential. Mistakes are part of the learning process. I advocated for the government to develop a clear policy or guideline that embraces failure as a natural part of innovation in the public sector. It took a few years, but eventually, I was able to convince senior policymakers to allow space for mistakes and failures in the pursuit of innovation. My key argument was simple yet powerful: failure is not failure — it is experience, it is learning. This policy-level shift turned out to be incredibly valuable, especially for junior officers who were the real drivers of on-the-ground innovation. It e...

"Without deliberate action, the benefits of AI could bypass marginalized communities, deepening existing inequalities." This is true. Many might argue, “But we are taking action.” The question then becomes: What kind of deliberate actions are we taking? Do these actions help us truly understand the needs of marginalized communities? Do they ensure their meaningful engagement as co-creators in shaping AI solutions? Frankly, I’m not seeing genuine co-creation initiatives. Then what would you do?

This post powerfully debunks common myths about Africa and reframes the narrative to highlight the continent’s agency, diversity, and innovation. It’s refreshing to see the emphasis on trust-based philanthropy and the value of African-led solutions, which are too often overlooked in global discourse. Local leaders aren’t just beneficiaries — they’re the architects of lasting change. This truth needs wider recognition. The call to shift from survival-based giving to sovereignty and sustainability is especially compelling. Philanthropy must evolve to meet Africa where it is today — vibrant, complex, and full of promise. Listening and collaboration are the keys to real impact. In every society there are huge number of people who are problem-solvers, they try for the social innovation with their own way. Sometime, outsiders, destroy their innovative mindset and process, through their tools, thoughts, and process. In Bangladesh I saw a number of philanthropy initiagives which was not driv...

Failure is often mistaken for a misstep—an accident to be avoided. But over time, I’ve come to see it differently: failure is a valuable and necessary part of growth. Ten years ago, I believed failure was simply a mistake, something to be ashamed of. That mindset changed once I began to view failure as a crucial part of the learning process. From that point on, every failure became a lesson. Many still see failure as something accidental or unfortunate. This perspective is shaped by a society and education system that uses flawed, often biased tools to measure success—tools rooted in perception, status, and social norms. These standards influence how we think and often lead us astray. One of my most important realizations was understanding the contrast between a job mindset and an entrepreneurial mindset. For years, I operated within the limits of a job-focused way of thinking—prioritizing stability, routine, and comfort. Shifting to an entrepreneurial mindset, which values creativit...

This story goes back about seven years (2018). At that time, negotiating with government and donor policymakers was part of my daily routine. Most of my interactions were with these groups, and I had very few negotiations with business leaders. Typically, I would begin the discussions with some background and spend at least 15 minutes giving a detailed briefing to government and donor stakeholders. However, over the past four years, my approach to briefing has changed significantly. I’ve learned to start with the bottom line—especially when speaking with business leaders—and this shift has been very effective not just for me, but also for others who observed or worked with me. A particularly practical example took place in 2021 during a meeting with a group of business leaders. The objective was to secure funding for a social cohesion campaign targeting youth and women from marginalized communities. I prepared for five minutes, focusing on presenting the bottom line first. I began ...

Inclusion isn’t just a concept—it’s a capability rooted in skills. While ideas like psychological safety, implicit bias, and belonging are essential for awareness, they don’t automatically lead to action. Understanding inclusion doesn’t mean you know how to practice it. We need a skills-first approach. True inclusion is built on behaviors like active listening, decentering oneself in discussions, and creating space for all voices—even when it slows things down. These are teachable, observable, and measurable skills. Listening is the most powerful tool you have mentioned for true inclusion. But real listening isn’t easy — it takes intention and passion. When you commit to deep, uncomfortable, and compassionate listening, the rest becomes easier. Listening opens the door to empathy, equity, and real change. Another key factor is impact measurement. Inclusion can’t just feel good—it has to show results. Skills make it possible to track real progress. When inclusion becomes behavior, you c...

In this issue of the World Economic Forum’s 3 Economic Trends newsletter, we explore three key developments shaping global markets and policy. 1. Private Capital and the Net-Zero Transition: Private capital is emerging as a powerful force in the shift to a net-zero economy—an estimated $275 trillion opportunity by 2050. Private equity firms are embedding sustainability into business models, unlocking barriers to scale, and driving innovation across the climate value chain. Their strategic involvement is transforming climate action into a generational investment opportunity. 2. Jobs in a Tariff-Ridden World: As protectionist policies and tariffs reshape global trade, labor markets face significant disruption. Industries dependent on global supply chains are particularly vulnerable, requiring new strategies for workforce resilience and retraining to adapt to shifting economic realities. 3. IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings – Key Takeaways: Global economic leaders emphasized the need for inc...