What is your role at BSR?

I lead BSR’s global information and communications technology (ICT) industry team to identify and drive projects that will have the biggest impact on environmental and socio-economic conditions around the world.

What are you most excited to work on with member companies?

The ICT team at BSR can add value for members in a number of ways. One, of course, is to help companies derive more value from sustainability in their own business, whether that’s cost savings (and reduced GHG) from more energy efficient data centers or helping ensure a supply of conflict-free minerals.

But what I am most excited about is how ICT companies can use technology as a solution to help their customers and society at large. This can have a truly positive amplification effect beyond the industry itself.

What are some of the opportunities you see for ICT companies to help solve the world’s challenges?

Leading ICT companies are already providing solutions to help tackle some the world’s most challenging problems, such as access to healthcare and education and addressing climate change.

For example, in developing countries, mobile technology is providing access to health information and simplifying financial transactions through mobile payments and receipts. Similarly, the advent of cloud computing is reducing energy consumption as computing power migrates from individual servers to data centers.

What are some of the challenges you see in developing sustainable business in the industry?

While I think some companies have been at the forefront of integrating CSR into their business, most still see it as a separate function with a limited role. We will not reach a steady state in sustainable business until CSR is integrated into the business across the board.

Luckily, people in the ICT industry tend to be entrepreuners and risk takers. They like to push the envelope and bust through the status quo. I’m excited to be working with the industry through BSR—together there’s a great opportunity for making real change.