During our 51st leadership conversation on October 12, 2023, we were honored to host Mr. Steve Smith to delve into the topic of Leadership for Global Development. Dr. Ash Pachauri initiated the discussion by asking Mr. Smith about his perspective on leadership. In response, Steve emphasized the constant learning process associated with leadership, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. He stressed the importance of staying true to oneself and shared examples of leaders with different approaches, including Garry Wendt, who advocated for keeping things small and delegating to passionate leaders. Steve also highlighted the leadership qualities of his wife, Alice, and Dr. Pachauri, emphasizing the need for individuals to find their own leadership strategy while staying open and creative.

Ivan Ransom directed a question toward the advice Mr. Smith would offer to early-stage founders of social impact companies. Steve emphasized the importance of understanding one’s value proposition and avoiding being blinded to similar ideas due to attachment to one’s solution. He highlighted the significance of team alignment, realistic goal-setting, and the need to measure impact from both internal and external perspectives. Steve also emphasized the importance of being realistic about break-even points and understanding the different phases of business development.

Alejandra Fragosco inquired about Mr. Smith’s important learning experiences from global development projects. Steve shared insights into going upstream to impact investors, working collaboratively with large organizations, and promoting locally led, multi-stakeholder, systems-informed platforms. He discussed the tension between long-term resilient systems and short-term emergencies, emphasizing the need to attract more capital for long-term sustainability in each round of funding. The exchange provided valuable insights into leadership and the challenges and opportunities in global development.