Kasey shares her experience going to Bangladesh with the Richardson Center for Global Engagement to work on the Rohingya refugee crisis.

SHOW NOTES

How Did Kasey Get the Invite?

-It was three years ago when Kasey got connected with Mickey Bergman, head of Fringe Diplomacy as well as VP and Executive Director of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement.

-She joined Fringe Diplomacy on a trip to Cuba and almost two years later was asked to work with startups in Lebanon with the same organizations.

-This time around she went to Bangladesh to work with all of the stakeholders in the Rohingya refugee crisis. This includes the host community, NGOs, social impact entrepreneurs, and government officials. The goal was to brainstorm ways to ease some of the burden and build some successful businesses.

Learning From Them and Listening

-The idea is not to go in and tell them what to do. The idea is to offer help where you can, but really focus on learning from them and asking a lot of questions.

-Like in sales, this situation was all about listening. After partaking in multiple meetings with all of the various stakeholders, you realize that each have their own preconceived notions or perceptions on what the issue is and how to solve it. No one is taking the time to understand each other’s perceptions.

-It’s best in most cases, to check your assumptions at the door because we often forget that other people have valid reasons for doing what they do. You never have the full story.

There Are No Blockers

-If you’re feeling like you can’t do something or figure something out, look to Ekshop, a company Kasey worked with. Its two founders studied and worked outside of Bangladesh before returning to help their country by creating an ecommerce platform.

-There are numerous challenges that come with that, including a lack of literacy, internet access, and addresses. But they forged their way and partnered with the government to create digital community centers throughout the country and mapped their entire country.

-Each community center is run by an entrepreneur who must offer a certain level of services, but can add on any extra services they’re willing or able to offer. Some example services include filling out paperwork, getting a new ID, shopping online, opening a bank account, or creating an online store.

Looking for the Good and Giving

-Sales can be an incredibly brutal job. It’s important to find something that makes you feel like you’re creating a difference. That’s what will get you through the bad days, lost deals, or bad calls.

-One of Kasey’s themes for 2020 is to give first, in other words, focusing on what she can give to others and her community before thinking about what she’ll get.

Resources

-Fringe Diplomacy

-The Richardson Center for Global Engagement

-Information on the Rohingya refugee crisis

-Ekshop

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