lizngonzi, Author at The International Social Impact Institute

Exploring the Potential of Generative AI for Nonprofits

Posted on November 6, 2023November 21, 2023 by lizngonzi

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force, reshaping how organizations connect with their stakeholders. While AI often conjures images of intricate algorithms and futuristic robots, a new realm known as “generative AI” is democratizing these technologies for non-technical users.

In this article, we embark on a journey guided by Elizabeth (Liz) Ngonzi, the Founder and CEO of The International Social Impact Institute (The ISII) and an adjunct assistant professor at New York University, as she introduces nonprofit professionals to the world of generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Canva Magic.

Demystifying Generative AI: Unleashing Creativity

AI, in its essence, involves computer systems that analyze data, make decisions, and automate tasks. Generative AI takes AI’s capabilities further by generating entirely new content, spanning text, images, video, and more. Unlike AI systems designed for specific, narrow tasks, generative AI models possess a versatility that allows them to adapt to a wide range of prompts and directions. With expert guidance, these tools become creative allies for all.

In her comprehensive one-day course at New York University – AI for Impact: Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement – Liz introduced participants to the fundamental concepts and practical applications of AI. The aim was to make AI more approachable and less intimidating.

The (Human) Touch in Guiding AI

While AI tools can augment human capabilities, human guidance remains paramount. The quality of AI-generated output hinges on the clarity and specificity of the prompts and instructions provided.

Participants delved into best practices for effectively prompting ChatGPT, which included offering concrete examples and specifying the desired output format. This level of guidance empowers AI to produce remarkably nuanced, high-quality content.

Nevertheless, it’s vital to acknowledge that AI has limitations. It can inadvertently generate false information or perpetuate biases. Therefore, human oversight is crucial, involving careful review, editing as needed, and final approval of AI-generated content.

Balancing Creativity and Ethics

To unlock AI’s creative potential while upholding ethical standards, Liz introduced two essential frameworks.

First, the POWER storytelling framework emerged as a potent tool for crafting compelling narratives. It breaks down the storytelling process into four critical elements: Problem identification, Outline of solutions, Worth or impact assessment, and Eliciting a response or call-to-action.

Second, an ethics checklist was introduced, covering key aspects such as consent, transparency, bias evaluation, and data privacy. This checklist equips nonprofits with the necessary guidance to ensure that their AI applications align with their core values.

Ensuring Authenticity Amidst Technological Advancements

While AI can undoubtedly enhance efficiency and scalability, it’s crucial to remember that storytelling and relationships should retain their authentically human essence.

The Marvel of Generative Design

Beyond text, the course also delved into the realm of visual content creation, highlighting the capabilities of Canva Magic. By describing their vision for an image or video, participants witnessed Canva’s AI magically generating original designs, scenes, and graphics.

The convenience and efficiency of creating professional-grade social media posts, animated videos, and entire presentations with just a few clicks left participants astounded. By automating repetitive design tasks, Canva’s AI empowers nonprofits to redirect their energies towards strategy and personalization, opening up new horizons for organizations with limited resources.

Reflections on a Collective Expedition

Despite initial skepticism, participants gained firsthand experience of AI’s vast potential for social impact. From streamlining operations to unleashing creativity, generative AI places new capabilities at the fingertips of nonprofit professionals.

However, realizing this potential demands an investment in learning. Liz’s commitment lies in continuing to guide nonprofits toward embracing these emerging tools through accessible education, vigilant oversight, and collaborative discussions.

What may have initially seemed like magic has unveiled itself as a harmonious human-AI partnership aimed at enhancing our collective creativity. Our journey toward responsibly embracing this new frontier is only just beginning. Discover more about The ISII’s offerings to help you leverage the power of generative AI to amplify your organization’s impact.

The Power of Collaboration: A Case Study on Nonprofit Founder and Funder Partnership

Posted on October 16, 2023November 21, 2023 by lizngonzi

In December 2014, The Surge Institute received its first grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. This milestone marked the beginning of an enduring and fruitful partnership between the two organizations that continues to this day.

In a recent webinar hosted by The Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU CGA) and Aperio Philanthropy and moderated by The International Social Impact Institute Founder and CEO Liz Ngonzi, who is also an adjunct assistant professor at NYU CGA, Surge Institute Founder and CEO Carmita Semaan and Schusterman Co-President Julie Mikuta pulled back the curtain on how this influential partnership formed and evolved over time. Their insights showcase how nonprofit leaders and funders can collaborate to drive meaningful change.

Getting the First Meeting

Semaan credits her organic network for facilitating an introduction to the Schusterman team. Two Surge board members had existing relationships with Schusterman and made the initial connections. Semaan had also crossed professional paths with a Schusterman program officer through past work in education.

Leveraging these warm introductions, Semaan approached her preliminary meetings prepared to speak passionately about her vision for the organization. Though Surge did not neatly fit Schusterman’s funding priorities at the time, the funder saw promise in Semaan’s leadership and idea.

The Power of Authenticity

Beyond strong leadership and a compelling mission, Mikuta notes that alignment on core values cemented the partnership. “Ours are equity, impact, optimism, collaboration and humility. And I just saw that embodied in Carmita and the programs that she was creating,” she said.

Semaan also emphasized authentic relationship building, saying she and Mikuta “aren’t afraid to be candid with each other.” This ability to give and receive constructive feedback stems from a shared commitment to the work.

Cultivating a Lasting Partnership

While the first Surge grant was framed as a one-time investment, the funder’s consistency provided a crucial stamp of approval. “We want to stay in as a signal to other funders that this is somebody to back,” said Mikuta.

Semaan actively strengthened ties through frequent communication about Surge’s progress and challenges. She also wasn’t shy about asking for introductions to other potential funders. Over time, the two organizations developed an interdependent partnership marked by transparency and mutual understanding.

Key Takeaways for Nonprofit and Funder Collaboration

Semaan and Mikuta’s insights reveal best practices for early-stage organizations looking to secure startup funding:

Leverage your network for warm introductions.
Show up authentically and lead with conviction.
Invest in evaluation and impact tracking from the start.
Maintain open communication; treat funders like partners.
Don’t be afraid to make bold funding asks.

Their case study also carries lessons for funders, including bringing vulnerability into conversations and remembering shared goals. By leading with purpose and passion, nonprofit and funder partnerships can drive collaborative social impact.

Watch the video on-demand: https://youtu.be/-Byc_gD-qnY?si=aMa7iogg58MkOPuk

Learn about The International Social Impact Institute: https://socialimpactinst.com/

Harnessing Technology’s Potential for Good: Key Takeaways from the 2023 Next Gen Tech Conference

Posted on October 13, 2023November 21, 2023 by lizngonzi

On 10/10/2023, the 10th Anniversary Next Gen Tech Conference hosted by Silicon Harlem convened leaders exploring how new technologies can drive positive change. A panel on “Empowering Tech for Social Impact,” moderated by Ivo Philbert , offered an encouraging vision of technology’s vast potential along with thoughtful caveats about responsible development.

Moderator Sets the Stage for Discussion Around AI and Collaboration

A recap of the 2023 Silicon Harlem Conference panel discussing how innovations like AI and VR can drive social good, if guided by ethics and efforts to expand access. Key insights from leaders on responsible and inclusive development. Moderator Ivo Philbert (Vice President of Community Engagement, Partnerships & Communication for the Jackie Robinson Foundation) kicked off the discussion by explaining how the panelists had collaborated that morning to generate questions using AI, demonstrating how the technology could be applied to solve problems. The panelists entered information about their backgrounds and expertise into ChatGPT, which then produced panelist questions to guide the conversation.

As Philbert noted, this real-time demonstration of AI’s capabilities set the stage perfectly for a panel on empowering technology for social impact. By working together to formulate questions, the panelists modeled how AI can enhance human collaboration and creativity rather than replace it.

Liz Ngonzi on AI Expanding Access to Legal Services

Liz Ngonzi, Founder and CEO of The International Social Impact Institute, discussed how AI is expanding access to legal services in Uganda through Barefoot Law. By analyzing language and responding understandably, AI can bridge divides to deliver vital aid. However, Ngonzi emphasized human oversight is still essential.

Tricia Blake on Immersive Tech Improving Collaboration and Inclusion

Tricia Blake, Founder of My Third Bloom, explained how VR, AR and AI can improve collaboration and amplify voices. But we must ensure inclusive access and help communities build tech skills to fully realize the benefits.

Liz Dailey on Onramps to 3D Creation for Beginners

Liz Dailey, Co-Founder & Executive Director of CreateAccess. CreateAccess is a nonprofit that provides beginners and those with limited exposure hands-on access and education to build skills, confidence, and curiosity with 3D creation tools and technologies through scaffolded micro-courses and experiences with engines like Unreal. Liz described how 3D modeling makes education more hands-on and sparks curiosity and engagement. Getting learners to create projects boosts skills development.

Milan Kordestani on AI for Personalized Career Pathing

Milan Kordestani, Co-Founder and Chairman of Audo, discussed using AI to generate personalized career paths, opening doors to economic mobility. This is being applied to help incarcerated individuals prepare for jobs after release.

The Need for Responsible Development

Throughout the discussion, speakers were unified in their optimism around ethical uses of new tools to remove barriers, while emphasizing responsible development. The International Social Impact Institute aims to demonstrate such solutions in practice, leveraging inclusive AI to help purpose-driven organizations increase their impact.

The panelists highlighted that regulation and access to computational resources pose challenges to fully harnessing technology’s potential for good. Policies limiting development and deployment of emerging technologies combined with the high costs of cutting-edge hardware and infrastructure create obstacles, especially in underserved communities. The panel emphasized that we need to find creative solutions and influence policymakers to shape a regulatory environment that enables expanding access to technology for positive impact. Workarounds like developing AI and VR applications that can run on inexpensive smartphones put the power of technology into more people’s hands.

The key takeaway was technology’s immense potential for positive change if guided by human ethics and paired with efforts to expand access. As Ngonzi concluded, “There are humans behind AI, so we have to teach our young people to learn the skills around AI.”

Watch the Recording

If you missed the conference, click here to watch the livestream recording of the session and hear insights from these forward-thinking leaders on leveraging technology for social good. Click to watch the livestream recording of the session, advance the video to 2:45:20 to watch the full conversation.

If expanding access and opportunity through emerging technologies aligns with your goals as a leader, social innovator or change agent, please reach out. Let’s connect on how AI and immersive technologies may assist your efforts to drive sustainable progress. Learn more about The International Social Impact Institute’s services.

The Power of Collaboration: Insights from Leaders in Gender Justice and Digital Technology

Posted on October 1, 2023November 22, 2023 by lizngonzi

Collaboration is essential for driving social change. Yet, with many players involved – grassroots activists, funders, technologists, governments – it can be challenging to build partnerships that truly advance gender justice in the digital age.

That’s why the recent webinar hosted by the African Philanthropy Forum, “Leveraging the Currency of Collaboration at the Intersection of Gender Justice and Digital Technology,” and moderated by The International Social Impact Institute CEO, Elizabeth Ngonzi, offered such valuable insights.

As Mosun Layode, Executive Director of the African Philanthropy Forum, opened the webinar, “Our goal is really to demonstrate the power of collaboration and the pathways it creates for pulling resources and the support that we require in this space to drive the emergence of an ecosystem that supports organizations working at the intersection of gender justice and digital technology.”

The esteemed panelists, with decades of combined experience, illuminated best practices for cross-sector collaborations.

Quality Over Quantity

As Latanya Mapp Frett, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, made clear, it’s not just about having partnerships, but building quality partnerships. This means taking the time to understand how you can benefit each other, beyond any initial funding relationship.

Oftentimes, Mapp Frett explained, it’s the time spent together in the trenches that forms the foundation of trust so critical for successful collaborations. Rushing into transactional relationships too quickly backfires.

Patience and Persistence Pay Off

Effective collaborations take time. Dr. English Sall, of the Sall Family Foundation, pointed to an example that took nearly a decade to fully deliver impact at scale. Progress goes at the pace of trust, Sall noted. Having patience for a partnership to mature is key.

Centering Community

Ultimately, a collaboration is successful if it empowers the community it seeks to serve. As Alberto Cerda Silva of the Ford Foundation put it, initiatives should be community-led, not donor-led. By being flexible and responsive to on-the-ground needs and opportunities, funders can avoid misaligned assumptions.

Share Credit, Check Egos

In Sall’s words, “It’s a movement if it moves without you.” Collaborations should distribute credit across partners. The goal is advancing the cause, not one’s reputation. This requires showing up ego-free and willing to take on humble roles when needed.

Embrace Tension

Conflict stemming from different viewpoints is inevitable. As Silva shared, avoiding areas where quick consensus is unlikely is tempting but detrimental. Lean into the discomfort of working through tensions together, which breeds innovation.

Lift the Veil

Philanthropic organizations still tend to be opaque. As Melizsa Mugyenyi of the World Data Lab noted, collaborations provide incentives for funders to be more transparent and share information, raising standards while avoiding duplication. In Mugyenyi’s view, “When you’re engaged and aware of what others in the sector are doing it forces you to think about your place in the ecosystem.”

We are Stronger Together

No single organization can address the complex challenges at the intersection of gender justice and technology alone. Through collaborations that are thoughtful, equitable, bold, and centered on community, we gain the synergy needed to drive change.

The panelists demonstrated that patience, persistence, and compassion for partners takes collaboration beyond good intentions into constructive action. These lessons provide guideposts for funders and advocates striving to co-create impact.

To watch the recording of this engaging conversation to learn more from the speakers, click HERE.

To learn about The International Social Impact Institute, click HERE.

Unleash Your Personal Brand Power with Generative AI: Key Takeaways from an Expert Workshop

Posted on September 27, 2023October 5, 2023 by lizngonzi

Developing a strong personal brand can be a game-changer for advancing your career, attracting new opportunities, and leaving your mark. But crafting a compelling and consistent narrative can be a struggle.

That’s why leveraging new technologies like generative AI is so powerful. AI-powered writing tools like ChatGPT can help accelerate and enhance your personal brand building process.

Our CEO, Liz Ngonzi recently led an insightful workshop for members of the Cornell Club New York, on unleashing your brand’s potential with AI. Ngonzi shared her proven framework and provided hands-on examples of applying generative AI through ChatGPT prompts.

In this post, We will summarize the key lessons from the workshop on building your personal brand with the help of AI.

Why Your Personal Brand Matters

Your personal brand goes beyond just buzzwords on your LinkedIn profile. It’s how you differentiate yourself, establish credibility, attract opportunities and foster trust.

Developing a strong brand helps you:

Showcase your unique expertise and skills
Connect with your audience and industry
Consistently communicate your value
Share your vision and ideals
Advance your career and open new doors

But first you need to get clarity and alignment on how you want to be known. That’s where AI comes in.

Streamline Personal Branding with SHIFT Framework

Ngonzi shared her SHIFT methodology for developing a personal brand narrative leveraging AI:

Stakeholders – Define the core problem your stakeholders/audience face
How You Can Help – Explain how your skills, experience and talents uniquely solve that problem
Implications and Impact – Describe the significance of your solution for stakeholders
Frame Your Ask – State a clear call to action for what you want readers to do
Transformation – Reflect on how this process helps you communicate your purpose

This provides a formula to concisely articulate your key strengths, achievements and ideals.

ChatGPT can help synthesize your background into these narrative elements and generate variations for different uses.

Apply Generative AI to Bring Your Brand Narrative to Life

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT allow you to:

Analyze your skills, passions, and goals to shape your brand messaging
Craft tailored bios, resume summaries, LinkedIn profiles, and other materials
Refine your narrative by rewriting and reiterating AI outputs
Generate website/social media text aligned with your brand
Personalize outreach and engagement for your target audiences
Create optimized content that resonates with your readers

The workshop demos showed how prompts and conversations with ChatGPT can produce more authentic, engaging brand assets you can actually use.

Align Your Digital Presence to Reinforce Your Brand

Your personal brand lives across your digital presence – the websites, profiles, content and platforms where stakeholders may encounter you.

Conducting a quick audit of your Google results, social media accounts, online bios etc. allows you to identify areas to update and align with your core narrative.

Focus on showcasing achievements, media coverage, thought leadership content, and examples of your work that exemplify the skills and expertise you want to be known for.

Continue Refining Your Brand with AI’s Help

The key is to keep iterating. Use ChatGPT prompts to generate variations of your bio for different sites and purposes.

Analyze audience reactions and engagement to shape your messaging. Take advantage of AI’s capabilities to expand your reach and continually refine your personal brand.

By applying a structured framework and leveraging AI systems, you can unlock your brand potential. Follow these best practices from Ngonzi’s workshop to tell your story powerfully and make the right impressions. Learn about other events and courses we offer to help you leverage the power of Generative AI by clicking HERE.

Crafting a Nonprofit Digital Strategy with ChatGPT: A Guide

Posted on September 15, 2023September 17, 2023 by lizngonzi

In today’s rapidly evolving nonprofit landscape, embracing digital transformation is essential. To empower fundraising and impact strategies, nonprofits are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies. ChatGPT, a standout innovation, is taking the spotlight. This article explores the process of developing a nonprofit digital strategy, powered by ChatGPT and in alignment with The International Social Impact Institute®’s (The ISII) Digital Strategy Framework.

The ISII’s framework offers nonprofits a holistic approach to digital strategy, encompassing critical elements such as audience engagement, content creation, and impact measurement. ChatGPT, with its unique capabilities, adds a layer of innovation to each of these dimensions.

Crafting Your ChatGPT-Powered Nonprofit Digital Strategy

Define Your Goals: Kickstart your strategy by outlining your organization’s objectives for ChatGPT. Whether it’s enhancing engagement, simplifying content creation, or improving donor communications, having clear goals is essential.
Select Relevant Prompts: Leverage The ISII’s Digital Strategy Framework to choose prompts that align with your goals. For instance, if boosting audience engagement is a top priority, focus on prompts related to chatbot interactions and personalized messaging.
Implement and Test: Take your ChatGPT-powered initiatives from concept to reality. Continuously test and refine them to ensure they perform optimally and meet user expectations.
Measure Impact: Utilize the framework’s techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of your ChatGPT-powered strategies. Keep an eye on metrics such as engagement rates and content reach.

The Seven Elements of a Digital Strategy

SWOT Analysis: Enhance your SWOT analysis by harnessing ChatGPT’s analytical capabilities. It can generate nuanced insights based on your data, complementing your team’s analysis.
External Audience Mapping: Use ChatGPT to identify audience segments, behaviors, and preferences. This helps you fine-tune your targeting strategy by uncovering potential audience segments you might have missed.
SMART Communications Targets: With ChatGPT’s assistance, craft precise and measurable communication targets. It can suggest language that aligns with the SMART framework for clear goal setting.
Communications Channel Identification: Discover the most suitable communication channels by providing mission, audience, and resource details. ChatGPT suggests channels aligned with your mission and audience preferences.
Content Strategy / Type Selection: Brainstorm creative content ideas that align with your nonprofit’s focus and messaging. Specify audience types, constraints, and requirements to guide content creation.
Execution and Evaluation: Get actionable steps for executing your strategy and insights into potential challenges and solutions. This real-time guidance aids decision-making during implementation.
High-Level Communications Plan Development: Formulate a comprehensive communications plan that aligns SMART targets, communication channels, and content strategy. Organize this information in a structured table format for clarity.

Seamless Integration of ChatGPT: Elevating Your Strategy

By incorporating ChatGPT into every step of your strategy, you’re not merely crafting a plan—you’re engineering an intelligent roadmap. ChatGPT’s ability to provide insights, suggest content ideas, and refine language empowers your team to make well-informed decisions.

Empowerment through Education: My NYU Courses

My NYU courses, including “Digital Storytelling for Fundraising: Leveraging Emerging Technology for Impact” and “AI for Impact: Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement & Digital Storytelling Across Industries,” complement this journey. They equip you with the knowledge to harness ChatGPT and master the art of digital storytelling, enhancing your efforts across various industries.

Conclusion: Shaping the Future of Nonprofit Endeavors

In today’s ever-evolving nonprofit landscape, technology is a necessity. The fusion of human creativity and AI insight, exemplified by ChatGPT and The ISII’s framework, holds the potential to shape the future of nonprofit endeavors.

Read the full article on the Nonprofit Tech for Good blog

Harnessing AI for Greater Impact: A Power Breakfast with Liz Ngonzi

Posted on July 12, 2023July 27, 2023 by lizngonzi

Introduction:

I recently had the privilege of presenting a workshop titled “A Power Breakfast with Liz Ngonzi,” in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals. The workshop focused on exploring the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the social impact sector. This article aims to share insights and experiences from the session, showcasing how nonprofits worldwide can harness AI to address their challenges effectively.

Setting the Stage:

The Power Breakfast commenced with introductions from participants representing a diverse range of organizations. Some expressed intrigue about AI’s potential while voicing concerns about data privacy and ethical implications. Others shared their experiences with AI, highlighting its capabilities in optimizing resource mobilization, streamlining processes, and personalizing donor engagement.

Unleashing AI’s Transformative Potential:

As the workshop presenter, I shared my journey with emerging technologies, particularly AI, underscoring its transformative potential in the social impact sector. I introduced generative AI, which generates new and creative content. Demonstrations showcased how generative AI can generate business ideas, manage emails, create impactful proposals, and optimize time and content creation, ultimately benefiting more lives.

The International Social Impact Institute CARE Approach for Amplified Impact:

To provide a structured approach to leveraging AI, I introduced our CARE Approach for Amplified Impact. This acronym stands for:

1. Challenges Limiting Access for CSOs:
– Identifying the obstacles hindering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from fully utilizing AI’s potential.

2. AI and Generative AI – Definitions and Democratizing Access:
– Understanding AI and generative AI, and promoting equitable access to these technologies.

3. Realizing the Value of Generative AI – Tools, Demo, and Practice Session:
– Demonstrating practical applications of generative AI through tools, demos, and practice sessions.

4. Enhancing Your Impact – Empowering Resources for Digital Storytelling and Fundraising:
– Exploring how AI can enhance digital storytelling and fundraising efforts, thereby amplifying CSOs’ impact.

Practical Demonstrations:

Throughout the session, I provided practical demonstrations of AI’s use in the social impact sector. Examples included optimizing email subjects and content, analyzing post-event survey data, responding to donor requests for reports, and even generating images for storytelling.

Ethical Considerations:

The session also addressed the ethical considerations of AI, emphasizing the importance of transparency, fairness, and alignment with organizational and personal ethics. I emphasized the responsible use of AI, ensuring data privacy and security while leveraging its benefits.

Empowering Action:

The Power Breakfast concluded with a call to action, urging participants to further explore and leverage the power of AI in their work. I provided them with a curated list of resources, including ChatGPT prompts for fundraising and accessible Generative AI tools to amplify storytelling and fundraising efforts (please see the screenshot above). Additionally, resources from The International Social Impact Institute, such as thought leadership, events, and courses, were offered to support participants in leveraging generative AI for greater impact. The consensus was that AI is indispensable, and professionals must understand and leverage it to drive social impact.

Conclusion:

The Power Breakfast served as a testament to AI’s transformative potential in the social impact sector worldwide. It provided a platform for learning, sharing experiences, and exploring AI’s possibilities in addressing nonprofit challenges. As we navigate the digital world, it is clear that AI is not just a tool for the future but a necessity for the present. The CARE Approach for Amplified Impact offers a roadmap to harness AI’s potential and drive sustainable development.

Reflecting on the Transformative Power of Generative AI: Insights from the 8th East Africa Philanthropy Conference

Posted on July 9, 2023July 27, 2023 by lizngonzi

Overview:

Unlock the transformative power of generative AI in the article “Reflecting on the Transformative Power of Generative AI: Insights from the 8th East Africa Philanthropy Conference.” Gain valuable insights and reflections from the conference, where we discussed the immense potential of generative AI in empowering African nonprofits. Discover how data-driven insights, AI-powered analytics, and optimized storytelling can amplify social impact.

The article delves into key takeaways from the 8th East Africa Philanthropy Conference, highlighting the critical role of partnerships among philanthropy, the private sector, and the government in driving meaningful systems change. Explore the importance of donor engagement, cross-border collaborations, and inclusive problem-solving for sustainable systems transformation.

With a focus on AI for social impact, the article showcases inspiring organizations such as the Palmhouse Foundation, Next Step Foundation, and Generation Kenya, who are making a significant difference in their communities through dedication and innovation.

If you’re passionate about social impact and interested in harnessing the power of generative AI for African nonprofits, this article is a must-read. Dive into the insights and reflections from the conference and learn how AI can act as a catalyst for change.

Click to read the full article now »

Fostering Global Impact: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Liz Ngonzi’s In-Depth Conversation

Posted on May 28, 2023May 30, 2023 by lizngonzi

During our first virtual Youth Giving Summit, I had an insightful talk with Professor Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Laureate. The conversation took place under the aegis of the International Social Impact Institute. Our institute nurtures global ecosystems. We inspire, connect, and activate individuals and institutions. We work towards a more equitable and sustainable world. Our platform was the ideal setting for Yunus’s innovative vision.

Muhammad Yunus: From Academia to Social Entrepreneurship

Yunus’s journey is compelling. It began in academia and led him to revolutionize banking and economic inclusion. He saw the harsh realities of poverty in post-liberation Bangladesh in 1972. This contrast with theoretical knowledge pushed him towards social entrepreneurship. He created the Grameen Bank, or the “village bank”.

A Worm’s Eye View

Yunus used a unique ‘worm’s eye view’ approach to address social issues. He moved from the realm of high theories to the grassroots. He interacted directly with the people impacted by these issues. His concept of microcredit emerged from this approach. Yunus describes microcredit as the “oxygen of entrepreneurship”.

Challenging the Status Quo

Yunus’s path to innovation had obstacles. His vision was a financial system serving the poorest of the poor. He saw a world where jobs weren’t the ultimate goal. To realize this vision, he challenged deeply ingrained mindsets. His resolve remained steadfast.

A Three-Zero World

Yunus underscored human creativity and resilience. He envisioned a “three-zero” world with zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment. This ambitious yet achievable goal is the foundation of his 3-0 club initiative. The initiative encourages individuals to work towards a sustainable future.

Our conversation ended on a powerful note. Yunus invoked Nelson Mandela’s words, “It always seems impossible until it’s done”. He urged us to act on our capacity to effect change. We are not just passengers on Earth; we are the crew, the pilots. We are responsible for steering it towards a better future.

Immerse yourself in the full conversation with Muhammad Yunus. Gain insights into his unwavering commitment to social impact.

Harnessing AI: Amplifying the Voices and Impact of African Women

Posted on May 25, 2023July 27, 2023 by lizngonzi

Dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and uncover how it can equip African women to spearhead social change and innovation.

Power Unleashed: AI and African Women

Our latest article, “Harnessing AI: Amplifying the Voices and Impact of African Women,” delves deep into the realms of AI. We discuss how this pioneering technology can elevate the voices of African women. AI is not merely a tool; it is an ally amplifying the efforts of these women, propelling their work onto the global stage.

AI: Catalyzing Digital Transformation

The digital age is powered by AI. Leading the way in fostering collaboration, AI connects individuals and facilitates the exchange of ideas. With AI, we can tackle social challenges facing African women, creating sustainable and innovative solutions. Leveraging AI, African women are shaping a community of changemakers.

Celebrating Contributions by African Women

Our article goes beyond discussing AI’s potential. It paints a picture of the future, a future that celebrates African women for their contributions to society. In this future, their narratives are heard and valued. Their impact serves as a beacon for future leaders, and they become the leaders of discourse.

Reimagining the Social Impact Space

AI continues to transform the African social impact space, driving inclusivity and equality. As we navigate this narrative, we invite you to participate. Let’s discuss how AI can amplify the influence of African women. Join the conversation and together, we can catalyze social change.

Author: lizngonzi