The World Economic Forum has awarded Reuben Abraham, Director, Base of the Pyramid Learning Lab – India, Indian School of Business (ISB) as a Global Young Leader for 2009.
The honour, bestowed each year by the Forum, recognizes and acknowledges between 200 and 300 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
Prof. Reuben Abraham is among the 24 leaders from South Asia. Others in the Indian winners list include names like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahesh Bhupati, etc. The global winners list includes names like Tiger Woods, Jessica Biel, and Chad Hurley. The leaders were chosen across the business, government, academia, media, non-profit organizations and arts categories.
Reuben Abraham is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Business and Director of the Emerging Markets Solutions Initiative (EMSI) at the Indian School of Business. The EMSI was set up in partial collaboration with Cornell University with a focus on developing and implementing market-based solutions, harnessing the efficiency and productivity of the private sector and capital markets, to promote economic development.
The Young Global Leaders (YGL) nominated from South Asia represent five countries and a diverse spectrum of professional backgrounds. They include Kamal Quadir, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CellBazaar, Bangladesh; Kasim Kasuri, Chief Executive Officer, Beaconhouse, Pakistan; Shireen Bhan, Anchor, CNBC - India, India; Reuben Abraham, Director, Base of the Pyramid Lab - India School of Business, India; and Sminu Jindal, Managing Director, Jindal Saw Ltd, India among others.
About Prof. Reuben Abraham: Professor Reuben Abraham is a Clinical Assistant Professor and director of the Base of the Pyramid Lab-India and Emerging Markets Solution Initiative (EMSI) at the Indian School of Business. He serves on the board of George Soros’ Economic Development Fund (SEDF). He has set up an early stage fund with SEDF, Google and Omidyar Network as co-investors. He serves as a board member of Indiaco Ventures, a financial services company. He was a TED Global Fellow for 2007 and is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. During his time at Columbia, he was an Associate Fellow in Global Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Public Policy Consortium Fellow and a Sloan Telecommunications Fellow. He consulted at the World Bank and conducted research at 3 Columbia University research labs. Before Columbia, he was involved in co-funding two start-ups.