Bridge to the Future

The Role of Innovation in Addressing the Challenges of Development in Emerging Markets.

Join us for our Annual Event with Stephanie von Friedeburg WG92, Lauder92, Senior Vice President, Operations of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and moderated by Natalie Carlson, Wharton Assistant Professor of Management.

Drawing on her extensive development background, Stephanie will talk about the role that technology and digital infrastructure are playing in changing the world and the challenges & opportunities ahead. She will touch on several themes of the ongoing work on innovation for development, as described by the World Bank and the OECD, including:

• The contribution of innovation to economic growth and well-being
• The impact of globalization on development and innovation
• Inclusive innovation
• Education, skills and human capital
• Institutional frameworks for innovation policy

Stephanie von Friedeburg, Senior Vice President, Operations of the IFC, is leading the implementation of IFC’s strategy to create projects and attract private investment where it is needed the most. Her priorities include increasing opportunities for women, scaling up investments to fight climate change, and promoting digital development. She leads all IFC investment operations and advisory services, delivering private sector capital and solutions to create jobs, positive development outcomes, and opportunities in the world’s poorest and most fragile countries. In addition to overseeing new business, she manages IFC’s $59 billion debt and equity portfolio in more than 100 countries.

In addition to an MBA from the Wharton School, Ms. von Friedeburg holds a Master of Arts from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Natalie A. Carlson is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on entrepreneurship, digital platform work, and other forms of nontraditional employment, with a particular focus on emerging economies. Her work draws on a variety of methodologies, with a focus on experiments and computational methods. She has worked on field studies in collaboration with NGOs in settings such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania. She studied for her Ph.D. in Management at Columbia Business School, and holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.

EVENT DETAILS:

Event Host: Wharton Club of National Capital Region
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM EDT
Location: Zoom 
Cost: WCNCR Members - $0 (WCNCR membership costs $60/yr)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $10

Zoom details included in your email confirmation after registering.

If you do not receive a confirmation, please check your spam folder and/or other email address you may have used.  For help with Zoom details, please contact Shea Nark.