CJ Fonzi
CJ Fonzi |
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 I’m currently living in Hyderabad India working for the DuPont subsidiary Solae. I’m overseeing the field activities of a business model innovation project called Nutrition for Sustainable Development. The project is seeking to prove that DuPont, a multinational company, can effectively do business in urban slums and rural villages- with those at the so called BoP (base of the economic pyramid). The project was started almost 3 years ago, and has been implemented based upon the “BoP Protocol”. Provided by Dr. Stuart Hart and PhD. candidate Erik Simanis of Cornell University, the BoP Protocol is a strategic framework for MNCs to create mutual value in the poorest communities in the world. Nutrition for Sustainable Development has, to date, co-created 3 businesses as co-operatives of 21 to 23 women. One site is in a Mumbai slum, another is in a Hyderabad slum, and the last is in a rural community north of Hyderabad. The women are selling Solae packaged proteins supplements, packaged sweets they’ve prepared with Solae protein, and prepared foods with Solae protein. They are working hard teach their communities about nutrition and to highlight the importance of consuming enough, and the right type of, protein. At this point each of the 3 sites is covering it’s fixed costs and on the path toward financial sustainability. We’re seeking over the next year to prove that the additional protein sales for Solae constitute enough revenue to make the investment to scale the project across India. Prior to taking this position I spent 2 years at Cornell University and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore completing my MBA. I focused my studies on Sustainable Global Enterprise (SGE). SGE is at the intersection of International Development, Environmental Protection, and Business. The field of study is based upon the idea that the “tradeoff” between doing what is right and what is most profitable is a man made stigma, and that this tradeoff can be shattered. Success stories are many, such as the Grameen Bank (which has been profitable for over 30 years providing financial services to the worlds poorest people), WaterHealth International (which profitably operates businesses selling clean safe drinking water in rural India for $.02 per 12 liters), and CCX (a completely voluntary carbon offset market that moves more than $15 million per month). During my MBA I was selected as an Endeavor eMBA. This allowed me to live in Johannesburg South Africa for 12 weeks. Endeavor’s mission is to “support and empower high impact entrepreneurs”. I worked directly with one of their companies whose value proposition is training and empowering previously disadvantaged individuals and helping to secure them jobs within the outsourcing industry. Before business school I worked in IT consulting. I completed internships at Intel and GE, worked for Kronos for over a year, and spent 2 years on the management team of a VC funded startup company. I bought my first house at 23 years old, and was making good money when I realized that I wanted to do more with my life. 3 years ago I began journey with an application to Cornell University, today I have the opportunity to work with the people who are changing the world! |
| email: cj@cjfonzi.com | phone: +91 9703580285 +1 5184668429 |