For centuries, India has held the imaginations of explorers and entrepreneurs alike. Exotic stories and photographs of elephants and tigers, colorful markets filled with spices and tapestries, and ancient temples fuel the wanderlust of travelers. Likewise, tales of economic opportunity and rapid technological growth entice business-minded individuals to seek their fortune on the South-Asian peninsula. After 15 months of creating and developing the UA in India: Reverse Innovation Experience, I found myself in this storied land with a mix of both of these visions.
This past July, I traveled with 13 students from UA’s STEM Path to the MBA Program to six different Indian cities to study topics ranging from business and engineering solutions to poverty through Reverse Innovation, an alternative approach to charity through social improvement.