Philip Wilson, CEO of Ecofiltro, visited INCAE to participate with MBA students in a class under the "live case" methodology of this Guatemalan social enterprise, which produces filters for water purification. The case was organized by the Strachan Chair of Philanthropy and Social Investment and led by its director, Professor Andrea Prado.
According to the World Health Organization, 80% of diseases in the world are caused by the lack of access to drinking water. In Guatemala, the coverage deficit for sanitation services is close to 83% in rural areas. This situation of inequity motivated Philip Wilson, founder and CEO of Ecofiltro, to set out to reach one million Guatemalan families who do not have quality water, in order to improve their health and quality of life.
In order to share his experience with MBA students from INCAE, Wilson visited the Campus last January 11, to conduct a "live case" methodology of Ecofiltro, in the 2017 period. At that time, Ecofiltro was looking for an effective strategy to generate demand for water filters in rural areas, as well as their promotion, sale and distribution. The challenge was to provide a solution to the need for drinking water that was economically accessible to customers in rural areas and profitable for the company.
"Bringing leaders like Philip Wilson to the classroom to share their experience with students allows them to see, first hand, that entrepreneurs can generate economic, social and environmental value simultaneously. The goal is to inspire them to exercise responsible leadership from the positions they assume upon graduation," said Prof. Andrea Prado, Director of the Strachan Chair.
"Businesses of the future have to focus on their social and environmental impact if they want to survive," Wilson said at the end of the class. In addition, as a life lesson, he expressed to the students that, "If you have a business that helps solve social problems, you will be happier people."
The "live case" methodology promotes a discussion around a challenge faced by a company or organization. The objective is for students to propose solutions to meet the challenge. After listening to the students' recommendations, the company representative reveals what was done, what worked and what did not. This creates a "live" learning space, with concrete and real examples.
The Strachan Chair was founded by entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Chancellor of INCAE, Harry W. Strachan. It is funded by the Strachan Foundation and friends of Bain Capital, with the objective of promoting social investment strategies. Periodically, the Chair organizes "live cases" of relevant companies, so that leaders in the region can share their experiences and learning with the students of INCAE.
