Durante il picco della crisi dell'Ebola, il processo di recupero in Africa non stava andando secondo i piani. Un fallimento dopo l'altro hanno spinto Shalini Unnikrishnan di BCG a riconoscere che avevano approcciato la crisi dalla direzione sbagliata.

Shalini Unnikrishnan is the Global Lead for Societal Impact in the Consumer and Social Impact practices at Boston Consulting Group. 

Shalini’s work at BCG is focused at the intersection of the private, public, and social sectors. She is the co-author of “Total Societal Impact,” which explores how companies can gain business and societal value through their core operations. Shalini gained expertise in this subject through her work with private sector clients. She also supports public and social sector clients on private sector engagement. Shalini has worked extensively in emerging markets–on value chains of private sector companies in agriculture, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, and economic development. Her experience includes supporting the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in West Africa, working within presidencies in Africa as an advisor on economic development, supporting global health and education coalitions, and designing public-private partnerships for consumer companies. 

Shalini has taken leaves of absence from BCG (2009-10, 2012) to serve with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's Africa Governance Initiative (AGI). She was embedded within President Kagame's government in Rwanda to support private-sector development, and she was a day-to-day advisor to President Banda in Malawi. 

Shalini is a recent Presidential Leadership Scholar, a selective program led by former President George W. Bush, and she has written and published extensively on various topics in societal impact including a TED talk on new models for tackling humanitarian crises. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Tony Blair Foundation.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • MBA, health care management, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
  • MA, international relations, Johns Hopkins University, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
  • BA, economics and sociology, Davidson College

HONORS AND AWARDS

Publications and Videos

For Consumer Companies, It Will Take Collective Action to Fight Deforestation - rectangle

For Consumer Companies, It Will Take Collective Action to Fight Deforestation

Companies are accelerating efforts to ensure their products do not contribute to global forest loss. But individual company action, while necessary, is not enough.
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Why Climate Action Needs a Gender Focus

Current efforts to combat climate change leave women behind. But drawing women fully into the fight is a win-win—accelerating climate progress and advancing gender equity.
The True Value of Food

The True Value of Food: A Powerful Aid to Business Decision-Making

What business transformations are necessary to change food systems for the better? BCG and WBCSD work together to identify the natural, social, and economic impacts of food products from farm to fork.
Transforming Africa’s Food Systems from the Demand Side

Transforming Africa’s Food Systems from the Demand Side

Efforts that focus on increasing subsistence farmers’ yields have achieved scant success. It’s time for a radical rethinking of food policies on the continent.
The Time Is Ripe for Food Tracing

The Time Is Ripe for Food Traceability

Food traceability is here to stay. The question is whether food companies, distributors, and retailers treat it as a regulatory burden or a strategic opportunity.
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The Digital Agriculture Revolution Will Take More Than Innovation

The promise of digital agriculture to boost farmers’ income and enhance food system resilience remains largely unrealized. But acting on three key insights can unleash the digital ag revolution.
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A Circular Future for Glass

Achieving a 50% recycling rate in the US by the end of the decade is ambitious but possible. Here’s how we can accomplish it.

BCG's Social Impact Theory of Change in Action: From Digital Agriculture Transformation to Innovation in Plastics Recycling

Sonya Hoo and Shalini Unnikrishnan discuss how we have applied our theory of change to foster digital transformation in agriculture and innovation in plastics recycling.

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How African Countries Can Forge an Inclusive Economic Recovery

Governments that can balance urgent economic stabilization with structural reforms supporting long-term development will build a stronger foundation for the future. Nigeria’s inclusive approach is a case in point.
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We Need a Global Agreement to Address Plastic Pollution

As the impact of plastic waste in the ocean reaches crisis proportions, businesses are joining the call for a UN treaty to address the problem.
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Biodiversity in Agriculture Makes Gains in the Boardroom

Big companies are working together to foster regenerative practices, revive high-value ecosystems, and increase the diversity of raw materials in their product portfolios.
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Sustainability Matters Now More Than Ever for Consumer Companies

Consumer and investor pressure is not going away. Companies must double down on sustainability as they emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
Profonda competenza, vasta esperienza