TechnoServe 7d ago

Meet Laura Harwig, TechnoServe's new Chief Operating Officer, in conversation with John Keightley. Eight months into the role — and arriving in the middle of one of the most turbulent years in the organization's history — Laura shares an outsider's perspective on what makes TechnoServe's approach to fighting poverty distinct. Having spent 25 years in international development, much of it on U.S. government–funded programs, Laura explains why TechnoServe's diversified, "presence-based" model is fundamentally different. Rather than entering a country for a single project and leaving when it ends, TechnoServe builds lasting platforms — layering projects and funders on top of one another to work more deeply, adapt faster, and stay locally led. (Over 95% of TechnoServe staff are from the communities or countries where they work.) Laura also takes us inside her recent trip to India, including the Shreesakthi dairy program — which has connected roughly 100,000 dairy farmers to a high-quality baby-formula supply chain in partnership with Abbott — and a Walmart-funded horticulture project helping farmer-producer organizations export strawberries and table grapes. She closes with a candid look at where TechnoServe can do better, from program-quality systems to the role AI may play in measuring impact. At TechnoServe, we don't give handouts. We help people build businesses, grow incomes, and create lasting change. Your support makes this work possible. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and why these donor conversations matter 02:29 Meet Laura Harwig, our new COO 03:27 The biggest surprise: a diversified portfolio 06:04 Laura's path into development, from Kenya to William & Mary 08:55 A career across FinTrac, Tetra Tech, and the private sector 14:41 What drew her to TechnoServe 15:53 Onboarding through a year of upheaval 19:26 The "layering" model, explained 23:17 Presence-based vs. project-based development 26:24 Locally led teams and responding to current events 27:50 Safety, security, and empowering local teams 30:06 Inside the India trip: the Shreesakthi dairy program 34:07 The Walmart horticulture and export project 40:00 Where TechnoServe can improve, and the role of AI 42:03 The best advice Laura ever received 43:12 How you can help Learn more about our work: https://www.technoserve.org TechnoServe General Inquiries - info@technoserve.org Media - media@technoserve.org Donor Support - donorsupport@technoserve.org https://www.technoserve.org/contact-us/ 1777 N Kent Street, Suite 1100 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: +1 202 785 4515 Fax: +1 202 785 4544