Partnerships

Mr. S. Tien Wong is a technology entrepreneur, CEO, and angel investor. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and strategic advisory firm specializing in raising capital for private equity and venture capital fund managers, as well as promising tech companies. He is also Chairman of Tech 2000, Inc., an ed tech company which provides advanced tech training, learning analytics, and software development to Fortune 500 customers. Mr. Wong is also Chairman of Lore Systems, Inc., an IT services company which provides managed hosting, IT support, “virtual CIO,” and cloud computing solutions for commercial, nonprofit, and government clients. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Philippe Nacson was born and raised in Africa and remembers having read an article, in one of the very few French magazines distributed then locally, about Martine Kempf, a female French researcher who invented a vocal command system called the Katalavox, allowing handicapped people to drive cars. “It was a revelation for me, I read this article so many times that I knew it by heart. Since then my interest in Robotics has only strengthened.”

In 2018, Philippe founded Ai.VEN, a deep tech impact fund investing mainly in healthcare, education and environment sectors.

Philippe is also the founder of the HUMaiN Foundation, which helps members of vulnerable populations in Africa and India gain access to technology.

Philippe has graduated from HEC Paris, London School of Economics and NYU Stern, and is an alumnus of the London Business School.

Anthony Haggar is the co-founder of HCH Partners and chief executive officer of Haggar Trading DMCC, an investment holding company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Haggar received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in 1998 and has dedicated his career to building a better Africa by employing Africans and supporting business on the continent from within. Throughout his experience, he’s being engaged in a series of mergers and acquisitions. In 2011, he led the sale of Haggar Trading DMCC’s tobacco assets in Sudan to Japan Tobacco for $450 million, as well as Haggar Trading DMCC’s $23 million investment in ACE Marine Cables based in West Africa.

Ms. Ronna CHAO is CEO of Novel Investment Partners Limited, Chairman of Novetex Textiles Limited, a Director of Novelpark Investments Limited and the CEO of Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). Through BXAI, Ms. Chao created and has fundraised US$100 million for the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program, through which scholarships are granted every year to Asian students to study abroad at one of 16 leading universities in Northeast Asia. Ms. Chao is also a Standing Committee Member of the 12th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Brown University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Despite efforts to halt the march of economic integration around the world, globalization continues to be a critical fact of life. Workers, small and large businesses, financial corporations, technology companies, and even academic institutions have all been transformed into this reality and have had to adapt to the growing world marketplace. At the same time, challenges to that momentum continue to mount without fully considering the implications of disruption.

The Washington Institute understands that when forging trade policies, facilitating investment opportunities and examining general economic trends, nations can no longer look inward. Rather, they must consider and leverage the impact of their decisions beyond their borders as well as capitalize on the opportunities created by other nations through constructive collaboration.

The Washington Institute is committed to tackling challenges such as the impact of automation, protectionism, and populist sentiments and ethical concerns about international commerce. By leveraging the business, government, and civil society backgrounds, and global perspective of its own advisors and leadership, the Washington Institute is supporting corporations, government agencies, non-government organizations, and individuals in their collective efforts to best shape the future of the global economy.

Global Corporate Social Responsibility

Governments, civil society organizations, and individuals are increasingly looking to corporations to provide leadership on the world’s most pressing issues. As concerns about the environment, income inequality, and upskilling of the workforce mount, the Washington Institute is supporting positive and effective collaboration between business, government, and society entities to drive mutually beneficial solutions to these challenges and others.

The Washington Institute understands that innovation and investment in people and communities are part of corporate DNA, yet many stakeholders have not realized the benefits of true social responsibility. Government and civil society seek to help businesses and those they serve but often lack the expertise and network to effectively do so. Concerns abound about the conduct of business, government, and social entities. By basing its work on the foundation of ethics, the Washington Institute drives responsible behavior and restores trust between business and consumers.

Through collaboration with business, government, and society, augmented by thought leadership, research, and global perspective, the Washington Institute is dedicated to empowering businesses and those they serve to do well while doing good.

Global Technology and Innovation

The world’s reliance on technology increases daily. Global technology leaders have paved the way for a more interconnected future. The positive impact of technological innovation in the transformation of business, government, and society is undeniable. However, world leaders and citizens are raising concerns about the challenges presented by these trends. From Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley and from Station F to Zhongguancun, it is becoming clear that traditional approaches to studying, monitoring, and regulating industry are less effective in the technology sector.

The Washington Institute understands that business, government, and society cannot take disjointed approaches to the challenges and opportunities presented by technology and innovation. As a result, the Institute is actively engaged in convening leaders from all three sectors and driving solutions to spur technological development while enhancing the relationship among technology companies, consumers and regulatory agencies.

With executives possessing extensive technological, corporate, government, civil society, and academic backgrounds represented on its leadership team and advisory boards, the Washington Institute has both the knowledge and the network to help world leaders create the most advantageous environment for the technology innovators changing the world as well as those they serve.

David C. McCourt is the founder of Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McCourt is the Founder of Discovery Television, and also formed Satellite Holdings, LLC. He has been an innovator, entrepreneur and business leader across communications and media industries for over 25 years and is widely recognized as a transformational force in the telecommunications industry.

William “Bill” Novelli is the founder of the Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Bill started his career as an account supervisor in New York City, and later became the Director of Creative Services and Advertising for the Peace Corps. Before joining Georgetown University as a professor and manager of GSEI, he was CEO of AARP and founded Porter Novelli, now one of the world’s largest public relations firms. Bill is also the co-chair of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, a national alliance dedicated to reforming advanced illness/end of life care in the U.S.

Our work is informed by the following principles which we aim to accomplish by convening executives, policymakers, civil society leaders and individuals representing a wide variety of backgrounds, expertise and perspectives.

1. We must recognize the inextricable linkage among business, government and society.
“Given the complexities of the modern world and the ripple effects they create, it is critical that we work together to address our collective and shared world.”

2. We must embrace the future in all its challenges and opportunities.
“We cannot shirk from our responsibilities in a world we are creating for ourselves or one we are leaving to our children.”

3. We must think and act both locally and globally.
“As we focus on our individual needs and interests, we must always realize that that our actions will have an impact beyond our borders that can come back and ultimately affect us.”

4. We must establish a foundation of integrity in everything we do.
“The past is littered with the failure of those who lacked a code of personal ethics, something we must never forget.”

5. We must foster collaboration in the work we carry out.
“Constructively engaging with others can only lift all boats.”

6. We must create a credible vision that works towards attaining tangible achievements.
“Never must we confuse thoughtless activity with working towards real accomplishment.”

7. Develop trust and support ethical leadership in business, government and society.
“Nothing can doom progress faster than mistrust and cynicism of another person’s intentions.”

Genevieve Ryan is the Founder and CEO of Real World Playbook, a company that helps twenty-somethings navigate the transition from school into the working world. She has had a broad array of professional experience across business, law and government. An attorney by profession, she received her JD/MBA from Georgetown University and worked on strategic partnerships at Goldman Sachs until leaving to found Real World Playbook. Beyond her work in the entrepreneurial world, Ryan is passionate about women’s empowerment, education and national security. She currently serves as a member of the Pencils of Promise Leadership Council and the Acumen Fund Young Professional Committee.

Jack Markell was sworn in as Delaware’s governor on January 19, 2009, and was sworn in for his second term on January 15, 2013. He focused on economic development, education and workforce training as top priorities. Beginning his career in the private sector, Markell helped lead the wireless technology revolution as the 13th employee at Nextel, where he served as senior vice president for corporate development. His other business experience includes a senior management position at Comcast Corporation, work as a consultant with McKinsey and Company and as a banker at First Chicago Corporation. He was elected state treasurer in 1998, winning three consecutive terms, including his last re-election in November of 2006. He has been recognized in Delaware and across the country as a leader in promoting policies to help all people achieve their economic potential. Markell is a Henry Crown Fellow and a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Robert Kahn is the co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocols and was responsible for originating DARPA’s Internet program. Known as one of the “Fathers of the Internet,” Kahn demonstrated the ARPNET by connecting 20 different computers at the International Computer Communication Conference. While Director of Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) at DARPA, he initiated the United States government’s billion dollar Strategic Computing Program, the largest computer research and development program ever undertaken by the federal government. In December 1997, President Bill Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Kahn and his colleague, Vinton Cerf, for founding and developing the Internet. In 2004, Kahn was the recipient of the ACM Alan M. Turing award (sometimes called the “Nobel Prize of Computer Science”) and in 2005 he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George Bush.

As the Chief Operating Officer for IFC, Stephanie von Friedeburg leads all IFC investment operations and advisory services, delivering private sector capital and solutions to create jobs, positive development outcomes and opportunities in the world’s poorest and most fragile countries. Von Friedeburg began her World Bank Group career at IFC, spending more than two decades in IFC investment operations where she developed strong regional expertise in Africa and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in numerous industry sectors, including telecom, media, general manufacturing and technology. Most recently, von Friedeburg served as IFC’s Chief Strategy and Resources Officer, where she led the development of IFC’s new strategy and aligned the organization’s resources in support of it. Prior to this, leveraging her more than ten years of experience investing in telecom and IT start-ups in emerging markets, she served as the World Bank Group Chief Information Officer.

Vicente Fox is a businessman and politician who was president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. As President Fox focused his early efforts on improving trade relations with the U.S., calming civil unrest and reducing corruption, crime and drug trafficking. In 2001, his administration introduced constitutional reforms that strengthened the rights of Mexico’s indigenous peoples. Before his presidency, Fox was a route supervisor for the Mexican unit of the Coca-Cola Company. After a series of promotions, he served as the company’s chief executive in Mexico and then head of its Latin American operations.

Barie Carmichael is a Senior Counselor at the global communications consultancy APCO Worldwide. She has more than 35 years of experience directing global corporate communication and has managed strategic corporate communication on a global scale in a variety of industries. Carmichael is also a co-author of Columbia University Press’ Reset: Business and Society in the New Social Landscape. Previously, she served as Dow Corning Corporation’s chief communications officer. In addition to her work at Dow Corning Corporation, Carmichael was formerly a partner at The Brunswick Group and also served as VISA USA’s executive vice president of corporate relations. Carmichael is a Batten Fellow at The University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate Business School and is also a member of the Arthur W. Page Society. Throughout her career, she has won numerous awards for issue management, employee communication and change management.

William E. Mayer is a Director of BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation. Since 1999, Mayer has been a partner at Park Avenue Equity Partners, L.P. (“Park Avenue”), which he co-founded. From 1996 until the formation of Park Avenue, Mayer was a founding Partner of Development Capital. Earlier in his career Mayer was a professor and Dean of the College of Business and Management at the University of Maryland and Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester. Mayer also was the President and Chief Executive Officer for The First Boston Corporation (now Credit Suisse). Mayer was named to the 2013 NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors), which honors leaders in corporate governance and in the boardroom.

Anthony (Tony) Williams, former Mayor of Washington, D.C., is currently CEO of the Federal City Council, an organization which serves as a catalyst for progress in the Nation’s Capital by focusing the creative and administrative talents of Washington’s business and professional leaders on major problems and opportunities that are facing the city. Prior to this he served as the Executive Director of the Global Government Practice at the Corporate Executive Board in Arlington, Virginia. He also serves as the William H. Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Management at the Harvard Kennedy School. In addition, he is a Senior Consultant to the firm McKenna Long and Aldridge. Before his service in local Washington, Williams served as the first CFO for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and former President of the National League of Cities. He holds a number of awards and honorary degrees, including Governing Magazine Public Official of the Year.

Promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology, David Waller served as Deputy Director General and head of management of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Prior to IAEA, Waller was appointed Vice-Chair of the UN system wide High Level Committee on Management. Earlier in his career, Waller was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs. In that capacity, he was the Secretary of Energy’s chief advisor and spokesman on international energy policy and emergency preparedness. In addition, he served as Senior Associate Counsel to the President at the White House during the Raegan Administration. In 1989, Waller was presented the Secretary’s Award — the highest honor given by the Department of Energy — for outstanding leadership. And, in 2011 the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) awarded him its Gold Medal in recognition of his contribution to the reduction of the threat of nuclear weapons.

Ann M. Veneman became UNICEF’s fifth Executive Director in 2005. Under her management, UNICEF launched initiatives to improve business practices, transparency and collaboration to ensure that the agency’s programs reached those most vulnerable and that its resources were utilized efficiently to protect, save and improve the lives of children around the world. Prior to joining UNICEF, Veneman served as Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. In 2003, she hosted the first-ever Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology, bringing together leaders from 120 nations to explore new approaches to global hunger and the better use of science and technology to reduce hunger and poverty in developing countries. Veneman held various other positions at USDA, including Deputy Secretary, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs and Associate Administer of the Foreign Agricultural Service. She also served as Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In 2009, she was named to Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women list, ranking #46.

Vinoda Basnayake is of counsel in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s Washington office where he assists foreign governments and international corporations in legislative and policy matters. He also chairs the firm’s District of Columbia Government Relations Practice. Basnayake also serves as the Principal and Founder of Versus Equity, Chairman of DC Vote and Commissioner of the Small and Local Business Opportunity Commission for DC. He previously served as a Special Advisor at Patton Boggs LLP, Interim Director at International Gateway Trade Center and Financial Consultant at The World Bank. Basnayake was recognized as one of the most influential Washingtonians under 40 by Washington Life Magazine for several years in a row and named one of Washington’s “Power 30 Under 30” in 2010.

James P. Moore, Jr. at the world’s largest high-tech business incubator, Station F in Paris.

The great irony of our age is that we are interconnected more globally than ever before. Yet, socially and politically, we have never been further apart.

Groups work at cross-purposes, invest in competing priorities, and speak different languages. The resulting gaps leave us ill-equipped to address the challenges we face today and unprepared for the complex issues that will shape our world tomorrow. For this reason, the Washington Institute for Business, Government and Society was created.

Today, the Washington Institute is a growing, vibrant and global nonprofit organization created to bridge these divisions by facilitating collaboration among public and private sector leaders. As a nonpartisan translator and intermediary, we stimulate cooperation, meaningful action and tangible results.

As we know, history is littered with reminders of how parochialism and all-consuming self-interest can seriously backfire. At this critical historic crossroads we must recognize that our collective futures can only be secured through critical dialogue, thoughtful consideration and decisive action.

Please join us in making a difference to our future and that of our children. We have so very much to gain if we commit ourselves to shaping the world together.

– James P. Moore, Jr.
Founder and CEO