Guess who just became Dr. Ir. Milou? Last month our very own Head of Research Milou Derks defended her PhD titled “Value Creation Dynamics in Low-Income Countries: A Business Ecosystem Perspective”.
Over the past few years, Milou’s been out in the field – Zambia, Kenya, Burundi, Indonesia – getting her hands dirty (figuratively, we assume) and unraveling how value flows through business ecosystems in low- and middle-income countries. Her work dives deep into what makes these ecosystems tick and, seeking practical and actionable insights on how we can better drive sustainable development and the SDGs 🌏.
A few insights from Milou’s research:
🔸 Business ecosystem perspective helps us see how value is created and captured, uncovering low-value traps and growth constraints
🔸 Policies need to lift everyone up, not just a select few, so we need to evaluate how they will impact value creation and capture of all actor groups
🔸 Scaling impact? Think bigger – focus on the whole ecosystem, not just individual organisations!
Curious minds can dive into her thesis right here.
Milou’s work shows just how much research can be a gamechanger for entrepreneurs, communities and policymakers. We’re feeling pretty lucky to have her steering the ship when it comes to research here at Orange Corners. Let’s give Milou a (virtual) round of applause – she’s earned it!
